Department of Vocations and Industries: Suggestive Guide for Choosing a Vocation

Department of Vocations and Industries

XI — Suggestive Guide for Choosing a Vocation

Dear Friend Howard : You seem to have a splendid con- ception of the value of a well-rounded education to the specialist. Apparently there is no doubt in your mind but that higher edu- cation is worth its cost to him. We are glad that you realize that breadth is as important as' specialization. In our opinion a man cannot be eminently successful, and secure himself against the changes ever occurring in industry, unless he knows a good deal besides the special knowledge immediately applicable to his own line of work. Dr. Parsons, an authority on vocational work, says, "Science declares that specialization in early years, in place of all- round education, is disastrous both to the individual and to society."

In your last letter you say that you are ready to choose a vocation, and that you would appreciate some suggestions from us to use as a guide in making your selection.

It is probably best that you begin this important task now, for between now and the time you complete your general educa- tion you will have considerable time in which to study the choice of your life's work. And should you decide early upon the line to follow, you can begin to shape your career in a general way.

You cannot overestimate the importance of going about this thing carefully and scientifically. Few persons, in starting out, realize the importance of planning successful working careers. At this point let us ask the question : Is not the choosing of a voca- tion a far bigger thing than the building of a house or the invest- ment of money? Who will not answer in the affirmative? And yet who is there that would start to build a house without first careful planning, likely with the aid of a competent architect ; or of investing any considerable sum of money, until he had con- sulted his banker and made some study of the investment market ? Should not every young man, in your opinion, realize that the plan- ning of his life's work is of far greater moment to himself and the community than the designing of his residence or the investment even of a million dollars ? But if you were in possession of this sum of money, you would feel it a very heavy responsibility, and would not rest or feel satisfied until the money was placed where you con- sidered it safe and likely to bring good returns. Will you not agree with us that the investment of your time and best effort, for at least eight hours a day during the rest of your active life, is twice as

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important a thing as the placing of any sum of money you might have inherited or acquired?

Now, as to the guide for choosing a vocation. Since we can- not choose your life's work for you, any more than one person can choose for another the one he should marry (though this is often attempted and sometimes unwisely done), all that we can hope to do is to help you to so approach the problem and deal with it that you will come to a wise and profitable decision for yourself. And to this end we are pleased to offer the following suggestive outline :

First. Adaptability. Easily the foremost question in choosing a vocation is that of adaptability or fitness for the work selected. "Efficiency and success," says one writer, "are largely dependent upon adaptation. A man would not get good results by using his cow to draw his carriage and his horse for dairy pur- poses; yet the difference of adaptation in that case is no more emphatic than the differences in the aptitudes, capacities, powers and adaptabilities of human beings."

If you can only find that calling for which you are best fitted you will have the safest guarantee of success. For fitness will insure love for your occupation, and then it logically follows that your best efforts and enthusiasm will be united with your daily work.

This question of adaptability contemplates for its intelligent solution two things :

a. A clear understanding of yourself. To "know thyself" has been declared to be the foundation of a true plan of life. But this knowledge of oneself is by no means easy to obtain. It would be less difficult generally to study another person, for often we cannot see in ourselves those traits that are conspicuous to other people. Nevertheless, the fact remains that self-study is the cor- nerstone of success in choosing a vocation, and to aid in this im- portant investigation we recommend that you study yourself as follows :

1. Observe your aptitudes, interests, ambitions, resources, abilities and limitations.

The observations and discoveries you make for yourself in this study will be of supreme value to you. Confirm your opinions and secure all the additional information that you can from others. But keep in mind that after all it is for you yourself to render the final decision, in this matter of selecting your life's work. For this rea- son we earnestly advise that you do as much of this work. For this reason we earnestly advise that you do as much of this work as you can in your own way, and so begin early to develop that self-reliance so necessary for a successful career.

2. Compare yourself with others. At opportune times talk about yourself with your family, friends, teachers and others.

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3. Familiarize yourself with the best books on the subject. Names of suitable books and more detailed information and in- structions may be had from the Vocational Committeeman in your own ward or stake, or from the Committee on Vocations and Industries of the General Board, as the work proceeds. Read the Y. M. M. I. A. Senior Manual for 1913-14.

4. Secure expert advice and counsel. An hour or so now and then with a competent vocational counselor should result in the greatest benefit. There are a hundred or more questions with reference to this personal investigation that he can put into your hands, bring out the principal facts about yourself, particularly those bearing upon the problem in hand. The points he sug- gests will assist you in your self-analysis, revealing to yourself and to him your own make-up, and showing what your special aptitudes are, where your chief abilities lie, and the direction of your main interests and ambitions.

This effort on your own part to study yourself and analyze your own make-up will develop in yourself analytic power, and analytic power, or the ability to see the essential facts in a book, a man, or a mass of business, or other data, and to properly group and classify them, is said to be one of the cornerstones of mas- tery and achievement.

It is true that at present there are few among us who are expert vocational counselors. But it must be remembered that this work is very young. Only recently has it been introduced, even in the older centers of our country. Knowing this, the prospects for it here are encouraging.

Vocations and industries now constitute a special department of our M. I. A. work, and are treated in part in our Senior Man- ual for the coming year. Certain schools in our state already give regular courses in vocations, and others anticipate soon adding it to their curriculum.

