Professional self-determination of a person is a conscious choice of the sphere of future work, taking into account its features and capabilities, requirements for it and socio-economic conditions. This process covers a long period of life. The fact is that each person constantly reflects, planning his future and rethinking his achievements at work.
Professional self-determination is updated and initiated by a variety of events. We are talking about graduating from a comprehensive school, a professional institution, about continuing education, dismissal from work , etc. Moreover, professional self-determination is associated with age, the socio-psychological maturity of the individual, his need for self-actualization and self-realization.
Let us consider in more detail the main stages of its development.
Professional self-determination in adolescence. The youth begins to lay the foundations of relations to various types of labor, the worldview and personal values are developing, which determines the selectivity of choice. This is expressed in a differentiated attitude to academic subjects, classes in circles and the emergence of hobbies. As a result, adolescents form corresponding dreams and intentions.
In youth, professional self-determination is the most important task. The fact is that in adolescence, ideas about future work are diffuse and uncertain, and the choice made is most often not psychologically justified. In youth, however, an understanding comes that success and well-being in life will depend on how well the profession is chosen. Therefore, young people tend to pay more attention to those subjects that will be necessary for entering a secondary or higher educational institution.
Professional self-determination in youth is associated with training at a secondary school or university. As a result, the person acquires several psychological neoplasms. This is socialization, special experience, qualities necessary and important for work. This will result in a professional identity.
Upon admission to any position, it is necessary to master your work and perform all duties. As a result, professional growth will be important . It is at this stage that a kind of “check” takes place on how correctly the choice was made, since some young people who are currently professionally self-determined experience significant psychological discomfort due to the presence of unrealized sublime plans related to work.
Therefore, a large number of mature specialists do not pass successfully a kind of "test" of working life. This initiates the emergence of new, vital tasks and goals.
As a result, a person can either remain in a chosen field of work, trying to establish himself in it and become a specialist, or decide on a professional migration, which means the need to change it. But in any case, independence, activity, social responsibility and special character traits are formed.
In the event that professional self-determination was successful enough, most women and men become highly qualified specialists who subsequently achieve success.
But it must be borne in mind that with age, a person will expect:
- body aging;
- weakening of its physiological and mental functions (thinking, memory, attention);
- change in living space due to the emergence of young professionals and the departure of friends and colleagues;
- narrowing the prospects for professional advancement and career.