Did You Know You Can Build a Vocation?
Many people think vocation is innate, but they’re wrong. You can build it. It’s true that some people are born with a set of skills that allow them to be competent in certain professions. For example, someone with the ability to transmit different concepts related to a subject clearly and simply so others can better assimilate them could be a great teacher.
Furthermore, are there people who can’t find their vocation? The answer is “no”, since, as you’re about to see, anyone can build a vocation.
But what exactly is a vocation? According to the research document entitled Origen y Configuración de la Vocación Docente: Analisis de la Asociacion La Tribu Educa (In English: Origin and Configuration of the Teaching Vocation: Analysis of the Association La Tribu Educa), “vocation is the inclination an individual manifests towards a profession or a specific career”. However, the skills for its performance won’t always be available. Thus, they must acquire them and work on them.
You can build a vocation
Perhaps you don’t identify with any of the above. Perhaps you weren’t born with a set of skills that have allowed you to find your vocation in an environment that’s favored it. Or perhaps you don’t have access to an institution where you can acquire the skills you need. Thus, what happens in these circumstances? Are you destined to work in something you don’t like?
The work you’re currently doing may not appeal to you and you’re mainly doing it because you need the money. It could be any kind of profession, such as cleaning, working in an insurance agency, as a telemarketer, working as a manager in a company… The fact that you don’t love your job can make you feel unmotivated and unwilling to give the best of yourself. The good news is that you can change this!
“You owe it to all of us to get on with what you’re good at.”
-W.H. Auden-
Improve your skills
One of the best ways to start building a vocation is to improve your skills. Begin by taking a course or joining a seminar. Some companies offer certain incentives to workers who show promise in their work. It could be a raise or a promotion.
The fact that you realize you’re becoming more professional and doing your job better can make you love it. It doesn’t matter if the job is translating text or waiting tables at a restaurant. You can build a vocation in anything you choose.
Taking pride in your work is a way to build a vocation
This is another point that’ll help you begin to improve or perfect the skills you already have. You’ll feel more proud of what you do as you find yourself becoming more effective in your work. Indeed, you’ll be more productive and even creative. Your interest will progressively increase and you’ll soon forget your initial lack of interest.
A positive consequence of this is that you’ll have another incentive to feel you’ve managed to build your vocation: recognition. The kind you’ll receive from others and serve as a confirmation that you’re achieving your goals.
Spend just five minutes
Finally, building your vocation is no easy task. In these cases, the search itself can become a challenge. Similarly, those who have a “standard” vocation may be spared this step, but they must also train themselves, perfect their skills, and face-selective processes (such as competitive examinations) that can lead to a lot of frustration.
However, instead of throwing in the towel or constantly repeating “I can’t do it”, begin by improving your work performance. This is because it’s something new that’ll allow you to aspire to a higher position or simply to soak up information to improve a skill with. Everyone can spare five minutes and devote themselves to building their vocation. Thus, there are no excuses. Have you always been clear about your vocation or have you had to build it?
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Ali Jafella, Sara, & Villafañe de Gil, Dora. (2004). Orientación vocacional y desarrollo de competencias. Orientación y sociedad, 4, 83-89. Recuperado en 08 de marzo de 2019, de http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1851-88932004000100005&lng=es&tlng=es.
- Perales, Alberto, Mendoza, Alfonso, & Sánchez, Elard. (2013). Vocación médica: necesidad de su estudio científico. Anales de la Facultad de Medicina, 74(2), 133-138. Recuperado en 08 de marzo de 2019, de http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1025-55832013000200009&lng=es&tlng=es.
- Perrenoud, P. (2008). Construir las competencias,¿ es darle la espalda a los saberes?. REDU: Revista de Docencia Universitaria, (2), 5.
- Sapiro, G., & Cerviño, M. E. (2012). La vocación artística entre don y don de sí. Trabajo y sociedad: Indagaciones sobre el empleo, la cultura y las prácticas políticas en sociedades segmentadas, (19), 33.
- Vidal Ledo, María, & Fernández Oliva, Bertha. (2009). Orientación vocacional. Educación Médica Superior, 23(2) Recuperado en 08 de marzo de 2019, de http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0864-21412009000200011&lng=es&tlng=es.
