Almost every society embraces a large variety of careers. It will be unrealistic to pursue the detailed knowledge of each one of them. Nevertheless, careers can be grouped into six general types on the basis of their similarity in nature. You may first identity the type of work that matches you before going into more specific details.
Realistic Occupations
Investigative Occupations
Artistic Occupations
Social Occupations
Enterprising Occupations
Conventional OccupaStions
The six-category scheme mentioned above is a general concept. In the real world, it is hard to make this kind of all-or-nothing differentiation. Each job involves duties of multiple natures. A job analysis of a creative director in an advertising agency can illustrate this point. You will notice that this position offers an A-E-S type of work.
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Dominant Duty Designing and launching advertising campaigns; building brands |
Secondary Duty Coordinating and leading team members in the entire development process |
Other Characteristics Working with clients, team members from different departments and other partners, e.g., models |
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Artistic | Enterprising | Social | |||
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(A) | (E) | (S) |
The above profile of a creative director gives a much more accurate reflection of the skills and mentality that the job asks for. This job can be coded as A-E-S, of which the sub-codes are arranged in the descending order of dominance. The three-letter code means that the work of a creative director is artistic in nature most of all, that it involves enterprising characteristics somewhat less, and social characteristics still less.
The following are common job openings under the six occupation types. You may try to apply the above coding mechanism and figure out their secondary subtypes.
R - Realistic Occupations | |||
Automobile Mechanic | Painter | Piano Tuner | Warehouse Worker |
Broadcast & Sound Technician | Jeweler | Air- conditioning Technician |
Cook |
Sailor | Bus Driver | Dental Technician | Machine Operator |
I - Investigative Occupations |
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Airplane Navigator | Electronic Technician | Doctor | Computer Programmer |
X-ray Technician | Quality Control Technician | Pharmacist | Pilot |
Laboratory Tester | Optometrist | Chemist | Market- research Assistant |
A - Artistic Occupations |
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Fashion Designer | Photographer | Copywriter | Actor/Actress |
Interior Designer | Conductor | Dancer | Painter |
Music Teacher | Architect | Fashion Model | Drama Teacher |
S - Social Occupations |
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Journalist | History Teacher | Nurse | Police Officer |
Librarian | School Social Worker | Dormitory Supervisor | Children’s Tutor |
Bartender | Driving Instructor | Lifeguard | Athletic Coach |
E - Enterprising Occupations |
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Fashion Buyer | Sales Representative | Stockbroker | Insurance Sales Agent |
Travel Guide | Insurance Investigator | Real Estate Sales Agent | Administration Assistant |
Credit Analyst | Human Resources Manager | Merchandiser | Sales Manager |
C - Conventional Occupations |
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Office Clerk | Secretary | Bookkeeper | Data Entry Clerk |
Bank Teller | Accounting Clerk | Cashier | Library Assistant |
Receptionist | Proofreader | Office Assistant | Ticket Office Worker |