Chapter 3: Picture Yourself in the Workplace

CAREER ACTION WORKSHEET

3-1 Career Lifestyle Preferences to Consider 

For each item below, mark how important each lifestyle preference item is to you and
your job, and jot down your thoughts on why.

My Thoughts (such
as why you chose
this answer or your
experience related
Level of Importance to this topic)

My Lifestyle Preferences High Medium Low

Stability: My job isn’t expected to 

change much.

Security: This company will always be 

here for me, and I will be able to work
here for a long time.

Purpose: This job helps me be part of 

something bigger to help the world or
other people.

Independent: When I work, I can do it 

my way with minimal direction.

Entrepreneurial: I have a large amount 

of ownership and ability to innovate and
implement new ideas. I will take risks to
find new markets, products, and profit.

Competence: I have the chance to do 

good work every day and improve my
skills with experience and training.

Challenge: This job gives me tough 

problems and issues that I can solve
using my skills and knowledge.

Your Career: How to Make It Happen, 9e 20

© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.
Chapter 3: Picture Yourself in the Workplace

My Thoughts (such
as why you chose
this answer or your
experience related
My Lifestyle Preferences Level of Importance to this topic)

Balance: When I l leave the job, I can 

leave it behind and focus on my life
outside of work.

Advancement: I have the opportunity to 

advance to manage more people and
business.

Flexibility: I have the ability to define
how I get the results of the work,
including when and where I best work.

List your two most important career lifestyle preferences, and describe why these are
important to you.

1. My career lifestyle preference is competence because it helps me to have skills

and experience that boost my value in the workplace. Also, through some of the
training that has grown me in the field, I can perform my job independently
without any supervision, challenges, or issues. Such qualities are valued to lead
me to develop job satisfaction in my career, which benefits my employer as well.

2. My career lifestyle preference is challenging because I will be facing problems

and issues during my career. I must use my skills and knowledge to resolve
them. This pushes me to learn more and more and to update my knowledge.
This keeps me continually learning in my career. Also, it helps me to develop new
skills to find a solution or adapt to a new project that contributes to the
employer’s goal but is also successful.

Jot down your thoughts about what types of industries or jobs might provide this
lifestyle.

The types of industries or jobs that provide a lifestyle are information technology,
engineering, consulting, healthcare, education, and others that need more skills and
competence to resolve complex problems. The people who are working in one of the
Your Career: How to Make It Happen, 9e 21
© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.
Chapter 3: Picture Yourself in the Workplace

industries must be trained sufficiently and have certain experience before they can
enter their field. They must be continually updating their knowledge in their field for job
satisfaction.

Add your completed work to the “About Me” section of your Career Builder Files.

Your Career: How to Make It Happen, 9e 22

© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.