Jessica came to us for some mid-career guidance. She was interested in learning not only what her abilities really were, but also what other careers might be possibilities as she considered a job change. She was seeking a more flexible schedule and new ways to apply the skills she had gained over a 25-year career.

 

After graduating from George Mason University with a business/marketing degree, Jessica started working at a national association in Washington D.C. She entered the workforce at the administrative level, planning to utilize first her business skills and then move into marketing. Over time, she worked in a variety of marketing, research and distance-learning roles. After sixteen years there, Jessica moved to another national association. There she applied her marketing and writing skills to grant making, marketing and distance-learning, and to training Head Start teachers. After eight years at that association it was again time to investigate new possibilities.

 

Jessica had heard about Ability Potentials from someone who had recently taken the aptitude tests. He told her that Ability Potentials had both confirmed strengths and illuminated other areas of giftedness. As a result of the testing process, he applied for – and got – a position that was much different than the work he had done for years, but which fit much better with his aptitudes. Jessica decided she would go through the testing process herself before starting her next job search.

 

Aptitude testing showed that Jessica is a strong Specialist with a low Extrovert score. She has strengths in Idea Productivity, Concept Organization, Tonal Memory and Pitch Discrimination. These aptitudes can combine in a variety of ways – there is no one compelling field that is dictated by this particular combination of aptitudes.

 

Thus for Jessica the key factor in determining a career direction was her Specialist nature. Specialists need to be personally dedicated to what they do – work is more than “just a job” that provides an income. Jessica knew that she liked having a depth of knowledge as well as working for a cause she supports. Her passions include early literacy, marketing, research, and serving those in need.

 

During our discussion, Jessica found validation for many of her aptitudes and was surprised by a number of others. The experience gave her new awareness of strengths that had been beneath the surface, which she then brought into her search for a new position.

 

Jessica contacted us earlier this year to let us know that she had started a new job at a local university as an early literacy coach. She is helping teachers in the most disadvantaged communities in Washington, D.C. The work is part of a large research project led by a team of leading international researchers. This position taps into Jessica’s passion for early literacy and her desire to help others. It also gives her a more flexible schedule – she has some time off during the summer to spend with her family.

 

Jessica shared with us recently, “I consistently recommend Ability Potentials to people of all ages from mid-high school upward. This process is so effective in identifying latent talents as well as confirming those a person already is aware of. I plan to have my children undertake this during their mid-high school years to help them determine their most natural career paths, and to guide us in school and career choices.”