Downsized Worker Wonders What to Do Next

Anonymous writes:

I am 33 years old, and I have no idea of what to do with my life in terms of a career.

I have had one long-term job and was fired. The company had to downsize and my position was gone.

I have had to move back home. I am currently enrolled in school, earning a master’s in library science.

I am not that enthused about being a librarian. How do I figure out what to do?

The Career Doctor responds:

If you don’t want to drift through your life — or least another 10 or 15 years of it until your next downsizing — you must immediately take a personal retreat and discover who you really are, what you like doing, what excites and motivates you, and where you want to go in terms or a job and career.

I don’t know what kind of work you were doing before you were downsized, but I can guess it wasn’t something that inspired you. My sense is that you are still in a bit of a shock over the downsizing and this master’s program was just something convenient or available, something to fill your time while you continued to wait and see what was going to happen.

You need to break the cycle by taking a break. Find a weekend — at least to start — where you can learn about yourself. Take time reflect on the types of activities that motivate and excite you; think about activities (work, hobby, volunteering) that you love doing and ones that you never want to do again. Once you have this list — and hopefully a better understanding of yourself — then you should consider one or more self-assessment tests; there are any number online, but there are also plenty of career assessment books.

Once you have a better sense of who you are and what interests you, your next step is researching careers that fit you. For example, with me, it’s activities that empower people to better their lives — so things such as this blog, my Website, teaching, and consulting all excite me and keep me energized. You need to find that niche for yourself. There are lots of career exploration resources — books, online sources, college career professionals, and career coaches and counselors.

Once you’ve identified some career options, the final step is organizing a career plan to achieve your goal — identifying employers, writing dynamic cover letters and targeted resumes, interviewing well, and following-up when necessary.

Some resources on Quintessential Careers that can help you with your quest: