A Career Change

The most invigorating thing you can do

	We're Celebrating a Friend's Promotion -- but When's Mine? It's great they get promoted. Three celebrations already this year. I don't think I could stand another one. I would go crazy -- unless, of course, it was finally mine. They always told me reassuringly "Your turn will come." But hard as I have worked -- it never has. They talked excitedly, usually about their jobs. They came home from work, not tired, but energized. Ready to live their own lives. And they got promotions and bonuses all the time, just like they took it for granted. But one thing I realized was their jobs fitted them. And I envied them because they talked passionately about their work. I was unexcited about what I did. And still did not have a clue what I really wanted to do... I had taken career related tests, such as Meyers Briggs, DISC, etc. But not everybody has found them useful. I had changed jobs many times without finding one I really liked. Were my friends just lucky to be in jobs they enjoyed so much? I did not know. So why not ask them? The first friend I asked said he knew from the time he started high school that he wanted to be in the health field. Which was exactly what he was enjoying now. I figured he was lucky. To be so sure of where he was going instead of wandering aimlessly. The next one said he got some help in high school. A career assessment by a face pattern recognition expert. I had no idea what he was talking about. But the message I got was clear. He got a direction early in life. To my surprise my next friend told me the same thing. He was looking for his first job but had no idea what he was looking for. And the regular career tests had not helped. He met with a face pattern recognition expert, and found his career direction. If it had worked for my friend, then maybe it would work for me too. Now I was intrigued. He said it was an outgrowth of personology and face reading. I looked blank. So he explained that Face Pattern Recognition was also something also known to casting directors. They are able to select people, he told me, who would be credible in such widely differing roles as nursing, journalist, psychologist and musician. To be credible they must not only look the part, they must act as if it was natural to them. The reason they look credible is that they have the same groups of features (face patterns) as the actual people who are attracted into these jobs. My job is setting up and organizing audio and video equipment for major conferences and training sessions. Once it's set up the job gets less interesting. But you have to be there in case of problems. Something I am quite good at is quickly sketching a good likeness. So I took to sketching some of the more interesting attendees. It was a way of looking busy rather than bored. And it worked. My little book of sketches was filled with fascinating, and totally different faces. I was totally fascinated by a Conference, a Musician's Conference and a political shindig. My eyes scanned back and forth along the rows of attendees. Was there a typical nurse's face? What were the most common facial features among musicians?... My sketchbook showed the answers. The typical politician face was totally different from the typical fireman's. And the musician face was different again. I showed my "typical" sketches to my wife. She said she loved the faces I had enjoyed drawing. "But..." There is always a but. She was not convinced. It was just my impression of some people. It would take some definite facts to convince her, or anyone else, she said... But there was a glint in her eye. I realized that she was impressed. And at the same time she was challenging me to do more... The next day at the conference I scanned the rows of faces again. What did their faces have in common? Today it was arched eyebrows and lip shapes.... A the next conference the most common features were chin shapes, close set eyes... These were the features I sketched, and recorded just how many were shared by the attendees of a particular conference. Later on I realized that I had progressed from an excited observer to a statistician. I saw there really were facial features that went with jobs. My wife was clearly impressed with the detailed information I had collected, and gave me the 'Wacha gonna do with it' look. The obvious answer was to ask my friend the name of the Face Pattern Recognition expert he had consulted with. I eagerly made an appointment... The results of my Career Profile -- The most rewarding career direction, by far, for me was research. Now why had I never seen that before? Thank you, your insight has really helped me to make a decision . It confirms the way I feel about my struggle with teaching. I have thought more about doing another MSc and going into consultancy work, which will involve project management I think you have just made my mind up! Also, it has always been my ambition to write a children's story book, so I shall stop making this an ambition and start getting on with it! Thanks again Karen Riley Learn how the Career Profile Works Home
			My career chart arrived today. Thanks a lot - just listening to it now. I only wish someone had told me all this about myself a couple of decades ago! John W. I found the whole experience and the information I gathered to be extremely helpful. It is a great tool to offer students! I have listened to my CD at least 5 times and have proceeded to integrate the information and definitely trying to re-train some of my behaviors. Adriana H. I just got your report--what a fantastic thing!!!! The boiled-down part about careers, avocations and hobbies was EXACTLY on target. I really enjoyed the process. Thanks so very much, Kathryn P. PhD Both my wife and I were profoundly impressed with the quality, precision and accuracy of your profile of me. Group Captain, RAF