7 . Stop Asking Kids What They Want to Be When They Grow

My first beef with the question is that it forces kids to define themselves in terms of work. When you’re asked what you want to be when you grow up, it’s not socially acceptable to say, “A father,” or “A mother,” let alone “A person of integrity.” When we define ourselves by our jobs, our worth depends on what we achieve.

The second problem is the suggestion that there is one calling out there for everyone. Although having a calling can be a source of joy, research shows that searching for one makes students feeling lost and confused. And even if you’re lucky enough to find one, it might not be a well-paid job.

If you manage to overcome those problems, there is a third hurdle: Careers rarely live up to your childhood dreams. In one study, looking for the ideal job left college seniors feeling more anxious, stressed, overwhelmed and depressed throughout the process and less satisfied with the outcome.

One positive aspect of low expectations is that they erase the gap between what we wanted and what we got. Extensive evidence shows that instead of painting a rosy picture of a job, you’re better off going in with a realistic preview of what it’s really like, whether it’s good or bad. Sure, you might be a little less excited to take it, but on average you end up more productive and less likely to give up.

I’m all for encouraging youngsters to aim high and dream big. But take it from someone who studies work for a living: those ambitions should be bigger than work. Asking kids what they want to be leads them to claim a career identity they might never want to earn. Instead, invite them to think about what kind of person they want to be and about all the different things they might want to do.

9 . Career coaches provide a series of services, from helping you figure out what you want to do to exploring chances for career growth.     1     To make it all worthwhile, some helpful tips are offered here to help you choose a right coach.

Know what type of professional you need to hire.     2     In other words, they help you explore your future career possibilities and figure out what is stopping you from advancing in your development.

    3     Go into your coaching relationship with an idea of what you think you need from them, but be willing to think about their guidance on what other measures may make you more successful- for example, Business Value training to make sure you’ll be satisfied in a new job.

Try sample lessons to find the right one. Most coaches offer free sample lessons, which help you get to know their styles clearly. You may need a coach with career experiences, or you may need one who offers life advice. If you aren’t sure what you want, ask questions.     4    

Consider cost, and make contact. Coaching fees are not the same. Some coaches charge more for polishing resumes, while others include that in the overall price.     5     Once you’re clear about it, you can make your decision and communicate with the chosen coach.

10 . There are three important things to be considered when choosing a job.

First, you have to ________ that you will probably be doing this job for many years. So you need to decide whether it is something you are ________ to do for a long period of time. ________ , if you don’t like children, you shouldn’t choose a job in teaching. But if you love children and are ________ enough to be around them all day long, then being a teacher is a good choice.

The second important thing is the ________ of work. If you ________ to live in Southern USA, you will have to choose a job that is offered there. Similarly, an ice-water fishing job would not be a good choice if you don’t like cold weather. ________ , what countries, cities or states will you have to travel to? Are you able to live in these places without problems, such as foods that don’t ________ you or any other kind of problem? Some jobs require you to ________ , so you should take these things into consideration when choosing the right job.

________ , the advantages you will receive are another important thing to be considered. Needless to say, any employee(员工) is in need of good ________ . And you should be clear about the insurance policy of the company you want to ________ . This is especially important.

All these above things are of great importance ________ you decide to take a new job. If they are carefully considered during the ________ period, you will probably have a great ________ . So it is necessary to think about your long term happiness based on your job’s place and advantages.