Used a career counselor/ recommend oneI' m currently stuck in a dead-end job that' s been a set-back in my current field. I' m looking to change direction, but would like some advice from someone that could look at my interests and skill set and give me a fresh look at things - I' ve tried a few things over the past couple of years, but don' t seem to be making any progress. Has anyone used a career counselor when you' re considering a career change? Good or bad experiences to share? Any recommendations for someone (particularly in the Triad area of NC or that would consult remotely)? You can also go to your local unemployment office and, in 99% of all the bigger cities, there is a job connect facility or employment facility where there are counselors who can critique your resume and cover letter. Give you pointers on interviews. Tips on how to prepare yourself. Advice on your personal presentation. And many other things. If the college you went to is near you, then you should be able to take advantage of the career counseling center on campus.
Just to clarify - I'm probably needing something a little more involved than what I could get from the placement office at my alma mater or from the local unemployment office. I've had bad experiences with both in the past and am willing to pay a competent professional for advice. I've pursued a career for the past decade that's stalled and wanting to make a switch. I've also explored some other areas as hobbies or part-time businesses and have several ideas about moving forward. It might take a couple of sessions to go through my ideas and have the person give me advice or offer ideas for other options. Make sure that before you set out on the career counseling path, you do some research about cost - that will have a hand in determining who you can use and who you can' t as cost can widely vary. Price doesn' t always mean quality, though, so make sure to ask for professional certifications and references, as well as a detailed plan of what you get and don' t get, and review it to make sure it makes sense. One thing you could do is look for community adult ed classes - these often have a person who does career classes (like at a local YMCA or something like that - many communities have it). Call that person, or possibly attend one of the group classes to decide if you like him/her enough to pursue individual counseling (usually the classes are low cost).
Many thanks - some great ideas I'll be pursuing in the next few weeks. When you have a number of interests and a wide range of experience, it's sometimes hard to "hone in" what would translate well to something new for a career. Having a fresh set of eyes will certainly help. | |
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Career Tips
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