Resources for Midlife Career Change
Sure of what you want to do next and know your future calling? Hats off. Many of us—even into midlife—don’t know exactly what we want to be when we (next) grow up. This beginner’s stage may feel odd or even embarrassing, especially if you’ve been a manager, mentor, or boss. But while you haven’t yet found the next thing you want to become good at, you have years of life already lived. That translates to patience, insight, and experience that can’t be taught at any school or university.
If you’re in midlife and want to make a career shift, you’re far from alone. Perhaps you’ve chosen to start something brand-new. Or maybe the change has been forced upon you due to layoffs, your skills becoming obsolete, or overall stress and dissatisfaction. Either way, you’re among the more than 6 million American adults who have switched careers in recent years.
Yes, you’ve got some reflecting to do, and therapy can come in awfully handy right about now. It’s the chance to focus on yourself after what may have been a sustained time focusing on your family or colleagues. It’s a time to talk to someone who has no investment in your next move except helping you sort through the options. It’s a place to examine your emotions and observations in the quest for meaningful work that’s a good fit for your interests and temperament.
These websites can assist you in your search. The assessments featured are by no means the gospel, but they can enlighten you in their revealing of tendencies and preferences. I’ll be providing more resources in future posts.
The psychologist John Holland pioneered the idea that a good job fit involves lining up personal values and preferences with those found in the workplace. He worked using six personality types—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Holland named them ‘stereotypes,’ yet his test offers liberation from stock notions. Being Artistic, for example, doesn’t assume that someone is an eccentric free spirit; it allows for creative people who like structure, teamwork, and following rules.
For $15, anyone embarking upon career exploration can take an assessment. A web-based report is available that offers a tailored look at what the site calls an individual’s “career personality.” This is a helpful tool for someone who wants to explore but hasn’t the financial means for more expensive consulting.
This website offers a free test based on the Myers-Briggs Typology Inventory. Some 64 questions help identify which of 16 possible personality types you fall into, based on how you perceive and assess information and situations. Results reveal how strongly you skew toward each of four traits (Extraversion v. Introversion; Sensing v. Intuition; Thinking v. Feeling; Judging v. Perceiving). Test results include a description of your personality type, plus typical career choices, learning style, and communications skills. That information can be useful in a career search, on the job, and many other aspects of life, including relationships.
Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation
This century-old research and testing firm, which studies human ability, has locations all over the U.S. It’s a boon for high school students, college students, or adults in search of vocational guidance. The website features easy-to-find information about current findings; sites for researching occupations; and frequently asked questions. More than half the foundation’s clients are adults contemplating a job shift. Consulting services offered aren’t cheap, but they’re extensive and extremely informative.
If you’re at a crossroads or struggling with a life transition that’s bringing big changes, call me at 213-807-6021 to arrange a free, 20-minute consultation. Let’s talk about how I can help.