The profile of the position you want and the profile of your personal style may be similar. In this case, you match closely the requirements of the position and should have little difficulty understanding how to communicate on the job.
On the other hand, your profile and the job profile may be quite different. Does this mean that you can't perform the job? No. But you do want to look carefully at those differences. Does your ideal job require that you be a High D, and you're a low D? That can be tough. Still, you would only have to act like a High D once in a while.
It boils down to this: If the job requires a certain style of performance, it doesn't require it all the time, only situationally. You don't have to place undue stress on yourself by trying to maintain that style constantly.
Instead, identify the times when that style is required and sustain it only long enough to get done what has to be done.
How Far Should You Step?
At this point in your life, the degree of risk you're willing to accept is different from that of your youth. Positions are available for people who relish the challenge of a "turnaround" or "startup" situation. If you know you would find these exhilarating and fun, then look for work in these kinds of firms. They will have openings in almost all work areas. But for your own future security, you should investigate the circumstances completely; that is, the company's financing, the personalities involved and likelihood of replacement for top management personnel (your future bosses or subordinates?), the degree of both autonomy and support you would have, the marketability of the company's products or services, the pensions and other benefits, and so on.
Your evaluation of the firm's potential would have to include best-case, worst-case, and mid-range possibilities. Could you survive, economically and emotionally, the worst-case scenario? (In such high-risk situations, the reasons for failure will most likely be due to circumstances beyond your control rather than your own shortcomings.) If your answer is "No, I could not survive," then don't do it.
Should You Go into Business for Yourself?
Another high-risk situation taken by more and more older executives is going into business for themselves. One option is to become a consultant to other businesses and business executives. The market for consultants, however, is only for those older executives who are truly skilled specialists, which companies need but would not, or could not, afford to hire on a permanent or in-house basis. In fact, an entire consulting industry has grown up that hires executives and professionals who are then "farmed out" for short-term assignments with companies who need their high-level skills for a specific project or projects, and for which they are willing to pay premium prices.
To make consultancy work, you must have marketable skills; know how and be able to sell yourself and your services; have enough financial reserves to get through the tough beginning states; and produce the results you clients desire when they purchase your services.
Consultancy can be a feast or famine proposition. Even long-established consultants with excellent reputations sometimes have difficulty selling their services. In fact, you must constantly sell yourself. You must be looking for the next contract while continuing to fulfill the current contract. There can be long dry spells between contracts, known affectionately in the trade as being "on the beach." You have to save and allocate funds in expectation of these dry spells.
Still, consultancy-if you are emotionally constituted for the financial ups and downs-can be challenging, exciting and rewarding, especially if you have an opportunity to work with a top-notch consultancy group. Check out the opportunities thoroughly, though, before choosing this as your full-time profession. Talk to other people who are trying to make a living as consultants. Contact consulting groups and ask to talk to one of the consultants about the problems associated with their work. Another line of work may suddenly be more attractive to you.
You might want to consider a retail business-perhaps turning what was formerly an avocation into an occupation. Let's say that when you reviewed the things that give you the most pleasure in life, your woodworking hobby was high on the list. Do your hobbies or favorite pastimes have a business in there somewhere? A surprising number of former executives are making very good livings out of the things they most like to do.
Other possible career switches to think about: Do you understand personal computers? Can you install software? Can you train others to use software? Businesses that are going to survive to the 21st century must use computers for more than accounting (payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, etc.) But only 30 to 35 percent of older executives are computer literate. The others need to develop computer skills. You might fill a possible niche bringing innovative computer applications to small businesses. This would involve recommending hardware and software purchases, setting up the hardware, installing the software, providing a few days of initial training, then monitoring progress and supplying help only when requested.
What about a totally different second career, one for which you may have to do additional study and preparation? If you're still not sure after going through all of the self-study and introspection suggested so far, it's time to contact a professional. Take the battery of interest, aptitude and skills tests a professional can provide, then make your choice and set your path. In any event, take advantage of the time you have to learn a new set of skills. And whatever your ultimate decision, make a considered, rational change-not just one because you're sick of your life the way it is. You might not like your new life and career, either.
