my career orientation

Five Career Orientations

 

Balance

Some people seek to balance their work‚  relationship‚  and self-development lives. For these individuals‚  work is just one important dimension of a total life-style orientation‚  even though such careerists may emphasize different dimensions at different seasons and given different pressures. Like the Freedom strategy‚  this career orientation requires considerable flexibility. Unlike Freedom-seekers‚  Balance-oriented individuals try to separate themselves from their work. Many talented two-career couples‚  geographically bound people‚  and personal growth-oriented people fall into this category. (10)

 

Security

Some people are driven by the need for job security‚  organizational identity‚ and the desire for a sense of order. In return for loyal‚  dedicated hard-working service‚  they seek long-term employment‚  benefits‚  recognition‚ and appreciation from the employer. In the best situations‚  mutual respect‚ reciprocity‚  and loyalty characterize the relationship. These people often seek steady promotions and advances as a symbol of their value and worth. (8)

 

Freedom

Instead of moving upward in career direction‚  the careerist following this strategy seeks to move out towards the margin. The emphasis is on gaining personal autonomy‚  “space‚ “ loose supervision‚  and responsibility for outcomes rather than being bound by another’s process‚  norms‚  and rules. Individuals are willing to work very hard‚  often as professionals or small business owners‚  for conditions assuring more independence and self-control. Interesting and exciting work is important and usually accompanies such an orientation‚  but individual freedom is the ultimate objective. (6)

 

Challenge

Some careerists are driven by the need for excitement‚  challenge‚  and the engaging process of work. In such a career one seeks to move‚  often laterally‚  to the centers of action‚  adventure‚  and creativity. The organizational setting may be large or small‚  but bureaucracy tends to be a constraint. These craftpersons‚  technical specialists‚  entrepreneurs‚  and artists‚  like those opting for Advancement or Freedom orientations‚  find it difficult to separate themselves from their work. While autonomy may be an important component the bottom line for Challenge-oriented people is exciting work. (4)

 

Advancement

This upwardly mobile career orientation is usually associated with advancing up a hierarchy of positions or a status system. More influence‚  prestige‚  and financial remuneration are usually bestowed with each upward move. Individuals pursuing such a strategy are most often found in large organizations or professional associations. Many highly competitive and achievement-oriented people follow this career orientation. (2)