Career Transitions

Career Counseling is not just for college students preparing to enter the workforce for the first time. Lay-offs, mergers, closings, and employee burnout are all too common in today’s workforce. We often find our sense of identity in our work and through career transitions and job changes we sometimes lose a sense of who we are. Whether the change is chosen or forced upon us we experience stress with transitions in our careers.

If this stress is affecting your daily life, counseling can help. Some warning signs of career related stress are being tired for no apparent reason, severe changes in eating or sleeping habits, and sudden onset of headaches or stomach problems with no physical explanation. If you find you want to be alone more often than usual or you feel depressed much of the time, career counseling can give you the tools you need to get through this transition period.

If you are currently employed, but are unhappy or unfulfilled in your current career, career assessments can be used to determine the area of focus that will best fit your interests, skills and personality. We can also address the emotional aspects that changing jobs or careers can have on self-identity and your plans for the future

Counseling for Career Transitions / Career Guidance

Counselor Rick A. Combs uses a 5-session approach to Career Counseling. The first session is focused on Understanding Where You Are. In this first session Rick will discuss with you what your current employment situation is and listen to what you have experienced that has brought you to your current situation. You will be given one or two professional assessments to take home and complete. As well as a brief worksheet to fill out as you begin to explore career opportunities.

The second session will revolve around Understanding Who You Are. In this session Rick will work to help you define your unique skills and abilities as well as taking a detailed work history. You will be given a worksheet to complete at home that helps you to further define who you are and what you have to offer to potential employers.

In the third session, Rick will provide a detailed interpretation of your professional assessment(s) and you will discuss the personal assessments that you completed at home. This sessions focus is on Charting Your Course. Potential career directions will be discussed and you will be provided with a worksheet for further researching these potential career options.

The fourth and fifth sessions are focused on resume writing and interviewing and may or may not be necessary depending on your needs.

This 5-session approach is aimed at providing you with a fast, effective way of evaluating your unique situation and defining a clear path forward. Many clients of career counseling find it helpful to have a few follow-up session to process their job search experience and discuss potential problems or concerns.

Whether  you are feeling overwhelmed with the thought of moving in a whole new career direction, just graduating and unsure of your future, or simply need help in furthering your current career path Career Counseling may be helpful to you.