Chapter 3: Picture Yourself in the Workplace

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.

Level of Importance My Thoughts (such as why you

chose this answer or your
My Lifestyle Preferences experience related to this
topic)
High Medium Low

I put medium because I don’t

Stability: My job isn’t expected to want simple “sit at a desk all
☐ ☒ ☐
change much. day everyday” job, but I do
want some consistency.

It is very important to have a

Security: This company will always be
job that you know is reliable
here for me, and I will be able to work ☒ ☐ ☐
and you don’t have to worry
here for a long time.
about get fired.

It is very satisfying to know

Purpose: This job helps me be part of
you are helping for the greater
something bigger to help the world or ☐ ☒ ☐
good, but it is not an absolute
other people.
need.

I work well by myself and can

Independent: When I work, I can do it
☒ ☐ ☐ really get stuff done.
my way with minimal direction.

I want to be my own boss and

Entrepreneurial: I have a large amount
of ownership and ability to innovate and
this excites me.
☒ ☐ ☐
implement new ideas. I will take risks to
find new markets, products, and profit.

I would like to feel that my

Competence: I have the chance to do
good work every day and improve my ☒ ☐ ☐
work is benefiting me and isn’t
skills with experience and training. monotonous work.

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

I think I’d like some problem

Challenge: This job gives me tough solving to mix things up a bit
problems and issues that I can solve ☐ ☒ ☐ and create change, but I don’t
using my skills and knowledge. want too much that it is
unenjoyable and stressful.

I do not want a lot of stress

Balance: When I l leave the job, I can
leave it behind and focus on my life ☒ ☐ ☐
from work
outside of work.

It is important to always grow

Advancement: I have the opportunity
to advance to manage more people and ☒ ☐ ☐
and learn more.
business.

I like being flexible, so then I

Flexibility: I have the ability to define
how I get the results of the work, ☒ ☐ ☐
can work to my own strengths.
including when and where I best work.

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

1. Security: This is important to me because I like the peace of knowing I will have a job.
I won’t have to worry about being able to pay any bills or simple day to day expenses.

2. Balance: I like the idea of being able to leave a job and go home to relax. The job isn’t
too straining on your day to day life and mental health.

Jot down your thoughts about what types of industries or jobs might provide this
lifestyle. I think there are multiple jobs to fulfil my security preference such as a
healthcare facility or anything in technology because those two industries will always
need people.

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