Genetic studies have associated major connections between genetic markers and work performance and career possibilities among individuals. This blog dives into the importance of Genetics in our lives today, and how you can create a purpose-driven career using the power of your DNA.
What you will learn -
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- Understanding the underpinnings of Genetics and its impact on different aspects of human lives
- The role of Genetics in your career selection, cognitive capabilities, and success
- The impact of Genetics on work life and factors associated with job satisfaction
- Using DNA-based insight to choose the right academic discipline and career path
“There is no passion to be found in playing small — in settling for a life that is less than you are capable of living.”
- Nelson Mandela
Career exploration is one of the most important journeys one has to take in life to actualize their highest potential. The steady rise of hyperconnectivity and digitization has created a world where modern career choices are far more expansive and multidimensional than ever. The traditional methods of gauging and choosing an academic discipline or career choice are being replaced by skill and passion-driven pursuits, and the technological revolution in education is only making this better.
The exponential growth in possibilities has also led to career and talent lifecycles becoming more dynamic and complex for individuals. It is important to find the right balance between passion, growth, and sustainability to ensure a career that is both rewarding and economically viable. Students and working professionals today have a lot more room for experimentation when it comes to career exploration, but there is also a rising need for expert guidance to navigate the sea of choices one is exposed to.
There are several factors that govern what vocational choice one ends up with, including their upbringing, parental influences, economic and social background, and interestingly, their genes. Genetic makeup influences our attitudes, inclinations, and behaviours towards different career choices and academic disciplines, including Mathematics, Business, Finance, Management, sciences, music, and even sports.
The advent of DNA-based personality assessment and career aptitude tests has been an interesting development in the field of career counselling. Drawing powerful insights from an individual's genetic makeup, career guidance experts can help students and professionals find their ideal career paths to reach their highest potential.
What is Genetics
Genetics is the study of all of a person's genes (also called the genome), including interactions of those genes with each other and with the person's environment. Genetics differs from Genetics, in that it aims at the collective characterization and quantification of all of an organism's genes, their interrelations, and their influence on the organism.
Simply put, the study of Genetics expands the insights drawn from individual genetic analyses to groups of populations. There has been a rising interest in this field, especially with the relatively new literature on epiGenetics. Epigenetics studies the factors ‘on top’ of individuals’ genetic makeup, such as their environment.
It is interesting to note that even though we inherit a specific set of genes from our parents and they act as a blueprint for our life, our environment and lived experience has a significant impact on the expression of these genes. Our genes get activated or “turned on” in certain environments, which implies that positive intentional changes in our external circumstances can lead to sustained growth both in personal as well as professional lives.
Genetics and career choices
This may come as a surprise, but decades of extensive research have suggested that our academic and career choices are significantly influenced by our genes. While there may not be a 'career gene' as such, Genetics predisposes individuals to interests and academic disciplines that can lead them to their chosen career paths.
A study by David Lykken and his colleagues found out that 32 percent of the difference between people with respect to their responses about occupational interests are genetic. What's interesting is that over 53 percent of categories of interests, such as affinity for adventurous, intellectual, or agrarian work, are in fact genetic.
Another study concluded that 21 percent of the difference between people in their interest in law enforcement is genetic. In fact, genes account for 46 percent of the difference between people in their interest in “academic comfort.” Twin studies and tests conducted on adopted children show that Genetics is responsible for between 21 and 44 percent of the variation between people on the scales of the Strong Vocational Interest Bank, a tool used by vocational experts to evaluate what jobs are suitable for people. This means that even the choices made by individuals in vocational interest tests are influenced by their genes.
There is also a genetic component to individuals' level of interest in choosing business jobs. About 25 percent of the variation in interest in managerial roles can be attributed to Genetics, while family environment influences only 8 percent of this interest.
Even career options such as sales and marketing are appealing to certain people because of their genetic makeup. In fact, Genetics accounted for 29 percent of the difference in people’s interest in merchandising and 19 percent of the difference in their interest in sales. For a career in Finance, Genetics accounted for 36 percent of the difference in people’s interests.
An understanding of genetic makeup can help individuals discover their inherited interests in academic or career disciplines while creating the ideal environment for success.
Genetics and work-life
When it comes to work-life, Genetics determines important factors such as job satisfaction, work values, career choice, learning and performance, work behaviours and attitudes, inclinations to switch jobs and roles, and more. Genetic testing can reveal highly applicable insights about your acquired and inherited potential and boost career exploration for individuals at any stage in their professional journey.
A study by Richard Arvey found that Genetics account for 30 percent of the difference between people in overall job satisfaction, with genes impacting both the satisfaction that comes from the nature of the work itself, and happiness with respect to their workplace environment, their salary, or their management. The genetic effects on workplace satisfaction are present across jobs, from office work to jobs that involve manual labour.
Even our attitudes towards job changes and switches have a genetic component. Over 36 percent of the difference between people in the frequency of actual job changes is accounted for by our genetic makeup. Interestingly, 56 percent of the difference in people’s descriptions of their job histories as “stable” or “changing” is attributable to their genes. Genetics also affects choices that involve occupational changes, like quitting a career in medicine to pursue music - accounting for 26 percent of the difference between people in occupational change.
Finding your academic interests through Genetics
The powerful information offered by our genes can be used to make effective career decisions through DNA-based career aptitude tests. These tests use the participants' DNA samples, as their saliva, to decode their inherited skills, strengths, pre-dispositions, and talents. Genetics can help one find their particular area(s) of interest, or natural abilities to excel in specific careers.
DNA-based skill discovery tests can uncover major insights about an individual's talents and capabilities, such as their inherited sporting talent, and athletic and aerobic capacity. They can also help one discover their musical talents (which are up to 50 percent genetic!).
What's more, skill discovery tests can be effective in helping people find their inherited strengths in areas such as mathematics, pure sciences, finance, verbal ability, sales, and other vocational skills.
One can get an in-depth analysis of cognitive factors affecting professional performance, such as reading ability, spatial learning, working memory, educational attainment, learning from errors, and a lot more through genetic tests.
How Genleap can help you find the right career
It is true that an early career intervention in children's as well as professional's lives can lead to positive outcomes in the long run. DNA-based skill assessments can be the answer to unlocking one's true potential, finding their passion, and nurturing their inborn talents.
Genleap is the world's first DNA-based skill discovery platform that prepares individuals for a thriving career by helping them discover their SELF. Genleap leverages the power of three knowledge streams - Genetics, Astromancy, and Psychometrics to help individuals to understand their core personality traits, strengths, and talents by decoding their past, present, and future.
Genleap also offers a list of the top 99 professions based on a thorough analysis, combined with a detailed self-discovery test report. Genleap's rich ecosystem of certified experts and career counsellors further helps individuals nurture their inherent talents while translating their skills into a promising and fulfilling career.
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