Interview: Donna Dunning, Author of What’s Your Type of Career?

Book Titles:
What’s Your Type of Career? and 10 Career Essentials

Website URL:
www.dunning.ca

Social Media Links:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DonnaDunning
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/donnadunningauthorpage
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dunning/3/b63/923

What is your book about?
What’s Your Type of Career and 10 Career Essentials are companion books that help people choose and succeed in a career that suits who they are.

What inspired you to write your book?
I wrote my first book, What’s Your Type of Career? in response to my clients’ requests for a comprehensive resource that linked personality type preferences to the career planning process. The new edition, released in the Fall of 2010 contains updated lists of occupations linked to personality preferences as well as revised sections on personal development, skills, interests and managing stress.

I wrote the second book, 10 Career Essentials, published in the Spring of 2010, to help people succeed at work. This book covers the basic strategies everyone needs to use to work effectively and provides many tips for enhancing work performance.

I hope both books help people to obtain, advance, and succeed in work that is satisfying and personally meaningful.

How did you come to do what you’re doing today?
I have been helping people in learning, work performance, and career development for over 25 years. It all started when I took a psychology course and realized my passion was helping people learn about themselves so they can grow and develop.

Can you describe a typical day in your life?
I balance my writing and training work with walking and spending time with my family and friends.

What do you most enjoy about what you do?
For me, the greatest satisfaction is hearing about how people have come to better understand themselves or others through the ideas I present in my training and books. I also enjoy the flexible schedule that writing provides.

Are there any people and/or books that have inspired you along your journey?
Isabel Myers has been a huge influence. Her goal was to help people learn about and appreciate individual differences through the theory of personality type preferences. Jean Kummerow was a wonderful mentor to me when I began to explore personality type in depth. I also admire Dick Bolles and his ongoing interest in helping people find work that suits them.

Can you share some business tips for our readers?
Know yourself well. Then you can find and thrive in work that suits who you are and how you prefer to approach work.