{"id":11832,"date":"2017-08-07T08:39:15","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T08:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keblog.demoapp.xyz\/?p=11832"},"modified":"2022-10-19T04:55:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T04:55:45","slug":"how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps","title":{"rendered":"How To Solve A Mid-Career Crisis in 5 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A mid-career crisis can be a cause for concern. Good news is it&#8217;s not as uncommon as you think. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehrdirector.com\/business-news\/diversity_and_equality\/Older-workers-trump-Generation-Y\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to research by Vodafone<\/a>, workers within the 31-35 age range are most unhappy at their jobs. So far from the isolating nature of a crisis, you can at least take comfort in knowing you\u2019re not alone, and this is perfectly normal. Not being alone isn\u2019t enough, though. The next question is: now that you\u2019re in full-blown meltdown mode, what are you supposed to do next?<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_26 counter-hierarchy\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TOPICS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><label for=\"item\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps\/#Design_Your_Life\" title=\"Design Your Life\">Design Your Life<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps\/#Step_1_Track_your_engagingenergizingjoyful_activities_in_a_journal\" title=\"Step 1: Track your engaging\/energizing\/joyful activities in a journal\">Step 1: Track your engaging\/energizing\/joyful activities in a journal<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps\/#Step_2_Circle_in_on_jobscareers_that_involve_these_activities\" title=\"Step 2: Circle in on jobs\/careers that involve these activities\">Step 2: Circle in on jobs\/careers that involve these activities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps\/#Step_3_Brainstorm_on_relevant_skills_and_conduct_mini-experiments_that_can_hone_them\" title=\"Step 3: Brainstorm on relevant skills and conduct mini-experiments that can hone them\">Step 3: Brainstorm on relevant skills and conduct mini-experiments that can hone them<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps\/#Step_4_Measure_which_experiment_had_the_best_impact\" title=\"Step 4: Measure which experiment had the best impact\">Step 4: Measure which experiment had the best impact<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps\/#Step_5_Decide_on_a_path_and_course-correct_along_the_way\" title=\"Step 5: Decide on a path and course-correct along the way\">Step 5: Decide on a path and course-correct along the way<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/how-to-solve-a-mid-career-crisis-in-steps\/#Sign_up_on_Kalibrr_today_and_find_the_right_job_for_you_You_can_also_subscribe_to_our_weekly_newsletter_and_get_Kalibrr_Career_Advice_straight_from_your_inbox\" title=\"Sign up on Kalibrr\u00a0today and find the right job for you. You can also\u00a0subscribe\u00a0to our weekly newsletter and get Kalibrr Career Advice straight from your inbox.\">Sign up on Kalibrr\u00a0today and find the right job for you. You can also\u00a0subscribe\u00a0to our weekly newsletter and get Kalibrr Career Advice straight from your inbox.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Design_Your_Life\"><\/span><b>Design Your Life<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Luckily for you, some design professionals over at Stanford&#8217;s d.school (Design School) have answered this riddle. Bill Burnett and Dave Evans wrote <a href=\"http:\/\/designingyour.life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Design Your Life<\/i><\/a> to show how to apply design thinking to your personal problems \u2013 career ones included. One principle, in particular, involves giving yourself low-cost, mini-experiments. Take your mid-career crisis: since you don\u2019t know what to do next, doing mini-experiments will give you concrete data points that you can actually work with. This strategy of &#8220;building your way forward&#8221; is useful when you&#8217;re starting with a blank slate. Since you&#8217;re bridging the gap between perfect and imperfect information, you can start making more informed decisions. But how?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Track_your_engagingenergizingjoyful_activities_in_a_journal\"><\/span><b>Step 1: Track your engaging\/energizing\/joyful activities in a journal<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11844 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/tumblr_liy7k0TTJW1qixleeo1_400.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"198\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/excited-the-office-celebrate-Is1O1TWV0LEJi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">via GIPHY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ideally covered in a span of 3-4 weeks, write down the activities that naturally give you the most fulfillment. It can be anything from writing; spending time with your nephews; or even helping your friend organize their closet. The trick is to measure activities across 3 metrics: if they leave you more energized after doing it (energy); help you enter a state of absorption and engagement (flow); and if it left you happier than you were before doing it (joy).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11839\" src=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/rawpixel-com-255080-e1501836430504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/rawpixel-com-255080-e1501836430504.jpg 886w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/rawpixel-com-255080-e1501836430504-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/rawpixel-com-255080-e1501836430504-768x518.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Circle_in_on_jobscareers_that_involve_these_activities\"><\/span><b>Step 2: Circle in on jobs\/careers that involve these activities<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-11306 size-full\" style=\"font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none;text-decoration: none;box-sizing: border-box;vertical-align: middle;border-style: none;width: 824px;height: auto;color: #1c2326;font-family: Proxima-nova;font-size: 18px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/rawpixel-com-255080-e1501836430504.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"598\" data-caption=\" Photo by &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/L7EgX0HDaek?utm_source=unsplash&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_content=creditCopyText&quot;&gt;rawpixel.com&lt;\/a&gt; on &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/unsplash.com\/?utm_source=unsplash&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_content=creditCopyText&quot;&gt;Unsplash&lt;\/a&gt;\" \/>After tracking which activities consistently ranked high on all 3 metrics, your next step is to brainstorm on which careers entail these activities. Write down jobs that come to mind. If that\u2019s too hard, try starting with an industry first (e.g. marketing, sales, tech). Then once you have that shortlisted, try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/job-board\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">searching through job boards<\/a> to see what actual positions are out there for you to apply to that&#8217;s related to that.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11837\" src=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Step-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Step-3.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Step-3-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Step-3-1024x760.