“I just don’t get it. I don’t know why I don’t feel passionate about my work.”  

After spending 15 years in corporate law and checking all of the “right” boxes, Jennifer broke the silence and acknowledged her unfulfilling career. She’d graduated from a top law school, followed the family legacy and built what looked like a highly successful career – at least on the outside. But on the inside? She was absolutely miserable.  

“I don’t have a connection. I feel so lost. I’m looking to move, but I’m not sure if a career change is a good idea. I mean, I wouldn’t really want to throw away my experience,” 

-she expressed discontentedly during an initial meeting with Crosworks, when she asked to learn more about the Birkman Assessment® and Career Coaching.  

With her Birkman insights in hand, we learned that she’s creative, a good communicator, and enjoys people-focused work. Through our coaching sessions, Jennifer has pivoted to legal consulting for nonprofits, drafting policies that uplift communities. “I’m still using my law degree,” she shares ecstatically, “Only now I wake up excited every day. My coach helped me see that changing direction didn’t mean I was throwing away my experience; in fact, I’ve finally begun using it authentically.” 

Birkman for Job Searches and Career Changes 

Ever been in a situation that’s similar to Jennifer’s? Tough. That’s because job searches and career changes are overwhelming. Naturally, a change can trigger feelings of uncertainty and induce fear of the unknown, making you question your abilities, even if you’re incredibly talented and carry years of experience.  

But don’t let this uncertainty make you feel glum, for it’s not all so gloomy. In fact, the good news is that you don’t have to figure this out all alone; Crosworks can help. For a quick overview of how the Birkman Assessment can assist you with your career success, download a sample Birkman Report and talk to a Crosworks Career Coach about Career Assessment.  

What Makes the Birkman Assessment Stand Out 

At Crosworks, clients often ask us, “Why Birkman? Fair question. After all, there are a dozen career assessments out there. But we believe that the Birkman Assessment taps in deeper; it understands how you think, sees what drives you, figures out what stresses you, and identifies what genuinely interests you. But wait, it doesn’t just stop there. Birkman uses this information, connects it with your traits and behaviors, and shows you exactly where you’re meant to thrive. 

In a nutshell, your Birkman Report helps you: 

• Identify what genuinely excites you at work and in life.  

• Understand how colleagues perceive you. And why. 

• Communicate your strengths to current and potential managers. 

• Make confident career decisions based on real, science-backed data, and not just a gut feeling.  

Shades of Success: The Birkman Colors 

Birkman uses four colors to identify differences in your behaviors and personality. As Birkman puts it, you’re not just one color, but a blend – a beautiful mix of hues. And once you’re able to hold onto your right colors, you can recognize your natural tendencies to make better career moves. Let’s dig in a little deeper to see how Birkman defines these colors to highlight the strongest sides of your personality.  

Red – The Doers: You’re a quick decision maker, practical, direct, and results-focused. As Birkman Red, you tackle tasks head-on with clear objectives in mind. 

Green – The Communicators: You’re a natural with people. Persuasive and competitive, you thrive when you interact and collaborate. 

Yellow – The Analyzers: You love structure and details. You’re the one who brings order to chaos with systematic planning.  

Blue – The Thinkers: You’re the creative visionary. You focus on possibilities and excel at solving complex problems with innovative solutions. 

Birkman Insights for Career Success 

Discover Your True Career Path 

Put aside any generic advice about following your passion. And instead, follow Birkman’s practical guide to align your strengths with real career opportunities. Our client, Priya, approached us after a dreadful layoff from her dream project management role. Her strengths, as we learned, lie in problem-solving and systems creation. For her, we suggested an operations consulting role.  

Today, Priya successfully runs process improvement projects for a healthcare company. “I would’ve never thought of this path on my own,” she told us. “My coach saw potential in an entirely different environment. I’m truly grateful.” 

Manage Job Search Stress 

Job hunting is stressful. The uncertainty, the wait, and occasionally, the unfortunate rejections. All these add up to trigger your stress responses. But recognizing your stress patterns through the Birkman Assessment can help you: 

• Get a grip on yourself before you slip into any unproductive behavior. 

• Create personal coping strategies to handle situations better. 

• Avoid environments that trigger your stress responses.  

Communicate Your Value Confidently 

Don’t let simple interview questions, such as “Tell us something about yourself,” make you break into a cold sweat. Use insights from Birkman to express your strengths with confidence and candor. Instead of the usual, “I’m a great team player,” try saying, “My Birkman Assessment results reveal that I’m someone who thrives in collaborative environments, and your company’s cross-functional approach appeals to me.” 

Notice how this response can leave a better impact on your interviewers? You’re not stating your strengths for the sake of responding to a question; rather, you are demonstrating a high level of self-awareness and explaining how you can bring value to the company.  

Win Big: Your Next Best Career 

Dive in for the big win!  

Career transitions aren’t terrifying leaps into the unknown; they’re hidden opportunities waiting to be found. You just need the right tools and expert guidance to make that one strategic move that can help you achieve fulfillment and career success. Birkman empowers you to shift your thoughts from an apprehensive, “I hope this works out,” to a more positive, “I know this is right for me.” 

Ready to discover more about your best-fit career? Download a sample Birkman Report and talk to a Crosworks Career Coach to learn how we can turn your career uncertainty into confident clarity. 

 

 

*This blog has been updated as of 12/2/25 with current content.