I like psychometric tests and I encourage my students to sit for these for free online. However, I have one test which matches careers to personality traits, and one recurring question through this test is similar to the question proposed here. What would you say?
Dear Hussin
Would definitely choose the same profession. I am a physician and researcher. More orthopedic surgeon than researcher because the researcher in Brazil is not properly valued and can not live comfortably with only the salary he receives. Despite this difficulty, i would choose the same profession that currently have. I am happy and fulfilled
This is a hypothetical question in which we usually re-evaluate and meditate our position as we go along in life. So, Sribas, the other side of the question is: do you really like what you have chosen as a career, do you think switching is possible as an option for you?
Dear Pardis
I am concerned about your answer! Will you really opt for an option not to have been born at all? You know every one faces ups and downs in the life cycle, but it should not lead to such a statement!! Unless you are having fun with your response (:-))))
Oh, probably not to have to try so desperately to earn a small income like now?
@Prof Hussin, yes, I responded to that psychometric test. And it seems that I should be a teacher. But all through my school years I wanted to be a medical doctor, not a PhD. Now I find, perhaps I have been able to guide many students to be medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists. So I'm happy :)
@Pardis, if you weren't born, I wouldn't be able to know you. So, I'm glad you are born and are around. When are you coming back to Malaysia?
Miranda, your empathy is amazing towards Pardis. I could not say better than that.
Dear Prof Hussin, it is love to bear the burdens of one another. Right now, many in my country are perplexed about the missing plane, but Pardis is my friend, the place she comes from is not an issue.
Dear Miranda, my comment is based in general with no consideration to any belongingness. God Bless you. I hope the plane issue will soon be cleared, and hopefully with no victims resulting.
Dear Hussin:
On retirement, I told the old professor who had encouraged me to devote my life to teaching the Humanities that I would have gone into the same profession again if I could. On further reflection, I realize that conditions were different then from what they are now. Then jobs and funding were plentiful for new Humanists, but now they are not. So applying Bassam´s response to my own context, I would say that if I were born again, I would choose the field which allowed me to realize my personal potential and help the student and scholarly world as much as the field I chose in fact.
Dear All,
Definitely, not!
I would like to be an artist and I wanted to be always an artist!
My profession and hence my job led me to know good people like you Hussin and like Bassam and this is something I take pride of !
To go back to your question, I would widen my list of possible professions including my current one.
Dear Hussin,
The question is not only if one really likes or not his/her present activity, vocation but in the possession of some, a bit deeper experiences where or how is it possible to become a better man, and to use better his/her gift and aptitude.
It would be fascinating to know how many people waste their talent, energy and life for an activity which does not make either them happy or the world a better place.
Amen to that Andras.
You are very realistic in this respect and your answer is excellent.
Dear Dr. Hejase,
I will chose to do the same job. I feel I was born to do that. A mission I have, perhaps. It makes me happy and I feel I am contributing to a better future at the national and International levels. But I would do it differently (Will go to do the PhD directly after graduation).
I agree Bassam in what he said. I will choose to be happy in all what i am doing.
Because in several situations in my life, I was doing to make others happy.
Maybe by doing so, I will at the end select the same profession, I don't know.
Looking at the different answers provided, I believe we have to continuously review and meditate on successes and failures in our careers and capitalize on the lessons learned to seek and pursue alternative tracks that brighten what we want of this earthly life.
I do not know whether I will be born again , but I was very happy with my profession . I recommend this to my family members as a profession which gives immense satisfaction . Job satisfaction plays an important role in in the overall happiness of an individual & is just more than a source of income . I tell my students that one must enjoy their profession & not look elsewhere for satisfaction & waste the opportunities that job satisfaction provides . The social interaction with many persons in the profession definitely improves our attitude to life & acts as a buffer against many negative aspects which occur in our lives . Therefore , unemployment has many negative aspects in society , apart from loss of source of income to individuals .
Sometimes new opportunities knock our doors, and the situation simulates as if one is given a second chance, therefore the current affairs of one's career play a strong influence to switch career or keep the impetus and joy of the current job. It is a blessing from God Almighty if we are enjoying what we have and it is mercy as well if a second chance is given.
Good evening Hussin,
To be a scientist and search about the facts and teach the people this science for the usefulness of the human beings is a great profession. I would choose it again and again. The question is If i choose it a second time would i repeat my mistakes? i think yes because i am not perfect. One likes such profession but at the same time has great fir from its great responsibilities.
Thanks for your contribution Dr. Zekry. Mistakes teach as well as successes. I agree with you any profession serving the betterment of humanity is a major contribution that we pride ourselves with. In reality, serving our Creator is also done by performing what we do best and with no regrets.
@Hussin and friends, I would be a fisherman living on the river bank! I think that would be a good job as well as joy!
@Prof Ljubomir, you can still make fishing your weekend JOB, even now. But Serbia cannot afford to lose your services as a professor during weekdays :)))))
Isn't it true that 'Work is only for those who don't know how to fish'?
Being a professor/researcher/scientist is commensurate with living in nature and having or owning a farm as well. I knew several people in the US (full professors) who own farms and at the end of the day they attend their animals. I wonder if these fellows will wish anything different!
