SH1687

Factors Affecting Personal Development

Personal Development may include the following factors:

I. Self-Awareness: This is the central concept of personal development and career planning. Self-
awareness, as discussed above considers the kind of person an individual is. One thinks and assesses
his skills, values, interests, knowledge and constraints or limitations, what he is good at and what he
has done or accomplished so far. An individual's personality can affect his choices and decisions in life
including his career choice. It is vital that before deciding on a particular career a person identifies his
strengths and preferences and is able to match these to his desired jobs and career choices. The
following are guide questions to help adolescents develop self-awareness with regards to career
decision making:

a. What am I interested in?

• What jobs am I interested in?
• Do I have a dream job - it may not be possible, but what is it about that job?
• What do/did I find interesting about my degree subject? (researching, lab work, being creative,
team projects, government politics, etc.)
• What do/did I not enjoy? (Laboratory work, presentations)
• Is there a job that I have always admired? (a friend/on TV)
• Why so? (the responsibility, the type of clients, the sector, fun?)
• What hobbies have I chosen to pursue out of work/study?
• What does that say about what I enjoy doing? (perhaps helping other, outdoor workings,
leading/coordinating people)

b. What is my preferred learning style?

Knowing an individual's preferred learning style can help him identify situations and occupations, which
would best suit his own personal approach. He can think and identify the most effective learning style
applicable to him. For example, one may learn about a job best by interacting with colleagues and
taking part in team tasks; or he prefers spending solitary time familiarizing him with the task at hand.

c. How do I work with other people?

This answers the question; what part does one usually play when he works with other people? Is he a
leader, motivator, listener, contributor, negotiator or a follower?

d. What is my temperament?
A person's temperament is concerned with:
• How one approach and deal with tasks?
• How one come across to other people and interact or deal with them?
• How one react and feel comfortable or otherwise in various situations?

The more one is aware of his temperament, the sounder the assessment he can make of job
possibilities both in meeting the demands of the job and finding it satisfying.

e. What am I good at? What skills do I possess?

This refers to one's honest and accurate assessment of strengths and skills. Understanding where
one's strength lie considering the areas where one needs to improve can help make decisions for a
more positive job outcome. Keep in mind that all careers or jobs require similar skills such as problem
solving, communication skills, interpersonal skills, numeracy skills, critical thinking skills, etc. These are
referred to as transferable skills. Throughout an individual's lifetime, he developed most of these skills
and abilities at home, in school and in his social life. As students, projects, job internships, volunteer
experiences, participation in sports or clubs and hobbies are all transferable skills.

Now let us look closely at five broad skill areas that every adolescent should develop or improve:

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1. Communication refers to the expression, transmission and interpretation of knowledge and ideas.
These includes speaking effectively, writing concisely, listening attentively, expressing ideas,
facilitating group discussion, providing appropriate feedback, negotiating perceiving non-verbal
messages, persuading, reporting information, describing feelings, interviewing, and editing.
2. Research and Planning - the search for specific knowledge and the ability to conceptualize future
needs and solutions for meeting those needs. These skills include forecasting, predicting,
identifying problems, imagining alternatives, identifying resources, gathering information, solving
problems, setting goals, extracting important information, defining needs, and analyzing/developing
evaluation strategies.
3. Human Relations - the use of interpersonal skills for resolving conflict, relating to and helping
people specifically, this include developing rapport, being sensitive, listening, conveying feelings,
providing support for others, motivating, sharing credit, counseling, cooperating, delegating with
respect, representing others, perceiving feelings, situations and asserting.
4. Organization, Management and Leadership - the ability to supervise, direct and guide individuals
and groups in the completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals. Specific skills include initiating new
ideas, handling deals, coordinating tasks, managing groups, delegating responsibility, teaching,
coaching, counseling, promoting change, selling ideas or products, decision making with others
and managing conflict.
5. Work Management - the day to day skills that assist in promoting effective production and work
satisfaction. These include implementing decisions, cooperating, enforcing policies, being
punctual, managing time, attending to detail, meeting goals, enlisting help, accepting responsibility,
setting and meeting deadlines, organizing and making decisions.

II. Opportunity Awareness: What opportunities are open to me?

At this point, people begin to research on their chosen career. This process is also referred to as career
exploration wherein they identify and explore potentially satisfying occupations based on their identified
skills and capabilities. In here, they may use online resources to gain a deeper understanding of their
chosen careers. They should look for information that answers the following questions:

1. What are the examples of careers in my major or field of interest?

2. What do I know about the reality of the job market?
3. What job titles interest me?
4. What work environments do I like?

Further, they need to read books, magazines, journals and other professional resources and speak with
people with the career that they hope to have in the future. Most importantly, they must research on the
industry they would likely want to work for.

The following are useful background information individuals need to explore.

