According to the Mail & Guardian, approximately 46% of student’s drop out of their three or four year tertiary studies. As we wind down toward the end of the year, matriculants are faced with what certificate, diploma or degree they should apply to study for; those currently in various educational institutions may be second guessing what they are currently studying, and those in the work force may be contemplating a career change in the New Year.
With the rate of unemployment in South Africa at an all-time high, it’s of paramount importance to ensure that one is as attractive in the workforce as possible. But what happens if you have absolutely no clue what career you are best suited for, or what you “should” be doing?
A career assessment can help you make the best decision possible. Getting some insight into your abilities, perceived skills and interests is a small price to pay considering the wasted fees you may have to cough up as a parent (or yourself) when dropping out of varsity or collage.
When going for a career assessment you will be required to complete a cognitive assessment, two personality assessments and an interest survey. The results provide a complete ‘picture’ of how the candidate functions cognitively and what sort of institution he or she is best suited for – whether that is college, university or technicon. We also look what personality traits the person exhibits and how appropriate they would be to different work environments. As a very simplistic example: a highly extraverted individual would be miserable if required to work on their own at a desk all day in isolation, whereas an introvert will probably thrive! Lastly, we look at where a person’s interests and perceived skills are; as a rule of thumb, you will be encouraged to pursue a career where you have a high interest and skill set. However, it is important to remember that a skill can be taught – but an interest or inclination toward something is something innate. Remember: you will never get a concrete answer regarding what you are best suited to studying and what field you should be working within. A career assessment will offer you a variety of career options – you will need to make the final decision where you think you would be best suited.
It’s never too late to change careers. In current day, millennials (those born after 1982) are said to change jobs often. This may rather daunting if you are over thirty years old, but, as Confucius said “Find a job that you love and you will never work a day in your life”. As we spend approximately 80% or our lives working, life is far too short to be unhappy.
If you would like to know more about our career assessment package, please contact PsychMatters on 011 450 3576 or info@psychmatters.co.za. Remember, you may be able to claim back from your medical aid depending on the cover you have.