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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Megan MacCutcheon, MEd
Achieving Job Satisfaction Through Career Counseling
Megan MacCutcheon, LPC

Achieving Job Satisfaction Through Career Counseling

Recently I have been hearing a lot about workplace stress and job dissatisfaction and began thinking, “What is workplace stress?” and “Why are so many people unhappy in their jobs?”

Workplace stress can stem from a variety of things, including demanding supervisors, challenging coworkers, and overwhelming workloads. But one of the biggest factors related to stress and dissatisfaction in jobs may be linked to people working jobs simply for the paycheck rather than for the joy of what they do. Simply put, many people are unhappy in their jobs because they are not satisfied, stimulated, or excited about the work they do on a daily basis.

We hear the concepts, “Do what you love” and “Find work you are passionate about,” but how do we actually achieve this? How do we find tangible positions that fit with our interests, passions, and goals?

First, you need to identify what your skills, values, and interests are, and then determine how these things fit with various positions and fields in the working world.

Many counseling professionals are trained in career counseling and are qualified to administer career-related assessment tests. Two commonly used are the Myers Briggs Interest Inventory, Career Report and the Strong Interest Inventory. These tools can be extremely helpful in providing an overview of an individual's personal preferences and styles. Test reports give vocational suggestions based on fields and tasks that would presumably best (and least) suit an individual's personality and interests.

By pinpointing aspects of your personality and understanding which types of work tasks complement your interests and talents, you are better equipped to seek work that you will likely enjoy. Career reports can help you to determine whether your present position and its day-to-day tasks are a good fit based on your individual qualities. For some people, this information is useful in showing which direction they may want to pursue within their field or where they may want to focus their energy. And for others, it may inspire a complete career change.

Career assessment reports are also useful for those looking to get back into the workforce and for students looking for help in determining what areas to concentrate or major in during college.

Career counseling is typically brief, consisting of approximately two to three sessions. In addition to administering and interpreting career assessments, career counselors can also provide assistance with resumes and cover letters, practice interviewing, and job search.

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