GoalMakers Career Questionnaire (copyright Ken Willig)

ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT YOUR CAREER & CAREER QUESTIONNAIRE

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ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT YOUR CAREER

As you contemplate the question: What do I do now?'' in your life, I would like to expand your vision and then, through a prayerful reflective and contemplative process sharpen your focus on possible careers which would be good, pleasing and perfect" for you.

Suppose God would grant you the answer to any one question, any question you wanted. What would that question be? Well, I suspect, in one way or another, it would probably relate to the will of God for your life. Because to the committed Christian, nothing is more important than knowing and doing the will of God. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.

There are several methods by which you can determine God's will for your life. For example. through His written Word, the Bible. We don't have to guess about whether what He has written applies to us or not. When, for example, it says "obey your father and mother'' we need not speculate as to whether it's God's will or not that we obey our parents.

However, there isn't a verse which says, "Joan Smith, you are to be a nurse'' or one which states. ''Frank Jones, you are to do engineering work'' or ''Mary Perry, you must be in sales.'' So how do you determine the career(s) for you which would be consistent with the will of God?

The answer is that we can determine the will of God for our lives through a combination of sources. Here are some of them:

FIRST, we can know God's will by knowing His Word, reading and studying the Bible, or listening to tapes, speakers or teachers which teach us God's Word. Paul has told us in his letter to the Romans that we are ''not to be conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then, we will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

Certainly, no one could ask for anymore in life than to have a career which is ''good, pleasing and perfect.''

SECOND, God will enlighten us with His will if we pray to know it. Paul wrote to the Colossians to never stop "praying and asking God to fill us with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9, 10)

THIRD, if we really want to be aware of what God's ''good, pleasing and perfect will'' is, we must give it priority over our plans and our ideas. We must make it paramount in our career selection.

James, while under God's inspiration, wrote: "Now listen, you who say 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Instead you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:13-15)

FOURTH, we also know that God works in the lives of those who trust in Him. In writing to the Christians in the city of Philippi, Paul said that it is "God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." (Philippians 2:13)

Therefore, if we are seeking to please God and to do His will, we know that what we like to do, those things which we enjoy most, are things which God has worked in us. Consequently, we should view the desires of our heart as significant signs and indicators of where we should be looking, not just for our hobbies and pastimes, but for our vocation and professional career.

FIFTH, we also know that God gives us certain callings, as we are all His ambassadors to prepare each other for works of service. He has given each of us different gifts, talents and abilities for the purpose of building up and edifying one another as a response to God's love for us.

It follows that the calling and the talents He gives each of us individually and specifically would be consistent with His "good, pleasing and perfect will" for our life. So, another aspect of discovering His will is by evaluating the talents and abilities, which God has given you.

SIXTH, God also leads us to know His will through other people. Therefore, we can gain insight bv seeking counsel from others who are striving to know and do the will of God, who have the same solid foundation and goals for how to live their lives consistent with Biblical principles. The first proverb in the Bible says ''The wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…" (Proverbs 1:5)

This is where I might be able to give you some insight and assistance, that is, in the discerning process.

Here are several pertinent questions for you to answer in the form of a CAREER QUESTIONNAIRE. To be effective, it will require that you prayerfully and sincerely answer these questions. This will require some contemplation and reflection on your part. The questions are not "tricky." They are straightforward. Take them to mean exactly what they ask.

Actually, this entire process will lead you toward the selection of a career which will bring you the most happiness - maximum happiness. However, most everyone thinks they are always automatically pursing happiness but really are chasing that which they believe ''should'' give it to them. That ''should'' is arrived at through many inputs such as peer or family pressure, greed, drive for prestige or recognition, or the belief that wealth, position, the right car, house, job or business is the source of happiness. Wrong! God says we will have maximum happiness and prosperity in seeing and doing His will (Psalm 128:1).

There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer: there is only your answer to these questions. The questions focus on the desires of your heart, and your gifts as seen by yourself and loved ones or bosom friends. They are pertinent to how God is working in your life.

After completing the questionnaire, you can consider those careers that are consistent with the things which you like and which God has given you the talents to equip you to do. Initially there will be more than one career which will probably ''fit.'' However, anything that doesn't ''fit," including what might possibly be your present occupation, would almost certainly not be for you.

I urge you to expand your vision when evaluating your answers. Then sharpen your focus on careers which would be ''good, pleasing arid perfect'' for you. Try it. What is at stake is your happiness. What is at risk is only a matter of several hours to complete the questionnaire properly and to think about it.

Should you wish further professional consultation in the discernment process of career choosing, contact Ken Willig, ken.w@GoalMakers.com, (480) 575-1999, Scottsdale, AZ.

CAREER QUESTIONNAIRE

Before answering these questions, I suggest that you quietly reflect on what you are about to do. You are about to begin a decision-making process which will determine plans for your life. These plans will affect you and your loved ones for years to come.

Prayerfully ask God to give you insight through His Holy Spirit, so that you will be able to know yourself better than ever before and will be able to respond to these questions with clarity, sincerity and hope. Ask God for the grace that you "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12.2) What could be better for you than God's good, pleasing and perfect will for your life!

Then trust God to answer your prayer as He assures us He will. "This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him," (I John 5:14-15).

Please keep in mind that there are no "right" or "wrong" answers--only your answers. These are straightforward questions. Take them to mean exactly what they ask.

1. What five things do you like to do (work or play) the most?

b. 2. Why?

3. What brings you 80% of your pleasure, joy and fun?

4. Why?

5. What do you see to be your single greatest strength?

6. What are two more?

7. What does your spouse (closest or most trusted friend) say is your greatest strength? (Give their answer.)

8. What ten adjectives would best describe you?

9. What are your three most valuable assets?

10. What five things do you like to do the least and why?

11. What causes 80% of your frustration, tension and pressure?

12. Why?

13. Where do you want to reside, that is, to make your permanent home? (State and area of)

14. Are you now paid appropriately for the work you do?

15. Could you earn more if you simply worked harder at what you are now employed to do? If yes, why don't you?

16. Could you do your boss's (or previous boss's, if unemployed) job?

17. Will it be offered to you within the next year?

18. If no, why not?

19. If you could have any one job you wanted, whose (by name, title and job description) would it be? Be specific.

20. Name the three persons whom you most admire and why.

21. List the five achievements of your life (school, work, family, social, athletic), which delight you the most.

22. Why?

23. What job, by title and description, do you want to have five years from now?

24. In order to qualify for it, what ten things do you need to equip yourself with or accomplish between now and then?

25. What three things could keep you from having it?

26. What do you feel are the roadblocks keeping you from reaching your full potential as a person?

27. What is there about you that has held you back?

28. Would your spouse (best bosom friend) agree?

29. How much money do you earn per year now?

30. How much do you want to be earning five years from now, in today's dollars?

31. Ten years from now (In today's dollars.)

32. If God told you to do anything you wanted… you had all of the time, staff, education, materials, etc., that you needed, and you knew with 100% certainty that you would not fail, what would you do?

33. Why?

34. In what areas do you feel the most need for personal growth?

35. What question(s) would you want answered by a career counselor?

36. What do you hope to accomplish by completing this questionnaire?

37. Of the above (34-36), which single item is most important and pressing on you personally?

38. Why?

39. What are the "lingering questions" in your mind… the kind which keep coming back time after time and still have not been resolved… about anything in life?

40. What would you care to share that you feel would be helpful to gain an in-depth understanding of you?