哈佛幸福課-13：麵對壓力

 

Job, Career, Calling: Key to Happiness and Meaning at Work?

What's your work orientation? And why does it matter?

Published on June 29, 2012 by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D. in Career Transitions

19
inShare

How you approach your work might directly affect your level of job satisfaction and determine the meaning you find in employment. Some interesting research in work orientation comes from Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski, an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at Yale University’s School ofManagement. Dr. Wrzesniewski and other researchers have been studying a classification system which can help you recognize your orientation toward your work and find ways to attain greater job satisfaction.

 Consider these three orientations toward work-- see which one applies to your current employment:

Job Orientation: Individuals who fall into this category tend to view their work as a means to an end. They work to receive the pay and/or benefits to support their hobbies, family, or life outside work. They prefer jobs which do not interfere with their personal lives. They are not as likely to have a strong connection to the workplace or their job duties. The job serves as a basic necessity in life

Career Orientation: An individual with a “career” orientation is more likely to focus on elements related to success or prestige. This individual will be interested in the ability to move upward in his or her career, to receive raises and new titles, and to achieve the social standing which comes from the career. Careers which have a clear upward “ladder’ are appealing to those with a career orientation.

Calling Orientation: Individuals with a calling orientation often describe their work as integral to their lives and their identity. They view their career as a form of self-expression and personal fulfillment. Research conducted by Wrzesniewski and colleagues find that individuals with a calling orientation are more likely to find their work meaningful and will modify their duties and develop relationships to make it more so. They are found to be more satisfied in general with their work and their lives.

.