Was asked recently: “How do I choose an ideal career path?”
“Do you mean one that you find meaningful and highly motivated to pursue?”
“Yes!”
A great question, without an easy answer.
For starters, the VIPS framework comes to mind.
VIPS stands for Values, Interests, Personality, and Skills.
Values include our deeply held convictions (e.g. ethics) and attributes of the work that matter to us (e.g. remuneration, prestige, safety etc).
For some, the most valued could be financial security; for others stability or autonomy. Identifying and honouring our values is crucial in making career decisions, as they shape how we engage with our work and live out our priorities.
Interests are activities we genuinely enjoy.
We may even fully engrossed in certain ones and lose track of time. While we might not incorporate all our interests into our careers, aligning our major and career choices with our interests can fuel motivation and engagement. For example, one who enjoys spontaneity may suit problem solving, solution creating, relationship building types of work more than process adhering works.
Personality refers to our characteristics and behaviours in living our lives and responding to circumstances.
These characteristics and behaviours are manifestation of our physical, psychological, social and emotional self. Personality would influence our preferences for certain environment and social settings, whether we need solitude or crowd to recharge our energy, how we process information and stimuli, and how we decide and respond. Finding careers that match our personality traits can lead to greater comfort and fulfillment.
Skills typically are competencies that we have acquired or honed through education, training, and practices. Some are more specialized (e.g. coding in Python, accounting etc) and some are more general such as problem solving, communication skills etc. Identifying skills that we are good at is crucial to a fulfilling professional journey.
By considering these factors—values, interests, personality, and skills—we can begin a career path exploration with greater clarity and confidence.
It’s the first step towards an “ideal career” that is meaningful to us.
Do you know your VIPS?
Would love to hear from you.