5. In this study of yourself, as well as in the rest of your investigation, relative to the matter of choosing a vocation, a pen- cil and paper will be invaluable. Get in the habit of "putting it down on paper." This will give you something definite and tangible to work with.

b. A broad acquaintance with the field of vocations, in- cluding a knowledge of the requirements, advantages and disad- vantages, compensation, opportunities and prospects in the differ- ent lines of work. This acquaintance may be had by

1. Contact and observation, with the industrial world. Try different kinds of work during your summer vacations. Visit different places of industry.

2. Talking with successful men in different lines of work.

3. Reading suitable books and articles on the subject.

4. "Consulting vocational counselors and others conversant

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with the field of industrial opportunities and conditions of suc- cess in different lines of work.

Second. Service. The true 'measure of a man's greatness is the service he renders to others during his lifetime. The ben- efit he is able to confer upon his fellowmen will depend largely upon the vocation he selects— not that one occupation is any better than another, except that it may be more suitable to him. In the selection of your life's work, we strongly advise that you choose the vocation that, in your judgment, will make you the most ser- viceable to the community. Let your uppermost ambition, in your daily work, be to further the interests of your fellowmen, and the matter that next follows in this outline and that so often troubles men will automatically care for itself.

Third. Compensation. By this is meant pay in money. We are not unmindful of the fact. that often a large per cent of a man's remuneration for his best services comes from sources out- side of this much-sought-for medium of exchange. Money, how- ever, is a legitimate necessity, and rightly used is a powerful factor for good. Other things being equal, a man is entitled to enter that field for his livelihood that is calculated to yield to him the best revenue in dollars and cents.

a. A Home. It is every normal man's inherent right to get married and rear a family. And to do this contemplates a home. Under present methods of handling houses for sale in larger cities, one can be acquired on monthly payments. But even this or any other plan requires that the purchaser earn a little more than the living expenses of himself and family, which, under ex- isting conditions, are high.

b. Income. The home paid for, every thoughtful man will be concerned in getting an income sufficient to keep himself and those dependent upon him in his old age, or sooner, should the misfortune of ill-health overtake him.

Fourth. Home Life. Some lines of work are far more congenial for domestic life than others. And as in the case of compensation other things being equal, a young man is at liberty to choose that pursuit which will be conducive to the greatest home-happiness, and the best results for himself and his family. In this matter of home life we can easily go farther and say that a man should have the latitude to select a vocation largely from the standpoint of building up a good home and rearing a good family. For it must be remembered that the home is the most fundamental and basic of all institutions, and that the rearing of a good family is the best of all investments and the noblest calling that God has given to man. No greater service can man and woman render to the state than to rear an honorable family.

Fifth. Growth. It is every young man's privilege, and should be his ambition, to grow physically, intellectually, and

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spiritually. In the selection of a vocation, special attention should be given to the finding of that pursuit that will be most conducive either directly or indirectly to self-development. For develop- ment along the lines just mentioned will produce a well-balanced man, and a man's influence and usefulness both in the industrial world and outside of it will depend largely upon his balance or all around conception of life and things in general.

Sixth. Accessibility. By "accessibility," we have in mind the amount of time and money required to become proficient in a given line of work. From the standpoint of theory alone, it might seem that this item should be disregarded and, irrespective of circumstances and the fact that two or more vocations may be almost if not quite equal by any of the above tests, that a young man should shut his eyes against this item of accessibility of the vocations in question. But from a practical standpoint, we are of the opinion that it should have a place in this outline. For we con- sider it reasonable that a young man should consult his resources and probable demands upon him before entering upon long and expensive courses of study or years of apprenticeship.

However, great caution should be exercised, so as not to abuse this part of the guide. Do not, under any circumstances, use it as an excuse to avoid difficult and extended preparation for a life's work for which you are best fitted.

We are told that Lincoln debated with himself whether to learn blacksmithing or the law. With relative ease he could have acquired the former trade, earning money from the beginning. Had he hidden behind this item of accessibility and used it as an excuse to avoid the difficult and technical study of the law, then we probably would never have heard of this man who today stands so very high in American history.

Even after a careful and scientific attempt, you may not be successful in selecting for yourself the right line of work at first. Biography tells, now and then, of the man who tried one or more vocations before finding the one that best fitted his makeup. General Grant met with less than average success until he entered upon that work which enabled him, as a general and a statesman, to assist in shaping the destiny of a nation.

It is to be hoped that this vocational work will spread and become so effective as to reduce the cases of misfits to the mini- mum. But should you be so unfortunate as to find yourself in that class, then we strongly advise that you keep on studying your- self until you find the right line of work and get into it.

We hope the above suggestions will prove helpful, and that your choice of a vocation will be a wise and profitable one. Sincerely yours,

Committee on Vocations and Industries of the General Board Y. M. M. I. A.

By Claude Richards.

STAKE SUPERINTENDENTS Y. M. M. I. A.

Top row: Datus E. Hammond, Jr'ioneer stake; George A. Seaman, Weber stake; second row: D. William Stowell, Rigby stake, Idaho; L. F. Zundell, Pocatello stake, Idaho; Fred Webb, St. Joseph stake, Arizona; bottom row: William H. Morrell, Wayne stake, Utah; Lewis R. Anderson, South Sanpete stake, Utah; Leonard C. Sargent, Pan- guitch stake Utah.