Life-Story Writing for Career Change: Is it effective ? A Report on Research by George Dutch MAIS

Problem - Much theoretical work on process of career change - No studies on outcomes of career change in relation to theories - Thousands may choose to change careers but millions will be forced to endure unplanned transitions due to changing social and economic factors - Brown et al (2002) conducted a meta-analysis of 62 career intervention studies involving a total of 7725 participants - Concluded that writing exercises were the number one ingredient for effective career choice - Did not distinguish between: - different kinds of writing methods and exercises - career choice and career change - Life-Story Writing used in this experiment

Hypothesis - That life-story writing can facilitate positive career change. - Operational definitions - ‘Career change’ is not job change - transition from an incumbent career identity to a new career - Positive career change characterized by extrinsic and intrinsic markers: - more income - more congruence between their job duties and values - increase in positive emotions and a decrease in negative emotions - more clarity and confidence in their career decision-making.

Method - 44 individuals completed an online survey with 52 statements related to before and after conditions of their career-change process - Occupationally: did the desired career change actually occur? If so, what did or didn’t help? - Emotionally/psychologically: was the experience positive or negative? - Group 1 experimental group 28 individuals who completed life-story writing exercises with me - Group 2 another experimental group of 6 who had undertaken non-writing narrative guidance with me - Group 3 (control group) of 11 individuals who claimed to use non-writing narrative guidance with another practitioner, with an employer-sponsored service provider, or on their own

Profile of Participants Gender: 50/50 Male & Female - Age: Mid-life adults - 95% were years old - Ethnicity: 2/3 born &raised in Canada, others in USA, Europe, India - Education: All had post-secondary education - Income (22): 11 = $70K+, 4 = $33-69k, 7 = $ -32k - Employment Status: 20 employed, 9 self-employed, 4 unemployed - Range of professional and technical workers, managers & administrators, sales, clerical, service - Relationship status - 65% were married or common law, 35% single, separated, or divorced - Health (28): Good or Excellent - Durability: 2/3 undertook a change process 5+ years ago, most of those 10+ years Represented a convenience sample of middle class mid-life adults who attempted a career change process

Key Findings Table 1. Do you think you have made a successful career change? AnswerGroup 1Group 2Group 3Total Yes No In Transition No Answer Total

Change Examples IT Systems Analyst  Pet Groomer Electrical Engineer  Public School Teacher Occupational Therapist  Research Project Coord Desktop Publisher  Certified Financial Planner Software Tester  Product Marketing Manager Circuit Board Designer  Musical Therapist

Key Findings Table 2. Self-evaluation of emotional/psychological state before and after career change 44/44 participants IntensityEmotional/Psychological State ConfusedAnxiousConfidentExcitedFearfulSadAngryHappy Before Strong Moderate Weak After Strong Moderate Weak

Profile of Career Change Experience Employment, Marital, Education status did not change for most – exception not rule Income: equal number reported increase in income as decrease in income Negative emotions – Confused, Anxious, Fearful, Sad, Angry – intensity decreased significantly Positive emotions - Confident, Excited, Happy – intensity increased significantly

Self-report of Career Changers  Individual counseling involving interpretation and feedback on their life story - 33 clients reported 1-10 sessions and when asked how important was that relationship to a positive outcome, 29 of them said it was a strong or moderate 2. Written exercises involving the recording of life story or key life events / activities 3. Models (Resources were close behind at 4th)

Conclusion - What is useful for clients to know? - Fosters greater self-understanding and nurtures a “new” story - Writing life story & interpretation of story produces more clarity - Reduces indecision and increases certainty - Can foster motivation for effective actions that lead to real career change - Gives relief from negative feelings - Evidence that career change does not necessarily lead to lower income but can, in fact, advance career into higher income - Can take 1+ years to realize an effective change but it is a durable change

Conclusion - What is useful for career counselors to know? - Individuals can change their careers, both men and women - Career professionals can help clients change careers with life story methods - Life story approach is effective for many people - landscape of consciousness (increases self-understanding) - landscape of action (increases agency) - Helping Alliance - life story analysis & interpretation is rated highly by clients - Is Life Story approach more effective than other approaches, including self- directed change? - Requires comparison research