Dear Prof Hussin, when we are taking care of animals even chickens, cows and goats, the science that we learn is put into practice. And growing our own vegetables while caring for livestock makes us live close to nature, and more dependent on nature. All the food eaten will be healthy, organic and halal (kosher) :)
Very much I agree with you Miranda. So, I will possibly say that those professors I mentioned will choose their careers and life styles as they are. At least, this is what I will say (:-))
Yes; I believe I would, as, it's fortunate to be able to live in the `flow' experience (Csikszentmihalyi 1990). See the TED-talk, here: http://storyality.wordpress.com/videos/
The reborn issue is tricky to think about, but the analogy of a second opportunity is almost the same. Simply think of the cases of strong accidents in life when one reviews in split of seconds the flow of events in one's life cycle, and then a decision is made! Either continue in the same or change to totally something else... It could be profession, style of life, conduct with people, and so on...
One more, knowing that you have a well defined position in life and observing others around you, will you opt for a career of making money rather than an academic career with less money (:-)))
Moreover, If I have to make a new choice, I will give a heavy load to the outcomes of my work and their impact on the community and the society around me. One would agree that one's contribution is most fruitful if the impact is high on the society.
Dear Lijo
Excellent representation of the question here. Thanks man!
Nelson, what a choice and deep indeed. Strong argument for what you like to be, to do, and will be.
Excellent pictorial representation! Yes, I think I would choose the same profession although it fetches not much monetary gains :))
Happy to hear that the grand majority of the colleagues on this thread love what they are doing, enjoy their work even with less pay, and will not change. I guess everyone's contributions to his/her surrounding stakeholders is indeed an enjoyable experience.
Even if it is the tenth time will choose same my profession is my life
Second opportunities are gold, however the satisfaction of the first opportunity is diamond.
I agree with Pardis. In India we believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha--spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth--is attained. I would prefer that.
I am very satisfied with the present situation. If I was born again, I would choose the same profession I have today.
If I am born again, I will do some changes in my early years stages, but I will choose what I am doing again.
Yeah definitely, i would like to be what I am today but with lots of improvements and yes a much better one.
Indeed, Pardis is one of the most intelligent and noblest souls I have discovered; thanks to RG. Therefore her comment saddens me as well and makes me concerned. I wish the best for her.
If I am given a choice to be born again, I will first ask God to make Pardis happy as a human being so that she feels a desire to be born again; if God still gives me the chance to exercise my choice then I will say, OK grant me re-birth.
Yes, I would love to do the same if I am born again.
I think the idea underlying this question was to know what you think to be unique in this profession that makes you feel the desire to be born again.
I think academics/research is perhaps the noblest of professions. You remain in touch with some brilliant minds hungry for more knowledge. So we contribute to the society, even though it is acknowledged in just words by the rulers.
I started my career in 1971; so I have come across at least three generations of students with different sets of features.
This profession does not lure you to do unethical things.
You are on your own; the bossism is the least in this profession.
So, overall this profession enables me to enjoy my individuality and be myself.
Debi, you are noble and with beautiful soul as well. With such an attitude I will also ask God to bring you back as you are.
Best wishes to Pardis who has stimulated nobleness, empathy, and real comradery among the people around her. Therefore, I see that she has a lot to give if born again.
Thanks Hussin, for your kind words.
This question of yours has generated some really very interesting issues about empathy, re-birth and the profession one wants to be associated.
I am with you on this Debi. If I am born again I will surely work on my errors during my prep school years. Although I am doing great now, surely more concentration would have helped more.
Although we face many difficult times in our current life, the feeling of accomplishment after these times makes one keep steady in his/her choice.
Dear @Vasile, yes, it is beauty that we have the second chance every day! Read something more about second chance: Do People Deserve Them?
http://jackjosephsmom.com/2013/04/21/second-chances-do-people-deserve-them/
Dear Vasile,
Theoretically, there are actions and plans one is able to realise. However, our attitudes, the environment (mainly social) may limit our objective opportunities. There is still an important factor, the physiological aging influencing body and mind. Unfortunately, merely few of us are able to conserve his/her original ideas, desires and standards.
We have collected information, we have got some knowledge and with aging we have left our illusions. Illusions which give us strength to continue…
Thus, personnel tolerance, physiological age, resistance of environment determine our ability to change our life. Most of us are not able to fulfil this.
As to your second wife example, this is a question of personnel original choice and morality. Morality is on the way of disappearance. The second mate question is also a very complex psychological and societal issue.
If we are born again @Hussin..!!!. It depends from the parents and/or family status, the place, the country, may be the continent, the date.... If with same parameters that we haven't chosen i.e same parents, country, place, date... etc....may be we do have followed the same path of ones destiny!!! If some of the above parameters is different, sure that the path should be different. As young students, were we really able to choose?? and in the case of multiple choices were we able to do the right choice?? Generally most of us were driven to ones profession following ones teachers and/or parents advice and direction based on ones sucsess in ones studies. However , after many years of exercise (may be with real passion of science), we are driven to understand that the reality is totally different from what was learn or advised at school. So with same understanding, sure that ones choices could have been different. For me if it was to restart, sure that i do have chosen another profession, and sure that i do have succeeded in it or any other profession following my personality and mental skills.
