ON S A ND
PE RS M o du l e 1 2
C AR E E RS
CAREER EXAMPLES
Teacher Paramedics Accountant Nurse
TEN MYTHS ABOUT CAREER
PLANNING
Suchitra Surve, Director of
Growth Centre
- she identified the 10 common
myths about choosing a career
and tells us why it will affect us
in the long run.
TEN MYTHS ABOUT CAREER
PLANNING
Keep in mind that the road
to career happiness is
usually full of obstacles
rather than a straight,
direct path.
MYTH #1
Arts/humanities majors
usually are unemployable
after college
Fact: Skills matter in
every stream
MYTH #1
Humanities majors
usually provide
training in basic
areas called
transferable skills.
MYTH #1
Transferable skills -
indicate those skills
that are learned in
one area can be
readily utilized in a
wide range of other
MYTH #1
Transferable skills
• Interpersonal
communication
• Writing
• Research
• Critical thinking
MYTH
#2
Selecting what's 'hot'
at the moment is safe
Fact: What's hot today
may not necessarily be
10/20 years later
MYTH
Choosing
#2
a career
because it's currently
just
"hot"
or "trendy" is dangerous, as
it may not be that useful in
the following years.
There are two things we
must understand before
opting for this approach.
MYTH
#2
• What's hot now may cool
down, or disappear
completely, in the near
future.
• Trendy careers of the
moment may not actually fit
the interests and abilities of
the student, or it's not the
kind of environment in
MYTH
#2
Career satisfaction
involves far more
than simply being
able to do a
particular job—it
requires interest,
MYTH #3
Career
assessments/counselors
will not be of any use for
me.
Fact: You must know
what your aptitude is
MYTH #3
Psychometric assessments
(aptitude tests) offer insights
into an individual's strengths,
weaknesses, and mental
capabilities, aiding career
planning.
They help identify suitable
MYTH #4
If X is happy in a
particular field, I will
be happy too
Fact: You are not X
MYTH #4
Everyone is different, and
what works for one
person won't necessarily
work for another. Get
details about a career,
match it with your traits,
and then make a choice.
What you like may not be
MYTH #5
If I wait long enough,
luck will eventually
bring me to the right
career
Fact: Procrastination is
no substitute for
MYTH #5
• You won't just "bump
into" the perfect
career.
• Gather information
about yourself and
potential careers to
make a wise decision.
• Take an active role in
MYTH #6
Making a lot of money
will make me happy.
Fact: The ingredients of
a fulfilling career also
include passion and
commitment to growth
MYTH #6
Salary isn't the
only factor in
choosing a career.
Enjoying your work
is often more
important for job
MYTH #7
Once I choose a
career, I'll be stuck
in it forever.
Fact: You are never
too old to switch
MYTH #7
If you're unsatisfied,
you can always
change. Discussing
your interests with
knowledgeable
MYTH #8
If I change careers
my skills will be
wasted.
Fact: Being multi-
MYTH #8
While some jobs
require specialized
skills, many require
common skills that
most people have.
Your skills are
MYTH #8
If I change careers
my skills will be
wasted.
Fact: Being multi-
MYTH #9
I will decide after the
results are out.
Fact: Impulsive
decisions lack
planning and
MYTH #9
Planning in advance
helps you make
informed choices
and prepares you
better for future
challenges.
MYTH
#10
I love this hobby, but I
don't think I can make
money out of it.
Fact: If you love what
you do, it won't feel
THAN
K YOU
