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Aptitudes And Careers

At the end of this block of study, you should be able to:

6.29 Define aptitude.
6.30 Explain the relationship between aptitude and a person's chosen career.

The special talents and natural abilities which a person has are called aptitudes. Figure 6-20 shows
some of these aptitudes—mechanical, verbal, numerical, social, artistic, etc.

People with a good mechanical aptitude find It easy to repair, adjust, or assemble machinery. Verbal aptitude Is important In jobs related to any form of communications such as reading, writing, and speaking. Numerical aptitude makes mathematics very easy and Is Important to people seeking employment using calculators or computers.

There is a definite relationship between aptitudes and a person's success in certain occupations. People working in professions related to their aptitudes are usually happier in their careers. Figure 6-20 shows the relationship between various aptitudes and those aerospace occupations in which they are important. Aptitudes in the areas listed in the chart may lead to satisfaction and success in hundreds of additional aerospace jobs requiring similar abilities.

Frequently, there are relationships between aptitudes and the school subjects you like or dislike. Figure 6-21 shows the association of selected school subjects with representative aerospace occupations.

A career should provide much more than a means of making a living. It should be interesting and pleasant and provide satisfaction and self-respect In addition to financial rewards. The choice of a particular occupation requires complex decisions. It may involve such factors as general ability, special aptitudes, health, learned skills, family status, and educational and employment opportunities.

You may wonder how your aptitudes compare with those necessary in particular aerospace jobs. You more than likely will have an Interest in discovering how your personal traits can best be used. Questions also may arise concerning the educational requirements for different vocations. Answers to these and many other questions about selecting the best career may be obtained in part from community people. With standard inventory blanks, aptitude scales, interest surveys, and other materials for the measurement of personal traits, schools can give objective information about your interests, personal aptitudes, and general ability.

REVIEW EXERCISE

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From Civil Air Patrol Educational Materials

Updated: March 12, 2004