Defining Work, Job, Occupation, Career, and Career Development

While reading chapter I came across the section about "Defining Position, Job, Occupation, Career, and Career Development," and I thought that Brown raised an interesting point about how terms such as "position", "job", and "work" "occupation" were presumably created to refer to different stages of Career Development, but we don't always refer to them as such. We used them interchangeably. This really got me thinking, and I felt that it was really important to define these terms and to set them apart, in order to better understand what we're talking about. I researched each of these terms and below is what I've found to be the difference between them. I also decided to create my own definition of career development by incorporating and adding to what Sears (1982) and Brown 2012 have defined it as. 

Work: Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing (American Heritage, 2011). 

Job: a piece of work, especially a specific task done as part of what an individual person is expected or obliged to do; duty; responsibility which can be paid or unpaid (Scholar, 2015). 

Occupation: Defined as everyday tasks and activities in which people are actively engaged, and identity, it is how as how an individual views themselves and are viewed by others. (This is their identifier. Example: "I'm a lawyer" or "I'm a dentist." If this is the case, other individuals will also view them as a lawyer or a dentist, respectively.  

Career: a person's progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking whether that be paid or unpaid (Scholar, 2015). 

Career development (personal definition): The continuous process that occurs over an individual's life span; through the integration of the roles, settings, culture, and life events - all of which combine to shape that individual's career. 

Now that a better understanding has been reached by looking more into some aspects of career development, I would like to turn my attention to another point raised in the book, which is “Why people work.” As noted in some of the definitions above, work, job, occupation, etc., can be paid or unpaid. I believe this piece is really essential, because while most individuals work in order to earn a living, work can also mean volunteer opportunities or even internships, both of which can undoubtedly help further your career or allow for more opportunity professionally. Brown (2012) mentions this too. The fact that money doesn’t always explain why people work, I think the missing piece of that puzzle is passion and doing what you want, simply because you want to. If you’re lucky enough to find a job that you genuinely enjoy, they say, “you’ll never work a day in your life."

Resources:

American Heritage (2011). Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

Lahberte‐Rudman, D. (2002). Linking occupation and identity: Lessons learned through qualitative exploration. Journal of Occupational Science, 9(1), 12-19.

Sears, S. (1982). A definition of career guidance terms. A National Vocational Guidance Association perspective. Vocational Guidance Quarterly, 31, 137-143. 

Scholar. (2015). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scholar

The word "Work"

“Work”. That one word can do many things for someone. It can be the worst part of a person’s day. Making a person dream of when their place of work is over and cannot wait for them to come back to their home and escape it. Then there are those who enjoy the word “work”, exiting them for their professional career. Finding one’s true passion in a career happens not often enough. Many say that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. Finding your path and going through the proper career development, it allows one to not cringe at the word “work”. But what it does is allow the word “work” to bring excitement to one’s life and a feeling of fulfillment.

According to Brown (Brown, 2012, p. 17), one of the primary reasons for people to work is money. Paying, “essential and nonessential goods and services”. But Brown goes on to say that work is more than just fulfilling an economic need it is also to sustain life (2012). I believe that with the proper career development, one can find the meaning of work beyond just the financial benefit. By looking at work in the terms of a need for sustaining life, it becomes a part of the person who is working. But, without the proper career development and career interventions that can benefit someone into having a successful but fulfilling career, work is nothing more than just a way to put food out on the table.

When I battled within myself of what I wanted to do, I was frightened of what I may choose. It is dangerous to keep all the thoughts in one’s mine just to themselves. I found myself in that exact situation. But I was lucky to have guidance along the way. I have talked about my advisors at school as the people who benefitted me in finding my career, but I owe a lot to my Aunt Kathleen. My Aunt Kathleen works for the PASSHE as the Deputy Vice Chancellor. I came to her after switching majors and said to her over lunch, “I need help”. She asked me what I wanted to do, I told her school counseling, and thought she would judge me. I was going from a major that I had grown up thinking would make me financially wealthy, to a career that did not. She smiled, telling me that it is not all about the financial benefit, but it is most important for the person working that job to be happy.

