Satisfaction Land: A Career Planning Exercise
Welcome to Satisfaction Land. This is a very pleasant place. Our citizens are all
happy, pleasant and well adjusted to our society. One reason our people experience
so little frustration is because they are free to join any work team they wish. No one
is critical or judgmental about the type of work our citizens perform. The only
requirement is that everyone must work. It doesn’t matter what type of work you do
– if you work hard and deliver results, you will have ample opportunities to make
money, fame etc. and live a quality life. Since you are new to our country you too
must choose a work team. There are six teams you may choose from.
The Real Team: These citizens are physically strong, practical and like to spend at
least part of their work day outdoors. They operate machines and use tools. They
produce all of our food, plants and trees; while others ranch and care for animal life.
Others on this team are skilled in sports - some of them compete for the enjoyment
of spectators. Some teach, train or coach citizens from other work teams in physical
fitness and recreation. This work team also includes all of the repair people in
Satisfaction Land.
The Investigative Team: They are very inquisitive, never satisfied with the way
things are, always working on changes for the future and continually asking -
“Why?” They work principally in their minds. These are the researchers and problem
solvers for Satisfaction Land. Most of them work with theory, ideas and concepts.
This work team likes academics and typically spends many years learning and going
to school to qualify for this team.
The Arts Team: Citizens on this team are very creative, love to perform and bring
pleasure to members of the other teams. Their work tends to flow from their
feelings. Some of them paint or sculpt, others make music and others dance or act.
Some of them make movies or write stories and plays. They add depth and color to
the quality of life in Satisfaction Land.
The Social Team: The recurring theme of the Social Team is service. They have a
genuine concern for our citizenry and want to help all of our people realize their full
potential. They work as teachers, counselors, librarians and spiritual leaders in
Satisfaction Land. You will also find many from this team working in government
and politics, directing and administrating all of our public institutions.
The Enterprising Team: The Enterprising or Entrepreneurial team is very energetic
and task-oriented. They highly value productivity and profit. They work in all types
of commerce and business for Satisfaction Land. Many on this team work in the
world of finance - such as banking, securities, credit, insurance etc. This team
employs all of the sales people in Satisfaction Land. The remainder of the
Enterprising Team works in management - managing information, resources or
people.
Finally, The Conventional Team: This group provides a lot of stability to our society.
They like to logically organize and maintain information, inventories and records in
offices. They also enforce and regulate our society’s rules, policies, laws and values.
As our society strives to eliminate paper records, files and documentation more
citizens on this team are using computers to perform their work.
Now that you are familiar with the six teams of workers in Satisfaction Land…
Which team would be your first choice to join?
___________________________________________
Your first choice team has all of the workers they need right now; which team would
you choose second?
___________________________________________
Just in case your 1st and 2nd choice teams are filled, is there a third team you
would join?
___________________________________________________
Understanding Satisfaction Land
All of us develop a self-concept about our professional work life that includes our
employment interests. Employment interests are “what we want to do at work”, the
tasks and work functions we like to perform. The team(s) you selected to join
appealed to you because they were doing things that interested you and matched
your employment self-concept. Employment interests usually include more than one
of the six career interest areas. That is why you were prompted to choose three
teams. The three teams you chose helped you identify the strength and breadth of
your interests. Most jobs around the world can be classified according to this coding
system. When you are choosing a career you are trying to match your personal
career interests with a job that enables you to do what you enjoy most. Usually
what we enjoy doing we are also good at and have a high level of competence. The
more competent we are at something, the more we tend to do it and for longer
periods of time. Some examples are given below of Career Areas that fall into the
six career interest families.
Realistic: Agriculture, Forestry, Fish & Game, Conservation, Engineering,
Professional Athletics, Allied Medical Health, Recreation
Investigative: Any kind of Research Position (usually requires a Ph.D.),
Psychologists, Medical Doctors, Public Health, Scientists, Research & Development
Engineers
Artistic: Professional Musicians, Artists, Dancers, Actors, Photographers, Graphic
Artists, Curators, Writers
Social: Teachers, Trainers, Librarians, Counselors, Social Workers,
Public/Government Servants, Clergy, Social Agents, Nursing
Enterprising: Any Business Occupation, All Financial Services, Retailing,
Manufacturing, Real Estate, Sales, Management
Conventional: Accounting, Computer Science, Management Information Systems,
Administrators, Logistics, Attorneys
These examples are not all-inclusive but hopefully give you a starting
point to do some exploration and research.
