Stuck
Do you feel like you have been doing the same type of work "forever" and you have no other skills to apply in a job? Or maybe you have been working at home and/or in volunteer situations and have very little paid work experience - or little experience that would relate to the direction you want to go?
Either way, you can certainly feel "stuck". But we can look at some functional skills to help you identify those that may be transferable to other job situations. Remember, your talents, values, and personal attributes may be valuable to a variety of employers.
Or, if you feel you need to continue your education, we can talk about options that might be available at the various institutions in the area. You may need only a few classes to brush on some rusty skills, or could benefit from a formal program to prepare you for a totally new career direction.top
Undecided
You may be having difficulty making a decision because you do not have enough information about possible career options. Or perhaps you feel that you have so much information that you can not sort through it and make any decisions.
Either way, we can talk to you about your direction and help you figure out next steps to take in the process. You may benefit from going through our assessment process, if you have not been able to identify a career direction that seems a good fit for you. We can also suggest resources to provide you with additional information about your career options. We can also serve as an objective observer as you are going through the decision making process because we do not have a vested interest in which decision you make; unlike family members and others who may be close to you. top
Indecisive
Do you feel that you have sufficient information about your various career options and have a good sense of what would be required and involved in each of them, but are unable to make a decision? Have you been able to clarify the circumstances of the decision you are trying to make?
Perhaps there are other issues of which you are not quite aware that are keeping you from being able to make a reasonable decision. Some people benefit from a better understanding of their particular personality type - you may be an individual who hesitates to make decisions because you like to make sure you have fully considered all of your options. We can discuss any concerns as they relate to your ability, or inability, to make a decision about your career direction.top
Waffling
Have you identified several alternative career directions, but have difficulty deciding which one you want to pursue? Perhaps there are several occupations you think would be a good fit and feel frustrated because you can not prepare for all of them at the same time. Are you unsure which option you prefer to pursue? Or maybe you feel there are so many things you could do, or would like to do, that you hate to make a decision about which one to pursue? Do you decide one thing today and a different direction tomorrow?
If this is your situation, we can talk about how to determine a starting place. Maybe you can prepare for one career direction while you work in another area, for now. We know that most people will work in several different jobs and a few different career areas during their lifetime; this decision is not a one-time situation. We can also provide you with tools to help you the next time you face a similar situation or want/need to make a transition.top
Afraid
Are you afraid to think about making a change because you are not certain of what that will mean and how it could impact your life? Fear of the unknown is very normal, but if you need to make some changes in your work situation, it may also be very scary to stay in your current position. Perhaps you believe you are too old to make a change, or you have done the same type of work for so long that you can't imagine doing anything else.
One question I encourage people to think about is " What are the risks if I change and what are the risks if I don't change?" In most cases, there are some risks involved either way. We can help you analyze your particular situation and perhaps make suggestions for some research or exploratory activities that will reduce the fear of the unknown. Developing a plan can help you see how you could build a bridge to get to where you want to go and reduce the fear of the unknown.top
Concerned
Are you concerned that your job may be in line to be eliminated? Sometimes we see the "writing on the wall" and choose to ignore it until we are thrown into a job change. Others keep working with "blinders on" and, although change may be occurring all around them, they choose to ignore it and continue to believe they will not be effected.
It may help to begin a list of things (little or big) that cause your concerns. Depending on your relationship with your manager, you may want to have an open and honest discussion about those concerns. Others simply add up what they have listed and determine they will be better off taking an active approach to making a change. There may be another area within the organization that is doing very well and could use your skills and talents. It may be that you would need to begin to conduct an outside search or develop other plans. As in the other descriptions, we can discuss your situation, help you evaluate what is real about your concerns, and discuss possible options for you.top
Discarded
As large organizations downsize or right-size, many employees are left feeling discarded - unneeded and unwanted in the newly created organization. Others feel their work has very little meaning; that no longer contributes to the welfare of the employer, or any one else. Those individuals must find ways to cope with their feelings and to move on to a new situation.
Similar to the other situations, we can discuss your background and your strengths, interests, and preferences to build a plan for tomorrow. Through counseling, we can also assist you to cope with the feelings you have associated with the transition, whether it is voluntary or involuntary.top
Wondering
Do you find yourself wondering if there is something else you could or should be doing with your life? Perhaps you have considered self-employment or some other work in which you could feel challenged and productive.
As they continue to mature, many people feel a need to do work that is more meaningful; something that contributes to their community, neighborhood, or for society, in general. We can discuss your preferences and assist you to identify work or activities which you feel passionate about. Hopefully, you will be able to build a plan to help you achieve those goals.top
Frustrated
If you have been seriously looking for a new job for a while and meeting with little success, that can be very frustrating. We know the job market has not been "booming" for quite a while. But, it may be how you are conducting your search that is the problem. Skills needed to conduct a well organized job search campaign include, but are not limited to, writing, networking, time management, goal setting, and interviewing skills. Take time to review your skills. Could you benefit from a brush up in any of those areas? You also need to evaluate any obstacles you have encountered in your search; are they real or imagined?
We can assist you with some of the skill building activities and perhaps suggest some other resources that may be of value to you. We can also discuss any obstacles you may have encountered and help you determine if there are ways around them, if they are real. We may be able to suggest resources for gaining helpful information related to your objectives.top
Perhaps you have been a stay-at-home Mom or Dad and would like to prepare for a return to the work force. That can also cause feelings of uncertainty and, perhaps, self-doubts.
Completing some self-assessments may help provide you with guidance and some re-assurance about your strengths. Formal and informal assessments are available or could be recommended. top