Six Career Stages
As a Jobhunter, you will go through at least five career stages in your life.
The sixth stage is a choice if you wish to work beyond 65 years old.
All of us will live longer, perhaps approaching 90 years old.
Being prepared for a longer work life (>40 years) will be essential for our mental, physical, and financial health.
Why Six?
While researching the stages of career development, I couldn’t find a satisfactory career development model that matches to today’s work environment. Keith Davis proposed that most workers will experience the following five stages:
exploration, establishment, mid-career, late-career, and decline.
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While I think the first four stages are relevant to most professionals, I think the process is not linear. Also, I don’t like the word decline to end our careers.
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The Six Stages are created with a 9-year interval. I choose to start at age 20 as it is where most people will be in studying and performing internships.
After 45 years (9x5), Stage 6 starts at 65 years old.
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Like what Andrew J Scott and Andrew Scott wrote in "The 100-Year Life", we need to be prepared to work beyond the standard retirement age of today. Therefore, I believe that all jobhunters need to be prepared for Stage 6.
Summary of the Six Stages
Stage 1: Discovery
Age 20-28
This is the starting point. You take up internships.
You find your first jobs.
You ground and grind.
Stage 2: Maturing
Age 29-37
You develop Red Lines.
You find your Ikigai.
You make job switches.
Stage 3: Transforming
Age 38-46
You make big leaps.
You can transform.
Stage 4: Leading
Age 47-55
You lead others.
You mentor others.
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Stage 5: Renewal
Age 56-64
Hold retirement. Try renewal.
Extend your work life.
Stage 6: Fulfillment
Age 65 & beyond
Seek meaning and purpose.
Serve others generously.
Jobhunting for life.