What's Your Type of Career?: Unlock the Secrets of Your Personality to Find Your Perfect Career Path [Paperback]

Donna Dunning (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2001

Helps you discover what will most satisfy you in a job that meshes with your natural way of working.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dunning, a psychologist specializing in career issues, identifies 16 personality types using the Jungian-based Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Self-evaluation focuses on several areas: processing information by linear thinking vs. wondering how others will be affected; focusing on facts vs. intuition; the preference to take immediate action vs. the preference to wait and deliberate. Once people identify their type, Dunning (Learning Your Way) proposes eight corresponding "Ways of Working" that suggest promising fields and positions for different personalities. Although Dunning's writing is clear and accessible, readers may have difficulty identifying their primary personality type. Still, her answer to this problem is persuasive: "one core preference will define your characteristic approach to work. The other approaches will be used in support of, and secondary to, your preferred approach." First-timers as well as those familiar with self-assessment tests will find the final two chapters the most practical. "Taking Stock" and "Shaping Your Career" focus on options such as part-time work in making a career change or determining which variables matter most, from salary and job stability to handling a variety of tasks, helping society, etc. (Apr.)Forecasts: Lacking a fresh approach or a well-known author, this book will have an uphill battle against more established books on this subject, such as Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger's Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type. Still, a glowing cover endorsement by Richard Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute, along with planned radio and print campaigns may give it an initial boost.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

A practical workbook to those planning their career or need to change jobs...should be helpful to many people. -- Bulletin of Psychological Type, Summer 2001

Encyclopedic in scope. Designed to be used by anybody looking for a career direction, particularly handy for career guidance counselors. -- Adyar Booknews, August 2001

Here are the top five best-selling career-related books: #3 What's Your Type of Career. -- Edmonton Journal, July 2001

Here are the top five career-related books this week: #3--What's Your Type of Career? -- Edmonton Journal, July 31, 2002

Looking for a career change or not sure what to do, Dunning may steer them in the right direction. -- The Capital Times (Madison, WI), November 8, 2001

Most valuable section, for many, will be the one on each type's greatest challenges. Most effective learning sytles are outline for each type, as well. -- Calgary Herald, April 7, 2001

Once you understand your personality type, it's easier to choose a profession that would be a good fit. -- The Orange County Register

People trying to make career decisions can find direction in this book, designed to help shed light on new possibilities. -- Toronto Star, December 17, 2002

Using this book can help you learn more about yourself, and the career in which you would be happiest. -- Employment Review Online, June 2001

Utilizes a personality approach to finding the perfect career for you...guides the novice through the options for each type. -- Book Page, May 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing; 1 edition (February 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891061541
• ISBN-13: 978-0891061540
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #855,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Donna Dunning, PhD, is a psychologist, author, consultant, certified teacher, and member of the MBTI ® International Training Faculty. She specializes in the areas of career development, learning, and work performance. Donna is the author of more than a dozen publications. Her newest books are 10 Career Essentials and What's Your Type of Career? 2nd Edition.

For over twenty-five years she has provided consulting services for a wide range of clients in the public and private sector. Services include counseling, training, assessment, research, writing, evaluation, program development, and performance management. Donna has won awards for her accomplishments in career development, her research endeavors, and her publications.

Donna facilitates programs that qualify individuals to administer and interpret the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). She also teaches advanced application workshops for MBTI users across North America. She is noted for her expertise in facilitating the professional development of counselors, teachers, trainers, and leaders.

Donna lives with her husband on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. They have two adult children.

For more information visit her website at www.dunning.ca

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful!, September 6, 2005

By 

A Life-long Learner (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Your Type of Career?: Unlock the Secrets of Your Personality to Find Your Perfect Career Path (Paperback)

This book was recommended to me by my company's HR training manager and it is brilliant! Written for people who know their Myers-Briggs type, it describes the sort of work environment your type would thrive in along a continuum; meaning, it allows for a range of behavior and is flexible enough to avoid rigidly defining you and your options, yet it's defined enough to be helpful. I know that many people consider Myers-Briggs to be hocus-pocus, but if you found the typing to be insightful, you'll find the book to be doubly so. For someone who is job hunting -- or in my case, considering switching careers -- it really gave me a new perspective on how I work, and what works best for me, along with suggested fields and suggested positions in those fields. One caveat, this book isn't a job-hunters guide. It just helps you find your direction, and reminds you of your work preferences to guide you when you are considering a potential job.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Career Book I've Read, April 5, 2003

By 

A. Botnick "AJ Botnick" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Your Type of Career?: Unlock the Secrets of Your Personality to Find Your Perfect Career Path (Paperback)

I'm 32 and in the midst of a career change which has involved extensive self assessment. Prior to reading this book I visited several career counselors, took the PAR Self Directed Assessment and Myers Briggs assessment and read numerous books on careers. This book really surprised me. At first I was skeptical but after going through it I was very impressed with the personality typing system and how well my personality type matched me. The only warning that I would have is that since the listing of the possible careers are in broad categories a person needs to spend some time learning about different careers by talking to people in them, researching and shadowing at the workplaces before jumping ahead. For example, I might be excellent as a dental researcher but hate the routine of the day to day practice of dentistry. However, this is a great book and I recommend it highly as a starting point in any career search.

"Know Thyself"

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for those about to enter the workforce, April 28, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Your Type of Career?: Unlock the Secrets of Your Personality to Find Your Perfect Career Path (Paperback)

In What's Your Type Of Career?: Unlock The Secrets Of Your Personality To Find Your Perfect Career Path, psychologist, adult learning specialist, and certified human resources professional Donna Dunning bases her invaluable advice and insights on the "Myers-Briggs Type Indicator" and offers easy-t-use worksheets to guide the reader in determining their specific personality type. Then Dunning goes on to provide in-depth, highly-relevant, jargon-free, "reader friendly" descriptions and explanations of the eight "Ways of Working" and explores the work preferences, strengths, areas for development, learning, teamwork, and leadership styles of each type. Practical suggestions are made regarding the types of work that attract each personality type and guide the reader to match their personality type with the appropriate career path. What's Your Type Of Career? is highly recommended for those about to enter the workforce for the first time, those who are re-entering the workforce after a sustained absence, and those wanting to improve their existing career prospects in this age of corporate globalization, downsizing, and technology driven worker mobility.