I sit here almost a year later from that lunch meeting in awe. Reading this first chapter allowed me to see what my Aunt Kathleen was telling me. There is more to work that just the financial gain. But there is also so much more than finding your career and being happy with. The development and interventions that can help a person grow is remarkable. Brown states that this book is to show that career interventions are “simpler to understand and easier to apply” (Brown, 2012, p. 20). With these tools, we are able to go towards the path of self-fulfillment, dignity social equity, and self-esteem (2012). We can find ways to not make the word “work” be a horrible word. Rather, “work” can become one of the best words to hear during our days, and having a healthy and fulfilling future.

Resources

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development, 10, New York: Pearson.

Chapter 1

When reading chapter one, I was able to see the history there has been behind career development. Social justice really struck my interests. When working in an urban school and having passion for helping children develop a career, there are statistics that really stuck with me with this population. “Not surprisingly the percentage of white families living in poverty (10.5 percent) was substantially lower than the percentages for African American (24.7 percent) and Hispanic (21.8 percent) families (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005) (Brown,2012).” Even though discrimination comes a long way, it is still apparent in the workplace. Prilleltensky’s work discusses how people can rise above to become what they want to be, however, with oppression, discrimination, and marginalization as factors, it’s hard to agree with that statement. Discrimination does not only refer to race, it also has to do with age, sex, and disability. The empowerment model tries to deal with these discriminations. However, there are factors that need to be address when it comes to this philosophy as well.

Another part of chapter one that I connected with was when Brown spoke of how practice is not always based off of theory. As an educator, we are constantly showed new research-based programs that are proven to work, and theories on how children learn and how we are supposed to teach in order to become successful as educators. However, when you are up in front of the classroom and get to know your students, some of those theories and research-based programs do not effectively work with them. There are more elements that go into what works for the students in your room. In career development Brown discusses consulting, collaboration, assessment, program design, and leadership (Brown, 2012). Another area of interest I had while reading was the difference between job, occupation, and position. I use these words interchangeably when talking about career. I am still a little unsure about the difference between these definitions.


My last thought about this chapter has to deal with was the future of work. The United States is outsourcing their work to other countries in order to allow labor to come at a cheaper price. The new global economy also allows for more work to be done at home, due to technology. Lastly, computers are replacing jobs. However, the only good thing about the technology aspect is that people have to have jobs in order to create the technology that is being created. This chapter excited me to continue reading in order to see what is in store.



Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10^th ed.). New York: Pearson.

Why do People Work?

Why do people work? Is it just to put food on the table and money in our wallets?  I hope not. I hope if I have surgery the doctor holding the knife is not just doing it for a mammoth paycheck.  But how can we be sure?  

“When I grow up I want to be,” we have all said it, asked it, and answered it. For most people sadly, it is just a way to pay the bills and to purchase the goods and services we crave. But when I think back to when I was in the  first grade and was asked this very question, my answer was to be the first female president. Did I answer I want to be the first female president so there would be money in my wallet and food on my table? Absolutely not.   I answered it because my parents told me I could be anything I wanted to be.  

But is that really true? Today, can we truly be anything we want to be? Sadly, I do not think we can. I think along the way life happens. From an early age, we observe the world around us. We learn the difference between poor and rich. Social status starts to dictate who we surround ourselves with. We do not become equals anymore.  I think this is where we as a society begin to disappoint each other. We transition back to idea that we work to put food on the table and cash in our wallet. We forget the possibilities of life are endless.  

I believe we have the education system to blame for this. Teachers are required to spend time on geometry and the solar system.   They run out of time to teach the most important skill, critical thinking. Tests become multiple choice, true and false, black and white. I believe the generations to come are going to look at the career development in  the same way they have been forced to look at a scantron sheet, “select one and shade in darkly.” 

The statistic “more than two thirds of all workers would seek more information about jobs if they started over again” (Brown, 2012, pg. 17). This statistic should be plastered on the walls of America’s high schools and universities.   This is the proof that our system of education is failing our future generations. We did not get a chance to look at our options, play the field, or change our mind. In ten years, I hope I am not shading in the scantron  sheet “unhappy,” about my career.  

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development, 10, New York: Pearson.

Chapter one blog post

            Before reading this chapter, I must admit, I had a pretty negative view of what I expected career development/ career counseling to look like. In one of my responses on the discussion board, I even referred to it as, “all too often rigid in the sense of what experiences you have directly relating to the subject at hand or how many relevant positions you can fit onto a one page resume.” However, after reading chapter one, my eyes have been opened to see that career development is moving in a new direction that is inclusive of recognizing social justice issues and the need to consider individuals within their social contexts (Brown, 2012).

