Career Counseling?

[raeoflyte]

Anyone used one?  Thoughts?  How did you find them, what assessments/recommendations did they make?  How much did it cost and was it worth the money?  

I had talked to one at my community college many, many years ago after a layoff.  They reviewed my resume and said I had really done a lot with my meager "certification" I had earned at the community college.  That didn't actually help me get a job though.  

Looking at google and I see an interesting one that looks reasonable.  But then I wonder if it matters, if the personality tests tell me I should be a florist, I'm certainly not going to do that for the peanuts I would earn just because I would supposedly love it.  

A career coach is probably more of what I need, but I'm definitely not in an income bracket to afford that.  

I should definitely read more, but as much of an excuse as this is, that is just difficult at this point in time.  If I sit down with one of my books, a child brings me one of theirs to be read instead and I can't say no to that kind of request!  

[Deleted]

All I can think of is that pis ode of Friends where Chandler tried to quit his job and "Eight and a half hours of aptitude tests, intelligence tests, personality tests... and what do I learn? ... You are ideally suited for a career in data processing for a large multinational corporation."

Sorry, I know that's no help  

[Deleted]

I hired a Career Counselor eight years ago. It cost me about $10K and was worth something but not $10K. (Note that you may be able to deduct it from your taxes, to the extent it exceeds the threshold of your AGI.)

Lots of testing. They've already paid the licensing fees for the tests and can justify a lot of their fees with testing, while not actually having to do much except sit you in a room with a computer and tell you the results. If I were to do it again I'd push back and tell them I want the services of a "career psychologist" whom I could consult as needed for an hourly rate.

The end product was a pretty accurate assessment of my work style and strengths/weaknesses in dealing with people on the job (e.g. I'm non-confrontational) and a recommended reading list. Some of the books were decent. I really liked the advice to pick up and read biographies of powerful women (e.g. Catherine the Great).

I'll tell you what I learned in the end, at no cost to you.

1. We all have different work styles.
2. That's OK.
3. We need to play nicely together.

In my case, I wasn't focused on "what should I do for a living?" and you may be looking for that. What initiated it was that I ad a new boss whose style was pretty much the opposite of mine- anyone who knew him described him as "direct". Even though he was a thoroughly decent and trustworthy guy, and his behavior never strayed into bullying, I found him a bit scary.

[chapeau]

I asked a similar question on YM-OT a couple of months ago, because I'm looking to change careers.
The one career consultant/coach that I looked into locally is 75 or so minutes away from me and she thought that was too far for me to travel to meet with her.
I ended up buying some books from Amazon, which I'm reading in my car on my lunch hour.
The Pathfinder -- exercises to help you discover your career path. I'm not very far along
Be Who You Are -- lots of Myers-Briggs stuff, and I am hard to place, as I'm pretty much dead center on at least one factor, so I set this one aside to read The Pathfinder.
and What Color is Your Parachute, 2015 edition.
Depending on what I get from those (I'm giving myself till the end of September to get through at least 2 of the books, but I have until the end of June to find a new job), I am considering looking for a either career coach, or some kind of online coaching/counseling. I really need some guidance, but I'm sort of hoping I can manage it myself on the cheap, because I sure as heck can't afford to spend what athena spent. I only make $35k a year.

[Deleted]

I had to go to one when I was (sort of voluntarily) downsized from my old job, in order to collect UE. Rae, I don't know if you know the story. My co moved from central Paris (40m commute each way) to another suburb on the other side of Paris. So I went from a 40m commute to a 1h45m commute to work (each way), so 3.5h per day. I lasted 4 months.

Since the company was in bad financial shape, they offered a payout to employees who had a 1h commute or more, if their move lengthened the employee's commute by at least 20 min. I fit the bill, I took the payout.

I knew I'd end up teaching (nothing else I can do LOL). But the program I had to do (with 2 other women) was great! It lasted about 6-8 weeks (can't remember), and we had "homework" every week. I initially REALLY scoffed at it but it was VERY instructive in the end. As I said, I always knew I'd end up teaching, but the assignments obliged me to speak to a lot of people, do a lot of research, find the best age group for me, find my strengths and weaknesses IN THAT NEW FIELD. And although I never kept up with the 2 other women afterwards, it was great for us to have each other at the time. 