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Step-3-768x570.jpg 768w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Step-3-1536x1139.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Brainstorm_on_relevant_skills_and_conduct_mini-experiments_that_can_hone_them\"><\/span><b>Step 3: Brainstorm on relevant skills and conduct mini-experiments that can hone them<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-11309 size-full\" style=\"font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none;text-decoration: none;box-sizing: border-box;vertical-align: middle;border-style: none;width: 824px;height: auto;color: #1c2326;font-family: Proxima-nova;font-size: 18px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Step-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1519\" data-caption=\" Photo by &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photo-2398556\/&quot;&gt;rawpixel.com &lt;\/a&gt;on &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/pixabay.com\/&quot;&gt;Pixabay&lt;\/a&gt;\" \/>Since you\u2019re already mid-career, we can assume you possess some well-honed skills that are applicable to your next job. It can be leadership talent (every team needs this) or technical know-how. Assess what skills you already have, then determine which skills are still necessary for you to develop. This is where your mini-experiments come in. They\u2019re supposed to be doable while you\u2019re at your current job. A few examples: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/advice\/2015\/11\/10-great-sites-to-find-freelance-jobs-here-and-abroad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">freelance on the side<\/a> with actual clients; moonlight at gigs after your day job; or even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/advice\/2015\/03\/5-types-of-mentors-to-guide-your-career\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">approach an ideal mentor<\/a> and see if you can apprentice for free in your spare time. The goal is to get concrete, practical experience. This not only gives you leverage when you apply to the job, but also gives you actual data to learn if this job is something you want to transfer to.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11833\" src=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/adult-1850177_1280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/adult-1850177_1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/adult-1850177_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/adult-1850177_1280-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/adult-1850177_1280-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Measure_which_experiment_had_the_best_impact\"><\/span><b>Step 4: Measure which experiment had the best impact<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-11310 size-full\" style=\"font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none;text-decoration: none;box-sizing: border-box;vertical-align: middle;border-style: none;width: 824px;height: auto;color: #1c2326;font-family: Proxima-nova;font-size: 18px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/adult-1850177_1280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"854\" data-caption=\" Photo by &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photo-1850177\/&quot;&gt;pexels&lt;\/a&gt; on &lt;a href=&quot;http:\/\/www.pixabay.com\/&quot;&gt;Pixabay&lt;\/a&gt;\" \/>Once you\u2019ve conducted your mini-experiments, it\u2019s time again to gauge how you\u2019re feeling after each activity. Note that this isn\u2019t all right-brain thinking. While emotions such as joy are sometimes inexplicable (the heart wants what it wants), entering a state of flow is a different situation altogether \u2013 it means your skills are being used to the best of their limits. This is a strategic metric in order make yourself more marketable to potential employers \u2013 not to mention in a better position to negotiate great compensation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11835\" src=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/doors-1767563_1280-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"682\" srcset=\"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/doors-1767563_1280-1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/doors-1767563_1280-1-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/doors-1767563_1280-1-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/doors-1767563_1280-1-768x409.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_5_Decide_on_a_path_and_course-correct_along_the_way\"><\/span><b>Step 5: Decide on a path and course-correct along the way<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11311\" style=\"font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;text-align: start;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none;text-decoration: none;box-sizing: border-box;vertical-align: middle;border-style: none;width: 824px;height: auto;color: #1c2326;font-family: Proxima-nova;font-size: 18px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/doors-1767563_1280-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"682\" data-caption=\" Photo by &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/doors-choices-choose-open-decision-1767563\/&quot;&gt;qimono&lt;\/a&gt; on &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/pixabay.com\/&quot;&gt;Pixabay&lt;\/a&gt;\" \/>At the end of the day, you still have to make the decision after all these exercises. While mini-experiments are nice, you will have to choose and commit to one sooner or later. The nice thing is that by the time you do, you would\u2019ve had more concrete knowledge than before you started. You would\u2019ve measured yourself in both emotional and rational ways, and you would\u2019ve given yourself the peace of mind that you sampled different, varied options. The trick is to realize that you can always course-correct along the way. If one job doesn\u2019t work out, you can still jump laterally within the company (maybe you got the industry right) or pursue your job freelance-style (maybe you got the job right, but not the work environment). At the end of the day, it is our choices that define us;\u00a0and before you know it, you would\u2019ve defined yourself right out of your crisis \u2013 just like that.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sign_up_on_Kalibrr_today_and_find_the_right_job_for_you_You_can_also_subscribe_to_our_weekly_newsletter_and_get_Kalibrr_Career_Advice_straight_from_your_inbox\"><\/span><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kalibrr.com\/?utm_source=b2c-blog&amp;utm_medium=in-text&amp;utm_campaign=blog-cta&amp;utm_content=signup-button-111516&amp;ref=b2c-blog_free_blog-cta_signup-button-112216\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up on Kalibrr<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>today and find the right job for you. You can also\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/confirmsubscription.com\/h\/i\/77238488FF110D6D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>subscribe<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>\u00a0to our weekly newsletter and get Kalibrr Career Advice straight from your inbox.<\/em><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A mid-career crisis can be a cause for concern. Good news is it&#8217;s not as uncommon as you think. According to research by Vodafone, workers within the 31-35 age range are most unhappy at their jobs. So far from the isolating nature of a crisis, you can at least take comfort in knowing you\u2019re not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":11841,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11832"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neo-blog.kalibrr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}