Major Mid-Career Changes: Outcome Factors and Correlations
Major Mid-Career Changes: Outcome Factors and Correlations
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Issue Date
2013
Authors
Clark, Beth A.
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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence a mid-career change. For the purposes of this study, mid-career change is defined as an individual being in their previous occupation a minimum of three years and in their different current occupation for at least a year. They would have switched their career path to a different field entirely, where they had to have a new set of skills, routines, and work environments. Mid-life was defined as being between the ages of 30 and 65 years old. A two-page survey was given through SurveyMonkey, the online survey research site. A sample of 111 participants (55 men and 56 women) responded to the survey that included questions such as: What are the reasons a person changes careers? Did they have support making the career change? Were they afraid to change careers? Are they satisfied with the career change? Did they change their professional field of occupation? Does education level matter? Pearson correlations, using the SPSS statistical package, were used to explain predictive variables for reason for change, support from friends and family, independent decisions, and fear of changing careers related to the outcome variables of satisfaction with the change, if the participant changed professional backgrounds, and if they needed further training or advanced education. Factor analysis, using a correlation matrix and varimax rotation, was used to reduce the measure and determine the factors. The factors created showed the predictive variables as Reason for Change (R change), Support, Independent (Indep), and Fear. The outcome variables created were Satisfaction, Professional Change (P change), and Education. The results showed that the predictive variable of R change correlated highly with the outcome variable for how satisfied the participant was with the career change, while the predictive variable of Support and Indep correlated only moderately. Being afraid to change careers, the predictive variable of Fear, had no relationship to the outcome variable of satisfaction. The research also showed that the predictive variable of Support had no association to if the participant needed further education or changed professions, which was the outcome variable of P change and Education. These results showed that support is helpful to a satisfactory outcome on a mid-career change, which will benefit mental health professionals and career counselors when giving guidance to people making a life-changing career decision.