Any profession exercise is based on a clear objective and purpose, the profession of researcher when not clearly targeted is an open door to the waste, to the robbery, to the corruption etc... In under developed country with no competitive industry who needs research, with no competitive academia, with no technology advance or competition, and with no clear funds or money schedule and running (the term public funds is an anonymous owner and beneficiary), researchers do research for what aim ?? for what usage?? for who ?? In that case research profession is a real open "boite aux pandores", with no protection and security for the researcher and the research. If research could be summarized in a phd or a thesis for a social title, no need of research as full time profession, research could be managed for only teachers promotion, may be this could be sufficient.
Some interesting links about this thread are attached!
http://www.quora.com/If-you-could-do-it-over-again-would-you-choose-the-same-career
http://20somethingfinance.com/career-change/
http://www.reddit.com/r/cscareerquestions/comments/2n4q0p/would_you_choose_the_same_career_again/
Thank you colleagues for the passion reflected in your responses. As reflected in Ljubomir's added questions, the issue is of importance and usually is part of psychometric tests used to tie between personality and careers. The What-If scenario is used in multiple ways to reflect decision making, vision, and operationalizing possible alternatives.
Very interesting question. In fact if the choice is by me yes , I will choose the same because I like it.
Liqaa
Thank you Liqaa for your input. Actually what triggered such a question is a sense of accountability to our role in what we are actually and currently doing. Meditation about our roles is similar to a second opportunity to do things even better or differently.
Respected Sir,
I will go for an other profession then again if i got 3rd chance then will choose an other profession and so forth . . .
The reason of doing changing profession is to drink the glass of water from the sea of knowledge in peak thirst.
Thanks
Dear Nisar
You do not need to be given three life chances for career changes, you may do it every 10 years. 10 years lapses are enough for one to get acquainted with the knowledge generated from different fields of knowledge.
A deep question indeed. I am so touched with the multititude of responses which are mostly intertwined with passion for the profession, empathy towards others, and assurance of one's experiences and the way one is raised at home. I am a sociologist and would stick to what I always did. Your responses made me think deeply, and I am happy to be able to contribute here.
Thank you Dr. Atrissi for your contribution. Your observations are truely authentic.
Since my childhood I wanted to become a good teacher. By the dint of hard work and blessings of God I became a teacher. Now i am trying my best to perform my duty as a teacher. I am also satisfied from my profession.
Of course, if I was born again (given a second chance), I would like to choose the same profession.
Thanks
I started out wanting to be a fighter pilot, then a doctor then got a PhD in engineering. I have been in the teaching profession most of my professional career. I wouldn’t change anything! Great path that definitely was most challenging and inspiring.
I have stated in my previous answer that I would like to be a fisherman! But, I have realized that fine profession for me would be a nature photographer. I do make photos every single day!
I would choose the same profession, but I would start it earlier than in my current life as it requires more energy.
I admire my colleagues in this forum for their sincerity in addressing this question. I like sociology and would not change my choice.
Good job Ljubomir. Photography is indeed an art and necessitates the eyes of an artist who appreciates beauty.
Regardless of our need for self-actualization, I will always believe in the saying: "Contentment is an inexhaustible treasure". Throughout childhood, the majority of us were dreaming of succeeding in X profession, while upon growing , one may find himself/herself pioneering in Y profession for many reasons that couldn't support his/her ambition in joining X field. I'm a strong believer in fate, and I also believe that one can do hundreds of achievements in life whatsoever his/her profession is. So, I will choose "NO" as an answer to this question!
No I grew up when you could get a high paying job very easily everybody could in the early 70's. I wanted to be an MD. growing up but didn't want to burden my family with the financial debt it would incur. If I could do it again I would have been a better student when I was younger and stayed the course no matter what. As it was I became a great college student later in life and took that route to benefit others in a smaller field later in life that was full of difficulties finding related fields of endeavor. The most noble profession I would have not passed up. But I made the best of it by ensuring my children stayed the course and are professionals.
Hassan, you chose the trail where anyone can do what he/she wants provided you plan well within the timeline of his/her life. The circumstances that govern your choice are dynamic, and when a choice is taken [Y instead of X], you are ok as long as there are no regrets.
It would depend on whether I was reincarnated as the same person, with identical environmental and biological conditions.
I would not change one thing in my history, good or bad.
Everything in the past has contributed significantly to my life's journey, for which I am truly appreciative.
I like what you wrote Chia-Lin " Everything in the past has contributed significantly to my life's journey, for which I am truly appreciative."
I myself believe in the same thought.
Dear Hussin Jose Hejase:
I am glad we are on the same wave length.
Excellent Question and several interesting Answers.
No doubt! As I am just about to be retired, I do claim that I would choose the same profession...!
Everyone is born in this world with some purpose decided by God. What I am today professionaly, is as per His wish. What profession I shall choose in my next birth, will be decided by God. Indians believe in karmic philosophy. Work is worship.
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