Ask Dr. Zoe - How to Find a Career You're Passionate About

‘Carol’ Asked:

I burned out and am changing careers mid-life. How can I assess my personality and joys to find a fulfilling new path?

Dr. Zoe Answered:

Carol,

Good for you! You are doing what so many women dream of and regret not doing when they are older. It’s great that you are looking for a new path. There are tons of personality and vocation profiling tests and they can certainly be useful, but you have lived half a life. A personality test will give you some general answers about your talents, but it is not fully specific to you. What it won’t tell you is what your passions are. And it’s time to seek your passion, not what may be a good fit based on your personality.

Spend some time in self-discovery. Take some classes that you have always been interested in taking. Think back to when you were little…

Ask these questions:

1. What things did you do that you could lose time doing?

2. What were your favorite activities?

3. What are your interests today?

Start brainstorming. Don’t worry just yet about how you could parlay them into a career path. Just explore! The more you pursue your interests, the more doors will open for you.

Start small!

You don’t need to take a big leap in order to have a lifetime of success. Once you have started to identify some interests, start by volunteering in the field or a related field. Find out if you are really interested in pursuing this path once you have seen it from the inside.

Don’t be afraid to try on a lot of hats. Every experience will teach you something that can lead you closer to finding your path.

Take the first step. That first step in a new direction can be so daunting, but once you take it, the exhilaration can make you feel alive like you haven’t felt in years!