            This chapter was informative in the sense that I now know how much controversy there is over what it means when you say job versus what it means when you say a career. In my personal everyday language, I have always used job, occupation, position, career, etc. interchangeably. However, there are differences that have been debated by different psychologists for many years. There are also different meanings people associate with the value of working. Brown listed that work, to some people, is purely an economic means. He went on to state that working for others can provide not only the individual, but the family as well, with status, recognition, and affiliation. Working is also stated as a way to develop a sense of mastery and self-esteem. People who are working typically have higher self-esteem than their unemployed counterparts because of the belief that they are creating something of value. I would argue Brown in this case. In my opinion, it would depend on whether or not the person is fulfilled in the work they are doing. If someone is underemployed, I would predict that their self -esteem would be just as low and those who are unemployed because of the possible disappointment and dissatisfaction with the job in general. For example, if someone working as a professor (job cited in Brown as being highly preferred) was laid off and could only find another job as a desk worker, I doubt, although it is possible, that he or she would see the same value in the job they were doing.

            The part of this chapter that impacted me the most and resonated well with a previous project I worked on is the topic of social justice. This past summer, I took multicultural counseling and applied social psychology. The diversity issues I learned from multicultural counseling inspired my diversity project topic for applied social psychology. For this project, I focused on the concept of social mobility, which is similar to Brown’s statement that the race for social attainment does not have the same starting point for everyone (Brown, 2012). Here is a link to the video that mirrors my project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KlmvmuxzYE. A key message I am taking from this chapter is that issues of racism, sexism, classism, and all the other “isms” are essential for us to be aware of, especially in the work environment, as they will impact our relationships with future clients.  

Why Work is Important by Barbara Poland-Waters

I found the reasons listed for “Why Work is Important” to be very interesting. Many of them resonated with my own personal experiences. Obviously, most people work in order to earn money and pay bills, but even when money is not as scarce, some people may work in order to feel useful or to have something to do every day. Since my son has been in elementary school, and I have been a “stay-at-home-mom,” most of my days have been free and unscheduled. Unless I’ve had doctors’ appointments or errands to do, I have spent my days taking care of my pets, working our garden or working on my art. My self-esteem has been affected by this situation, because although I am aware that raising my son is a very important job and don’t look down upon anyone who chooses to stay home to care for their children, I don’t often feel that I have a concrete goal to achieve and I tend to feel I haven’t “done enough” on certain days. After years of living like this, I think that having a more structured day and a purpose beyond raising my son can be useful to me and help me to feel like I am accomplishing something important. I think there are other women who may be in a similar situation as me and may define themselves by what their husband does. I think that is an old-fashioned and outdated perspective and I don’t subscribe to that belief. I don’t gain any type of self-worth just because I am married and my husband has a good job. But I do think that having a regular position could help me feel more worthwhile, especially if I am helping others while I am working. In addition, being at home most of the days while my husband and son are out of the house can be very isolating. I am not originally from this area and have struggled over the years to make connections with parents of my son’s classmates. There have been many days where I have had no other adults to talk to (especially if my husband is working late) and found myself feeling rather lonely. Working at a regular job could provide me with opportunities to socialize or connect with people outside of the world of my son’s school, thereby increasing my quality of life.

Insights of Chapter One

After reading chapter one, I started thinking about the status attainment model and how it affected my career development. Looking back on my childhood, I had it pretty easy growing up. My mom was and still is a stay at home mom and my dad owns his own accounting firm. I was an only child so I had the spotlight on me to be successful and make my parents proud. I would go into work with my dad and he would transform right in front of me. He immediately went into business mode and worked as hard as he could to support his family. My father has been the only source of income for my family since he was in his early 20s. My mother suffered from a stroke and has been in a wheelchair ever since. I think this is also where he gets his values from; he knows he needs to do whatever it takes to keep his family together.

We were certainly economically stable, but one of my first lessons was the value of a dollar. My father taught me all of his work ethics and to never give up and always aim high. Even though I had it semi-easy, I was still taught the importance of working hard and staying focused. These values are why I want to better myself and go further in my education. The inner motivation stems from my father and his will to work along with my mother’s positive attitude. I think my own career development proves that it is an ongoing process and starts at a young age.

