Larry Burkett - Finding the Career that Fits You: The Companion Workbook to Your Career in Changing Times

Finding

THE

Career

T HAT F ITS Y OU

Finding

THE

Career

T HAT F ITS Y OU

L ARRY B URKETT & L EE E LLIS

Finding

THE

Career

T HAT F ITS Y OU

The Companion Workbook to

Your Career in Changing Times

M OODY P UBLISHERS
CHICAGO

1994, 1998 by
L ARRY B URKETT AND L EE E LLIS

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1977 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.

Some information in this book was excerpted from The PathFinder by Lee Ellis (CFCavailable from crown.org) and Your Career in Changing Times by Lee Ellis and Lary Burkett (Moody Publishers).

Cover Design: The Puckett Group

ISBN: 0-8024-2522-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8024-2522-5

We hope you enjoy this book from Moody Publishers. Our goal is to provide high-quality, thought-provoking books and products that connect truth to your real needs and challenges. For more information on other books and products written and produced from a biblical perspective, go to www.moodypublishers.com or write to:

Moody Publishers

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Chicago, IL 60610

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Printed in the United States of America

Several people deserve special thanks and recognition. Beth Pinson, Deb Smith, Mike Taylor, and Bob Yarbrough gave encouragement, critique, and insights that were especially helpful.

Jim Armstrong, Peter Pace, and Sue Clark shared their creative talents; and Adeline Griffith, our editor, gave her eagle eye and professional expertise to the project.

Finally, we thank our families for their forbearance while our attention focused on writing.

If you have questions about which direction you should be going in your career, this workbook is for you; and we are confident youll benefit from the information and exercises provided.

The concepts and tools have been developed through research and experience from working with thousands of individuals just like you. The questionnaires and surveys usually give very accurate results; yet, you can use them effectively without professional help.

There is a design to each step within the chapters and to the order of the chapters. If you skip around or dont finish some of the steps, youll deny yourself the full benefit of the workbook. For the best result, just take your time and work from the front to the back of the book.

Chapters 1 and 2 set the stage for your thinking about work. Chapters 3 through 6 are designed to reveal your talents and occupational interests. Chapter 7 should be used to consolidate and summarize all the information from your self-assessments. The remainder of the book will help you as you apply what youve learned to your own personal life.

Each persons pattern of talents and interests will be somewhat unique. Likewise, each person has unique circumstances and needs that must be considered. That is why, ultimately, only you can make the final decision about how God has equipped you and what He has called you to do. Our prayer is that you will let Him guide you into the career that fits the design He gave you.

FACING CAREER AND
WORKPLACE ISSUES

S ince you are reading this workbook, its likely that either you or someone close to you is facing a career problem or decision. Youre not alone. Career and work issues are having a major impact on the lives of millions of Americans today.

Through our experience in administering a career assessment to over 50,000 individuals, we see that the vast majority of career problems fall into one of four categories: job mismatch, no job, returning to the workforce, or young people with no direction. You probably will be able to identify with at least one of these groups. No matter which group youre in, this workbook can help you work through your career issues.

1. Job mismatchunenthusiastic, bored, stressed out

A major issue with adults continues to be job and career dissatisfaction. There are millions of people who dont like what they are doing at work. In fact, according to a recent poll, 50 percent of those surveyed said that if they were starting over they would choose a different career.

When experiencing a lack of fulfillment and corresponding low motivation toward work, many people realize they did not make a good career choice. They chose a field of work that was not a good match. Many are looking for a way to find out what their talents are and what occupations might fit.

Weve seen some who are stressed, even to the point of not wanting to go to work in the morning. For some, the problem of job stress is o severe they are having health problems.

One person put it this way: I make a living at my job, but I dont look forward to going to work everyday. In fact I usually dread it, and when Im there I look forward to five oclock so I can go home. I wish I could make a career transition.

A person in sales said: I can make a big sale on Friday, but I hate my job so much that I dont look forward to going to work on Monday.

2. Dont have a jobhave been laid off or downsized

Mergers and cutbacks have added millions to the ranks of the unemployedsome for the first time.

I had been with this company for 15 years and was the marketing manager for the Northeast region. Our company was bought out in a merger, and I was replaced by the guy who had a similar position with the parent company. Ive been unemployed for 10 months and have no hope of a good job.

Another person said, I worked for XYZ Corporation for 12 years and thought my future was quite secure. Our company restructured, and they cut 10 percent of the management staff. I havent been able to find employment and probably never will get back into my old field.

These cutbacks have had a tremendous impact on families. For those who have experienced downsizing, its much like a death in the family or a divorce. As a wife whose husband is in the throes of a job search put it, My husbands unemployment has caused tremendous stress in our familyfinancially, emotionally, and spiritually.

3. Entering/reentering the workforcelacking confidence, experience, skills, and direction

This group has expanded rapidly in recent years. Some are homemakers who have decided to pursue a career now that their children are older or have left home. Others have felt the pain and hardship of divorce and now, as single parents, must go to work to provide for their families.

Entering the workforce as an adult can be a scary thought. Many who are in this position dont have any idea which direction to pursue. Others may know what they would like to do, yet they havent kept up with the changes in their fields. Should they go to school, or should they just take entry jobs and try to get established in the workplace?