Recently I’ve been speaking to a flood of parents seeking help for their young adult children facing the well-recognized syndrome called the quarter-life crisis. It refers to the years after formal education when individuals in their twenties and early thirties face an array of overwhelming choices and decisions.

Post-pandemic, this phase of life has gotten even more daunting. Many young people finished their high school or college education online. Connection and mutual support amongst their peers were limited. Isolation, shaky self-confidence, and identity confusion leave this emerging generation feeling utterly lost.

There is a solution and I wanted to share it here. There are three steps, along with resources and expert career coaching, that will lift quarter-lifers out of their fog.

Step One: Structure

Where does a person who is lost begin to find their way? The answer is the Elevate Career Cycle Model. It offers a clear description of the stages of a healthy career decision-making process. It also illuminates the psychological dynamics that typically accompany the self-discovery journey. The Model offers validation and a path forward.

Step Two: Self-Awareness

How does a quarter-lifer figure out who they are and what they should be doing with their life? Enter Elevations, an online career assessment focusing on temperament, values, skills, and career-related interests. It takes about 15 minutes to complete and produces a strength-based report. Validation and career clarity provide a foundation for career-related research and decision-making.

Step Three: Support

Who is the right person to hold the quarter-lifer accountable and offer encouragement that sustains them to a solid career selection? I’m going to endorse one of the graduates from the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy.

I have referred a bounty of quarter-lifers to Katy Reich with GoodeReichCoaching. With a balance of warmth and intelligence, she helps young people figure out who they are and where they fit in the world of work. Over the course of 8 to 12 career coaching sessions, she illuminates what is possible and translates that into meaningful employment.

If you know a parent worried about a quarter-lifer (or you have a lost soul living with you), know there is a solution. There are great careers out there for our brilliant youth. Let’s give them the help they need and deserve.

#quarterlifecrisis #career #careerdirection #careercoach