Midlife Career Change: Like Dating Again After A Long Marriage — Midlife Career Strategy

Many people realize they need time to find a romantic partner and you probably can’t just hire a matchmaker.

Yet over the years, I’ve met many seasoned professionals who expect career services to match them with their soul-satisfying work within a few hours.

Some put their faith in career aptitude tests. The truth is, career tests might be helpful to someone who’s just embarking on a career right out of high school or college.

Once you’ve been in a job for ten to twenty years, you already have a sense of your own skills and talents. You probably know what you like to do (“travel for business but home on weekends;” “analyzing data;” “calling on a new customer.”) You know what drives you crazy (“being micromanaged,” “getting up at 5 AM”).

A large number of experienced professionals respond to resume services promising to “get you in front of hiring managers in your field” for $500 or more. Realistically, the only people who can help you find a job are called “recruiters.” They work for the hiring company — not for you, the applicant. Therefore, when dealing with a recruiter, you need to behave and dress exactly as you would for a company interview.