Do you feel like personality tests like DISC would be helpful in finding my way to the right career path?

12 Comments

1. Neelam TewarMarch 13,2023 at 1:59PM UTC

   I used to work a 9-5 and quit in 2016 built my own consulting, speaking and mentoring empire of good. I can tell you once you start feeling exactly what you are feeling now...you'll get little signs, for me it was attending conferences/seminars for years that had little to do with my corporate gig. I'm walking a path that is purposeful because I want to serve/elevate others and I can tell you this will morph over time, too. A blog is a great idea to get you started but also leverage social media where you can to post your thoughts on things that matter to you. (That's how I got my first client weeks after quitting my 9-5).

2. Ashley JamesMarch 13,2023 at 10:42PM UTC

   Thanks for inspiring me not just once, but twice today. Letting go of the past so I can fly so much higher without the heavy baggage. Here's to living my life full of intention and purpose.

3. Neelam TewarMarch 20,2023 at 4:59AM UTC

   Anytime, Ashley! Here's to you shining and living a life on your terms! Hugs.

4. BeaBoss979975March 13,2023 at 5:29PM UTC

   I would look into freelance writing, too.

5. Megan LeasherMarch 13,2023 at 6:21PM UTC

   Personality tests can help you learn more about yourself, but I would suggest a career interest assessment to better help with future career ideas. Here's a pretty good free one: https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip. I hope it helps!

6. AnonymousMarch 13,2023 at 6:27PM UTC

   I found the Gallup Strengths Finder very beneficial. It both confirmed things I was oh so tired of doing and no longer wanted to do, as well as highlighted my strengths making it easier to find/verbalize my transferable skills. Good Luck to you.

7. AnonymousMarch 14,2023 at 11:41AM UTC

   I'm 55 and after many years of admin work (I too was an office manager for a small company), I was DONE with it. I too always enjoyed writing and had a "mini" career in journalism (years ago) but at this stage in my life, I don't want to go back to reporting. I started a blog and it was fun (and frustrating!) learning WordPress but it was a cathartic and enjoyable experience. I joined a writer's group in my city and became a volunteer. I was given to task to find prolific/successful writers and ask them to speak at our monthly meetings. As the months went on, I rather enjoyed meeting/scheduling writers (mostly novelists but poets and others as well) and discovered that I'm interested in learning more about the publishing industry. Just start your blog and go from there! I didn't know what to write about initially but I found a "niche" and shared my blogs with only a few chosen friends. I connected w/ other bloggers through WordPress as well and am starting to share some of my content on Substack (an app) and Pinterest. Just start it and see where it takes you! I like to write now more for a hobby although I'm creating another that is for entirely different market. Go for it! :)

8. Ashley JamesMarch 16,2023 at 6:37PM UTC

   Thanks so much! I’ve been offline for a few days and I’m overwhelmed with all of the support and advice I have received! I have security start my blog. It will be call Bouncingbackbeautfully, and it will be mostly about becoming the best version of ourselves, aka “personal development “.

9. AnonymousMarch 16,2023 at 1:28PM UTC

   Thank you to those chiming in and recommending the extra resources! (Off to do some self-eval...!)

10. Kathleen Norton-SchockMarch 16,2023 at 1:44PM UTC

    Ashley: DISC is ok to start, but fairly "surface." When I am mentoring friends/colleagues, I strongly recommend more detailed assessments. You might want to consider Gallup's upgraded version of the Clifton StrengthsFinder. https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx Not only has it provided insight to many women/people I know, but I have 2 friends who have shared their results (judiciously) with prospective hiring decisionmakers. That did a few things for them --- it indicated their seriousness in self-introspection, signaled that they were trying to help find the "right fit" for them, and also inspired conversations on how they might best contribute to their future employer. I have used many of the tools (DISC, Myers-Briggs, Predictive Index, the Hogan assessment, the TTI assessment, Eneograms, and more). Clifton Strengths-Finder costs about $60 for an individual to use, and gives very detailed information (emphasizing your top 10 strengths, out of 36, and insight into weaknesses, too --- which my friends and I have also found helpful). Definitely worth the small $$ investment, and larger time investment, IMHO.

11. AnonymousMarch 16,2023 at 5:36PM UTC

    Why not just write a blog? Find a topic that interests you, make a plan decide how often to post find the right forum for posting it to a place that there is an audience for your topic. Then do it. If it feels right after 3 months then you will know it's something that you could do with regularity. Become an expert in your subject and then find a company where that could be useful to them and market yourself to their team as a resource.

12. Ashley JamesMarch 16,2023 at 6:38PM UTC

    Thanks everyone for reaching out with great advice and most importantly, support. I haven’t really taken advantage of this platform before , but I will from now on. I love that others can relate to what I’m going through!