1. Education and skill requirements: what level of education or specific skills does this industry
expect graduates to have? Is a degree in a specific subject a requirement?
2. Entry level positions: what responsibilities would you have upon joining the organization at entry
level? Is there scope for progression? Do they have a structure training program?
3. Industry trend and developments: what does the future look like for this particular industry? Is it
expanding? What are the trends?
4. Salary Information: what type of salary can you expect? Is their progression built in?
5. Recruiting practices: does the company have a history of recruiting graduates? What are the
timescales involved? How do you apply?

III. Decision Making: What do I want from life?

Now that they have knowledge of their transferable skills and understand opportunities for them in the real
world of work, they now need to decide on their career options. They may be guided by these important
questions:
1. Do I have the resources to pursue these options?
2. What challenges might be presented in the job market?
3. Where are my academic strengths-could I pursue these career options?
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4. What career areas or clusters interest me?

5. How can I narrow down my options?
6. Should I pursue graduate school?
7. What else do I need to know to identify my career objectives?
8. What can I do to enhance my academic life? (Study abroad, internships)
9. Do I need to conduct more self- assessment or career research?

Below are action steps people can make to help them in coming up with their career decision:
1. Talk to a career counselor
Adolescents can talk to their school counselors to help them further identify their strengths,
limitations and areas where they may need to support their skills with other experience. They may
discuss with their counselor their career options and discoveries about themselves.
2. Gain experience
Internships or on-the-job trainings (OJT) help enhance skills and can help determine what an
adolescent like and don't like. As students, they can apply for summer jobs or be a student assistant
in school. Find out companies who hire students during summer breaks. This gives them the
experience of how it is in the real world of work. In school, they can become active members or
perhaps officers in various organizations or clubs. The experience will develop their leadership
skills and interpersonal skills. Other suggested ways of gaining experience and testing out their
career choices includes: undertaking a work placement; involvement in work-shadowing; working
in a part-time or full time position; participating in volunteering activity.
3. Attend events on campus
Know of available seminars and programs offered in schools. Most schools offer various seminars
such as enhancing communication skills, interpersonal skills, leadership trainings, time
management and stress management seminars. Students may enhance their resume writing skills
and interview skills by participating in the school's pre-employment and job fair seminars.

In summary, the career decisions the adolescent makes are influenced by the courses they take,
their choice of major, their work experience, the organizations or clubs they join in and the people
they meet. Most importantly, their education plays a major part in their career exploration process.

Insights into One’s Personal Development

An awareness of one’s interest, skills, abilities as well as limitations are necessary for adolescents to make
informed decisions, improve their career choices, plan their future careers, develop their potentials,
enhance their limitations and cope up with the demands of their chosen careers. All of these involve taking
responsibility for themselves and owning up to the decisions they make.

There are factors in personal development that guide them in making important career decisions. Self-
awareness propels the adolescents to look closely on what their characteristics and what they are capable
of. The second factor which involves career exploration is the Opportunity Awareness.

Personal development is a way for people to assess their skills and qualities, consider their aims in life and
set goals in order to realize and maximize their potential. It includes improving self-awareness, self-
knowledge, skills or learning new ones, developing strengths or talents, identifying or improving potentials
and improving social abilities - all these develop one's fullest potential.

Six (6) core benefits of personal development

1. Self-awareness
Personal development begins with self-awareness. The person should know who they really are;
their values, beliefs and the purpose they wish to pursue. True fulfillment can never come from
chasing other people's dreams. For people to achieve lasting happiness, they need to design their
life based on who they are. Self-awareness is the first fundamental step in the personal
development process.
2. A sense of direction

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Once there is self-awareness, the individual is clear on the things he wishes to achieve in life.
Decision making then becomes a lot easier since he has a clear grasp of what he wants to
accomplish such as he knows what course to take in college and what career or job he wants to
pursue. He knows what it entails to reach his goals and dreams in life and works towards fulfillment
of these goals and dreams.
3. Improved focus and effectiveness
With personal development comes clarity. Even with an improved sense of direction, there will
always be multiple tasks looking for an individual's attention. As the individual's personal
development improves, prioritization becomes much easier. He becomes clearer on his/her
objectives and can quickly identify which tasks will give him the best result with the resources
available to him at the moment. Improved focus and effectiveness comes with knowing and playing
to his strengths.
4. More motivation
When a person knows what he wants to achieve, it is easier for him to see the benefits of taking
action. Even when the task ahead is not enjoyable; if he can see a clear benefit, he is more
motivated to take necessary action. There is truth in the old adage "Where there is a will there is a
way. " With strong personal development, the person develops the necessary will.
5. Greater resilience
There will be tough times in life. When these tough times occur, a person needs to have the skills
and attributes to deal effectively with them. Personal development cannot prevent all bad things
from occurring but it will help him deal with them when they do. He will have greater confidence,
resilience, personal and interpersonal skills to cope with any eventuality.
6. More fulfilling relationships
Relationships are double-edged swords. They either lift a person up or drag him down. When he
improves his personal development, he is better able to see which relationships are worth investing
in and which need to be cut loose. The person develops the skills to make the most of those
relationships which have the most positive impact on his life.

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