Until I got older, I never realized what privileges I had growing up and not everyone is as fortunate. I always had it in my head that I would graduate high school, then college and then get a job in my field. For some, this dream often doesn’t become reality. The social injustices in society are creating unequal career development for all minorities. Unemployment rate is greater for those who are African American and Hispanic and the median salary for men is higher than the median salary of a woman (Brown, 2012). Even with all of the advances we have made over the years in society there is still inequality in the workplace. I think that career counselors can certainly make a difference to make a change for the better, but in order for these systems to work society needs to recognize the injustice.

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10^th ed.). New York: Pearson.

Why People Work by Tyler Evans

When reading chapter one, there was one thing that resonated with me. Why do many Americans work jobs they do not like? According to Brown (2012), most people work just to earn a paycheck to pay for essential and nonessential goods and services. Even after economic needs have been met, many people still continue to work because they feel it has an important function to themselves as well as society. By having a job, the family is provided with status, affiliation, recognition, and more. After reading this, I realized I currently fall into this category.

Immediately when I turned 16, I went to fill out an application at a local store. Most of my friends had already started working at the amusement park close by, so I could not wait to start working. The first couple of years I enjoyed working there. I enjoyed working with friends from high school, having my own money, and leaving school early to go to work. The company would give us great incentives as well. We would often have pizza parties, free food or receive gift cards for the holiday. I also received enough hours to pay for things I wanted to do and regularly received a raise. It was a great place and atmosphere for my first job.

Over the years, management changed, my friends left, incentives were taken away and my hours were cut. The little bit of hours that got me by in high school can no longer pay my bills in college. After six years, I am still thinking why I am there. The job is no longer enjoyable to me and sometimes puts a damper on my mood. Every time I think about my happiness in my job, I rarely find any. I often find myself wanting to leave, but realize I cannot. I feel like I am a victim of what Brown was talking about. I go to work daily with the thought of my paycheck to pay for essentials like rent or nonessentials like getting my hair done.

Luckily, I have taken control of my career development and made sure I have an enjoyable career. I do not want to be another person that hates going to work, but has to go to provide for my family. Later in the chapter, Brown (2012) talks about using a research approach to find out if people are satisfied at their job. He asks them, “If you could start over again, what kind of work would you do?” I may not be happy with my job, but I am content knowing I am working on my career development. If I could start over again I would still pick psychology which reassures me I am investing in a career that I will love.

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Social Justice Concept

     Through reading chapter one, I learned that careers are not solely based upon what a person might want to do with their life, but the social injustices and 'chance factors' that come into play. A simplistic point of view is that someone picks a career and succeeds in it, but this is not a reality. There are many unfair advantages that a person might have over another person including education, how successful their parents are, and race. This leads to the concept of social justice in regards to career development. Social justice calls for economic equality and to provide each individual the same access to education, healthcare, technology, etc. This is a concept that is highly debated, specifically in government. If every person had the same access to a good education and healthcare, it would be possible for those who are economically marginalized by oppression and discrimination to advance further in careers than previously.
     I find myself taking a step back and reflecting about opportunities that enable me to advance in my career, compared to other students I had gone to school with. A term that truly stuck with me was 'status attainment.' My father has a masters level education and my mother completed some college. They both currently hold salaried positions in their fields and I grew up in the middle class. The expected level of education from them for my siblings and me was, at the least, an undergraduate degree. My education advancement is highly influence by my parents attitudes transmitted through my family. I had class mates in high school that were the first to graduate high school in their family. Most did not go on to further their educations because their families did not expect them to and they did not have the same resources I had. Furthering their education would have been a financial burden on them and their families. If we had economic equality, this would not be as much of an issue.
     I, previously, did not look at career development objectively. I thought specifically of my career and the careers of those close to me. Most of the people close to me had the same resources and levels of education. I attributed much of the success to their academic drive. I realize now that this was not the only influence. Our advances in career stem from various factors and the opportunities we are afforded because of each of them; we are not all equal in this aspect. The recognition of the inequality in the system only goes to show that the system needs to change.

Brown, D., & Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career
     development (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson.