The Importance of Personality and Emotional Intelligence for Creating a Successful Career - Essay Example

Career Design Personality and Emotional Intelligence: Application for a Doctorate Introduction Choosing or designing a career is really a tough decision for any individual because of many factors to consider. However, choosing the right one that fits the person is very important because it will most likely lead to job or career success and satisfaction. This is why career advisers commonly tell their clients to choose a career that match their personality and emotional intelligence in order to become more productive and competitive in their field of endeavor. This paper will explore the diverse personality types and emotional intelligence of individual in order to determine their importance in choosing and building career choices. Discussion Personality Personality practically refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving (Kardin, 2000). It is also defined as the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual. According to some experts in career guidance, knowing one’s personality type is one of the major factors in deciding for a career choice. This is because it provides many advantages such as enhanced career planning and advancement; assist career options that satisfy individual’s preferences; useful in determining the most suitable work environment for any individual; as well as assists one to discover and use the individual strengths to accomplish work. And knowing one’s personality can be done through personality inventories with the aid of personality tests which are commonly administered by career professionals. Importance of Personality in Career Choices In this field, the theory formulated by John Hollands (Career Key, 2011) was considered the best known, most widely researched and used by most career counselors because it emphasized several important points to consider in building or designing a career. These points are summarized as follows: 1. Most people possessed one or more of these six personality types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional personality type. 2. People of the same personality tend to “flock together.” For example, business or enterprising people are more attracted to make friends, mingle or work with people with the same interest or field in order to benefit each other. When this people will work together, they are most likely to create a work environment that fits their type. Hence, ensures greater possibilities of success. For instance, when enterprising persons are together on a job, they create a business environment that is productive, competitive and motivated. 3. There are also six basic types of work environment: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional. 4. People search for environments where they can use their skills and abilities and express their values and attitudes. For example, conventional types would search for conventional environments; enterprising types would search for business environments. 5. People who choose to work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied. For example, a conventional type would become more successful and satisfied if he/she works on environment where he/she is compatible or can best perform his/her abilities. 6. How you act and feel at work depends to a large extent on your workplace environment. According to the theory, an individual preferred to choose occupation whose personality type is similar or the same like them (Career Key, 2011). Types of personalities related to occupations As mentioned earlier, there are six types of personality which was theorized by John Hollands and these include the: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional personality type. Realistic personality type is sometimes called the “doer.” It usually refers to individual who utilized their hands and eyes to perform or accomplish a task as well as love to work with tools, machines, and things. These individuals are commonly mechanically inclined which means they preferred to work with things, objects, tools, machines, plants and animals rather than working with data, people or ideas. Individuals that belong to this type also prefer to work outdoors and physical activities or occupation. And they are also more independent and practical because they can deal with the physical world. This type of personality widely involved the largest number of occupations which include the following: agriculture, archeology, architect, astronaut, athlete, chef, computer science, driver, pilot, engineer, firefighter, gardener, information or instructional technology, police officer, mechanic, paramedic, pharmacy, physical therapy, veterinarian and among others. Likewise, other people could also possess the investigative personality type. This is sometimes called the “thinker.” This is because it requires a lot of mental exercises. Individuals who belong with this category are more likely to be analytical, intellectual and scholarly. They much preferred to analyze and solve complex problems, to do research, mathematical or scientific activities, to formulate theory and information and or to find facts. These individuals are also more unconventional, independent thinkers, curious and insightful. Hence, they are more likely love to read, study, use books and other data rather than working hands-on. And this personality type could include career such as: biologist, chemist, historian, researcher, doctor, mathematician, neurologist, pharmacist, programmer, system engineer, lawyer, physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, statistics, economists, professor, and among others. There is also so-called artistic personality type. And this refers to individual who has good artistic abilities or those who uses their creativity and imagination in order to create new things or to perform a task. Individuals who fall into this category are those who love and appreciate beauty and arts, drama, crafts, dance, music or sound, unstructured activities, textures, interesting and unusual people, places or sights as well as those who work with forms, design and patterns. Artistic individuals much prefer to work alone and independently instead of working with others or as a team. These individuals also avoid highly ordered or repetitive activities and considered themselves as expressive, original, and independent. Examples of career in this category include the: actor, architect, artist, copywriter, author, musician, painter, dancer, fashion illustrator/designer, interior designer, museum curator, photographer, graphic designer, animation and among others. Meanwhile, there is also the social personality type which composed of those individuals who has strong communication skills. These people are also more responsible, dedicated, and supportive and are more likely focus on people and their concern. Therefore, these individuals love to do things to help people such as informing, teaching, counseling, curing or nursing, training, developing. They also enjoy being close to others, sharing, groups, and working with teams. Generally, this personality type avoids using machines, tools, or animals to achieve their goal. And career that best fit with this type could include the: teacher, nurse, caregiver, counselor, nutritionist, caretaker, art therapy, psychologist, minister, priest, physical therapist, and among others. There are also individuals who belong to the enterprising personality type. And these individuals are those who enjoy working and mingling with people, as well as those who are willing or love to lead or manage for organizational goals or economic/financial gain and to sell things and ideas. Generally these individuals are energetic, ambitious, sociable, risk taker and quick decision-maker. And this could include career in business and politics such as: advertising executive, banker/financial planner, business manager, customer service manager, office manager, entrepreneur, salesman, marketing, retail, stockbroker, real estate, insurance, publishing as well as include the lawyer, politician, public relations, and among others. Likewise, there are also people who love to work with numbers, records, or machines in a set and orderly way. And these are the individuals who