Some people, when describing their careers, talk about having a “calling.” Broadly speaking, a “calling” in the context of work refers to a person’s belief that she or he is called upon (by the needs of society, by a person’s own inner potential, by God, by Higher Power, etc.) to do a particular kind of work. Although at one time most people thought of a calling as relevant only for overtly religious careers, the concept is frequently understood today to apply to virtually any area of work.
The following questions assess the degree to which you see this concept as relevant to your own life and career. Please respond honestly, not according to what is socially desirable or what you feel you “ought” to think. Please indicate the extent to which each of the following statements currently describe you, using the following scale, keeping track of your scores as you go.
PART I: CALLING SCALE
1. I have a calling to a particular kind of work.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
2. I have a good understanding of my calling as it applies to my career.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
PART II: LIVING A CALLING
Please answer the following items if you currently feel a calling to a particular job or line of work. Please answer using the following scale:
1. I have regular opportunities to live out my calling.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
2. I am currently working in a job that closely aligns with my calling.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
3. I am consistently living out my calling.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
4. I am currently engaging in activities that align with my calling.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
5. I am living out my calling right now in my job.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
6. I am working in a job to which I feel called.
1 = Not at all true of me
2 = Mildly true of me
3 = Moderately true of me
4 = Mostly true of me
5 = Totally true of me
SCORING
Please follow the links below that correlate to your scores on the two scales.
- Calling scale sum: 2 / Living calling scale sum: Does not apply in this case
- Calling scale sum: 3-7 / Living calling scale sum: 6
- Calling scale sum: 3-7 / Living calling scale sum: 7-24
- Calling scale sum: 3-7 / Living calling scale sum: 25-30
- Calling scale sum: 8-10 / Living calling scale sum: 6
- Calling scale sum: 8-10 / Living calling scale sum: 7-24
- Calling scale sum: 8-10 / Living calling scale sum: 25-30
Make Your Job a Calling 
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