"I’m 39 year and have taken a voluntary redundancy package from an office job. I have been doing office work since the age of 17 from a very junior level to a PA at Board Director level for local blue chip companies. I feel completely and utterly horrified to go back to an "office" based role and want to get away from secretarial. I have a chance of thinking outside the box and need some guidance on who I am and what I can do. I haven’t been to University, but I have a great desire to learn, please and utilise my common sense and have learnt many skills over the years.
I’m coming to you to sort me out! I’ve looked at various options and doing the Highlands Ability Test, Myers Briggs Type Career and possibly the Strong Interest Inventory programme.
What would you suggest? I’m looking forward to your reply."
My Reply
Thanks so much for getting in touch. I work with people from a range of backgrounds and with various objectives, but helping people to find out more about themselves so they make a really good career decision for them is a key objective.
Taking voluntary redundancy can be liberating and gives you a bit of breathing space to make the right decision for you, at this time in your life. With your daughter getting older she’ll begin to think on careers in the next couple of years, it might be inspiring for her to see you focusing on making the right choice for you.
Most people end up taking a job similar to what they have just done as their CV focuses on skills gained and that is what other people see so taking stock to review your personality, interests, abilities, values and more can be very helpful and you are then clearer on what you want and why, which really helps to sell yourself at interview.
Lots of job ads focus on peoples academic qualifications, but the good thing about being a bit older is that more emphasis is placed on what we have learned, and, indeed our life skills.
The benefit of taking the Highlands Ability Battery is that it measures ability not intelligence and that, alongside other assessments can help you know who you are and what to do.
Does your company provide some outplacement money along side your redundancy pay off? Or have you already left?
I’d certainly make sure that you make the best use of your money.
I think it would be good to talk with you, and I’ll give you a call later today