belong to the conventional personality type. Generally, they are good at working with written records and numbers and are good at following a set of plan or instruction. These individuals are often quiet, careful, responsible, well organized and task oriented. And people with this type of personality could be fitted to be an: accountant, administrative assistant, budget analyst, claims adjuster, computer operator, court reporter, editorial assistant, safety inspector, tax consultant, travel agent, clerk, technical writer, secretary, retail, receptionist, academic administrator, banker, investor, proofreader, businessman and among others (Career Key, 2011 & 123 Test, 2011). However, in cases where personality type is combined with other type like realistic-social, enterprising-investigative, or vice versa, according to career counselor the best way in order to decide which career is fitted to an individual is to determine the strongest personality type. Emotional Intelligence In practical definition, emotional intelligence (EI) is the capacity to reason about emotions, and of emotions to enhance thinking or to recognize the meaning of emotion and their relationship and to reason and problem-solve on the basis of them. EI also include the ability of an individual to accurately perceived emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth, and to assimilate emotion-related feelings, understand the information of those emotions, and to manage them (Mayer, Caruso & Salovey, 1999). Importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in career choices EI is also one major factor in designing or building a successful career because it enhances the personal and social competencies of an individual. Generally, involves the various abilities which include the ability to: perceive emotion, use emotion to facilitate thought or thinking or to reason with emotion, understand emotional meanings and manage emotions. Perceiving emotion is usually the most basic step in understanding emotions. This is the ability of an individual to recognize emotions and how these affects or impact one’s thought and behavior or the people around them. And this could also involve understanding the nonverbal signals or receptions and expression of emotion such as facial expressions and body language. The next step is to use emotions to facilitate thought or to reason with emotions. Actually, it is the capacity of the emotion to enter into and guide the cognitive system and promote thinking. Emotion helps individuals to respond to things which were taken one’s attention. Hence, the emotional outputs are most likely to depend on the emotional input. This is also known as the ability of an individual to be empathetic with the needs, wants, and viewpoints of the people that surround him/her. People with high EI are usually having excellent managing relationships, listening and relating to others situation. Basically, emotions convey information; therefore every individual should know how to understand the meaning or message of such emotions in order to adjust or adapt. For example, if someone is angry, it might mean that he/she wants to attack or harm others, or it could also mean that he/she feels threaten. EI also include the ability of an individual to manage their emotions. This means that he/she needs to regulate his/her emotions, feelings or behaviors in order to respond appropriately and respond or react to the emotions of other, to take initiative, follow through on commitments and to adapt to changing circumstances. People with high EI have the ability to control emotions and impulses; they typically do not allow themselves to make impulsive and careless decisions which could lead to more severe situation. This means that they think first before they act or react (Mayer, Caruso & Salovey, 1999 and Kendra, 2011). Development of Emotional Intelligence The significant advantage of EI is that emotional quotient (EQ) can be learned, developed and increased by any individual, anytime. But, to become more effective it should be learned and understood in emotional level and not on intellectual way. And according to psychologist EI could be developed through utilizing the five key skills. These are the following: 1. The ability to quickly reduce stress. 2. The ability to recognize and manage emotions. 3. The ability to connect with others through using nonverbal communication. 4. The ability to use humor and play to deal with challenges. 5. The ability to resolve conflicts positively and with confidence (Segal & Smith, 2010). Individual who are under stress and pressures are more likely to behave and think more negatively. Therefore, the ability of an individual to cope and handle with stress is a sign of person with high EI because he/she can keep himself/herself to be aware and of control with his/her emotions, feelings and impulses. This means that he/she can keep and stay himself/herself calmed, focused, and balanced during difficult situations. EI could also be developed through recognizing and managing emotions. And this means of being self-aware with one’s emotions and feelings and how this emotions, impulses when put into action could affect the receiver or people around. Individuals are also considered with healthy EI if he/she has the ability to communicate and understand non verbal. And this skill could be improved by studying the meaning and giving attention to the following: eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice, posture and gestures, touch, and timing and pace. This skill is very essential because it signaled on how an individual respond to non verbal cues that other people sent to him/her as well as to be aware and control his/her own nonverbal actions. Meanwhile, EI could also be developed through the use of humor and play to deal with challenges. And this skill could help to take hardship in stride, smoothen over differences, make individuals more creative, and to keep individuals simultaneously relax and energize. Likewise, to resolve conflicts positively and with confidence could also develop individual’s EI. And this skill could keep an individual to stay focused in the present, meaning he/she views the current situation as new opportunity instead as obstacles in achieving his/her goals. It could also keep an individual to choose his/her arguments appropriately, to forgive and to end conflicts that cannot be resolved (Segal & Smith, 2010). Conclusion Based on the presentation, knowing one’s personality and emotional intelligence is very important in choosing a career because of several reasons. Since most occupations require various expertise, the personality of an individual should be determined in order to find the most suitable work fitted to his/her personality type. The six basic personality type related to occupation according to Holland’s theory - realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional personality type – guides a person towards a career choice. Each personality type differs from one another and requires different characteristics. However, there were also cases in which these personality types are combined with other types and most career guidance recommend to individuals to learn this unusual gift to determine the stronger type which could be served as their basis in designing their career. Personality is really important in choosing a career because it most likely leads to success and satisfaction. Meanwhile, EI is also important in building a career because it enhances personal and social competencies of an individual. It helps develop self-awareness, self-regulation, as well as provides motivation, empathy and social skills of the individual. The findings of this research could be applied in real life situation in order to ensure success and satisfaction with the chosen career. In case an individual is no longer happy or satisfied with the present career he/she takes and is planning to have a shift in career, the result of this research could be used to determine his/her personality type in order to identify which he/she is best fitted. Meanwhile, the findings in EI could be used by any individual to develop his/her own EI in order to enhance his/her personal and social competencies as well as meet goals. 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