So yes, I think it was very constructive. 

This said, I wouldn't want to spend a boatload of money on it. Apparently (per one of those women) several suburbs near me also offer career counseling sessions / clubs / workshops. They do resume / cover letter workshops too. They are often run by recently retired or new SAH folks. They are basically free (you just have to join their non-profit association, probably about $25-$35 per year). 

Does something like that exist near you? I'm guessing that if it exists here, it MUST exist near you too.

If it does, I'd definitely look into that. 

As well as the reading that Chapeau recommended. 

[Phoenix84]

What exactly are you looking to do? Are you looking to change fields or advance in your career? Or are you unemployed and seeking a new job?

[raeoflyte]

Sept 17, 2014 9:15:57 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

What exactly are you looking to do? Are you looking to change fields or advance in your career? Or are you unemployed and seeking a new job?

Mostly advance in my career.  I'm open to another direction, but I'm not open to starting at the bottom salary range so that pretty much limits my options.  I'd like to be able to talk with someone who doesn't have any specific interest in my career plans on what direction I should be going though, taking into account my personality and strengths and help me build that into a more solid foundation.  Plus someone who could help me figure out what a degree could do for me assuming I can get tuition reimbursement.  

[chapeau]

Sept 18, 2014 10:41:25 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Mostly advance in my career.  I'm open to another direction, but I'm not open to starting at the bottom salary range so that pretty much limits my options.  I'd like to be able to talk with someone who doesn't have any specific interest in my career plans on what direction I should be going though, taking into account my personality and strengths and help me build that into a more solid foundation.  Plus someone who could help me figure out what a degree could do for me assuming I can get tuition reimbursement.  

You said it very well, especially the bold parts. I might have to revisit my plan...

Good luck!

[Opti]

Sept 16, 2014 12:17:38 GMT -5 oped said:

All I can think of is that pis ode of Friends where Chandler tried to quit his job and "Eight and a half hours of aptitude tests, intelligence tests, personality tests... and what do I learn? ... You are ideally suited for a career in data processing for a large multinational corporation."

Sorry, I know that's no help  

I've done it two or three times. Two of them were when I was an adult and I either

fully paid them or started the process. It helped, but I think I would have done even

better if I could have afforded one of those very accurate, expensive folk that rich people

sometimes set up their college-aged progeny with.

I used a coach years ago, not quite a career coach but close. She billed around $125/hr.

per contact hour. I met her through a seminar at my Church based on their book, "Fulfill

Your Soul's Purpose". The assignments she gave me clarity on what I would choose and why.

I like so many things and am a Rennaisance 2014 woman, so doing assignments that forced

me to choose and rank order things did bring clarity to me and the realization that prioritizing

what is better for me could be helpful in real life. For example, prior to her assignments, I

would have been hard pressed to come up with a favorite meal. (Actually took me a better

part of a week to come up with one. )

I seem to have only the workbook, The Fulfill Your Soul's Purpose workbook.

[Opti]

Sept 18, 2014 10:41:25 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Sept 17, 2014 9:15:57 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

What exactly are you looking to do? Are you looking to change fields or advance in your career? Or are you unemployed and seeking a new job?

Mostly advance in my career.  I'm open to another direction, but I'm not open to starting at the bottom salary range so that pretty much limits my options.  I'd like to be able to talk with someone who doesn't have any specific interest in my career plans on what direction I should be going though, taking into account my personality and strengths and help me build that into a more solid foundation.  Plus someone who could help me figure out what a degree could do for me assuming I can get tuition reimbursement.  

Career coach!

Read self help books, they often publish one or more in their working career.

Two, find out where your local unemployed people meetings are. Career coaches

often give talks in hopes of landing new clients.

If you lived in central NJ, I'd give you some names. I think Absolutely Abby and

Lloyd Feinstein regularly give talks around here. (This was only a couple of names. )