Quiz: Which Career Transitioner Are You?
I had some fun last week week going through my 118 Career River chats to find some common threads (yes, this was fun for me. I’m a super huge nerd). While I was at it, I followed top-notch advice to create personas based on what I’ve been hearing from people.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s quiz time. Answer the seven questions below to find out which of three groups you most identify with when it comes to moments of transition in your career, and then read on to learn more about handy Career River resources specifically for you.
Take the Career Transitioner Quiz:
1. At this point in my career, what I most want out of a job is…
A. Financial security
B. Independence
C. Not to get completely burned out
2. What career stage best matches your current situation?
A. Mid-career
B. Early career
C. The stage where I mostly want to be left alone to do my work
3. How do you primarily feel about your current career path?
A. I’m proud of my achievements but it’s tough to see what I could do next while still meeting my obligations.
B. I'm eager to create something new or strike out on my own, but unsure how.
C. It's functional, but I'd like something that gives me a greater sense of purpose.
4. What's your biggest motivation for seeking a career change or new direction?
A. Finding meaningful work that aligns with my values, without sacrificing my financial security.
B. Gaining autonomy and direct impact by building my own venture or carving out a unique role.
C. Achieving a better work-life balance and fundamentally avoiding burnout, even if it means a "good enough" job.
5. What are your biggest concerns about making a career transition?
A. Losing my established reputation or identity.
B. The failure of my own creative venture.
C. Getting stuck in a dissatisfying, draining role.
6. When you think about making progress towards your goals, what's your preferred approach?
A. Strategically navigating complex systems, carefully balancing risks and potential rewards.
B. Iterative experimentation and hands-on building, learning as I go, even if it's messy.
C. Optimizing for efficiency and clearly defined value, seeking to achieve functional goals.
7. Assuming a job meets your basic needs, which of these types of progress is most important to you for your next transition?
A. Growing my satisfaction (greater alignment to my work)
B. Growing my skills (learning something new)
C. Growing my stability (reducing uncertainty)
🏁 Great job! Tally up your responses to learn your result, then read on to learn about resources for you at this moment:
- Mostly A’s: Mid-Career Recalculator
- Mostly B’s: Aspiring Explorer
- Mostly C’s: Practical Seeker
Mid-Career Recalculator
You’re a seasoned professional with a proven track record of achievement, looking to translate your past accomplishments into next steps. As a strategic thinker with experience navigating complex professional landscapes, you have taken on significant responsibilities and built a strong foundation of expertise. Even when you’re facing tough circumstances, you are resilient, turning to your network and skill set to find a way forward. Because you’re at a point in your life where you have significant responsibilities, you’re looking for concrete, actionable information to help you meet your personal and professional goals by moving toward a sustainable next chapter.
Recalculators may find these Career River resources especially helpful:
Aspiring Explorer
You are driven by a desire to build, create, and make a direct impact through your work. While others might cling to familiar structures, you can imagine new possibilities and you’re willing to put in the hard work to turn those visions into reality. You're not afraid of the “messy middle” of pursuing work that allows you to find fulfillment without burning yourself out, and you could use some actionable strategies to move toward the future you crave.
Explorers may find these Career River resources especially helpful:
- ❤️🩹 'Healing my burned-out self' and How to be EPIC
- What I got wrong about 🌊flow🌊
- 5 Career Questions: How do you avoid falling back into burnout?
Practical Seeker
You take a realistic approach to your career, prioritizing work that will meet your needs without grinding you down. You are a problem-solver, able to strategically position yourself for roles that offer genuine value in return for your energy. You're adept at managing expectations – both your own and others’ – and your focus on creating a functional work life allows you to preserve your energy for the people and passions that truly matter outside of work.
Seekers may find these Career River resources especially helpful:
- Taking a career break: 'I was just very tired'
- Life after layoff: 'It's amazing what starts to open up'
- Mr. Pickles and too many hats
What did you think of this exercise? Leave a comment or drop me a note to let me know!
Happy navigating,
Bridget
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