YOU HAVE A CAREER CONCERN TO RESOLVE

By contacting Career Counselling Services, you have shown your desire to do something positive.

These are some of the questions often asked of us. You may have others:

• I want a fulfilling career. Can you help me clarify my strengths and weaknesses, so that I will make my choice wisely?
• I have never had the chance to talk over my career aims objectively. Can you help me do this?
• I feel at a crossroads in my career. Can you help me decide which way to go?
• I've always drifted into my jobs. It now seems the right time to make a definite decision. Can you help me gain a sense of direction?
• I want to leave my present job. But I am not sure whether 1 should change careers, or just need a change of employer. Can you help me decide?
• I'm in a 'good' job, but I'm not happy. How realistic is it of me to consider other career options?
• I have growing feelings of dissatisfaction with my job. Can you help me reflect on the suitability of the career I have chosen?
• Nothing seems to interest or excite me. Can you help me explore what might be holding me back?
• I'm interested in so many things. Can you help me focus?
• My work and home life are out of balance. Can you enable me to regain some perspective, and consequently a more satisfying balance?
• My skills and interests are currently under utilised in my job. Can you help me to think through ways of better using them in or out of work?
  

index

THE CAREER COUNSELLING SERVICES APPROACH

CCS has been providing career counselling services for individuals and employers since 1978. Our approach has always been to provide a flexible, comprehensive and personal service.

Effective career counselling takes time. We realise that talking over your concerns and making a decision about your future can be difficult. We are therefore sensitive to the way you feel at this important time.

At Career Counselling Services you will have a number of one-to-one meetings with an experienced Career Counsellon We also make use of aptitude tests and questionnaires which highlight skills, occupational interests and personality. These can be useful to help you assess the potential suitability of different occupations, training courses, or work environments.

Meetings are usually arranged at intervals of about one week to provide you with sufficient time to reflect on the discussions and test results. These periods also give you the opportunity to complete self-appraisal exercises and read relevant information. Where considerable travelling is involved, it is sometimes possible to have two meetings on the same day.

THE FOUR STAGES OF CAREER COUNSELLING

Job search and career management in 2000 and beyond require more thorough preparation than ever before. At Career Counselling Services, we use a four stage approach:

• Stage 1: WHO AM 1?
• Stage 2: WHAT DO 1 WANT?
• Stage 3: HOW CAN 1 GET WHAT 1 WANT?
• Stage 4: HOW DO 1 MARKET MYSELF?

Many people make the mistake of rushing headlong into marketing themselves without doing the work of Stages 1,2 and 3. Once Stages 1, 2 and 3 have been addressed, attention can be given to developing a professional job search and career management strategy - not before.

Stage 1: Who am I?

This is the fundamental preparation which should be undertaken prior to making a decision about your career and personal development. It may include testing and self appraisal exercises to help you assess your:

• Skills (What am I good at?)
• Aptitudes (What am I capable of?)
• Interests (What am I motivated to do?)
• Values (What is most important to me?)
• Personality (What work roles and environments would suit me?)

Stage 2: What do I want?

With the increased clarity and confidence which Stage 1 encourages, you should be in a better position to produce, with the help of your career counsellor, ideas about your future.

Stages 1 and 2 are the basis of the Career Development Counselling Programme

Stage 3: How do I get what I want?

If you are considering new areas, you will have to research them thoroughly and address the following questions:

• How realistic is this occupation for me? (i.e. training, salary, job possibilities)
• What are the alternatives?

CCS's Library gives you access to information on hundreds of different occupations, and details of relevant training and development courses and grant-giving bodies.

Your Counsellor will discuss with you how to gain the most from this research phase.

Stage 4: How do I market myself

Now you are clearer about yourself and your direction, you will want to present yourself in the best possible way, through a well thought out strategy, and the most effective use of written and face-to-face techniques. You will also need to consider ways of maintaining your momentum and morale.

Stage 4 is covered through the CCS Job Search Programme

index

WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM CAREER COUNSELLING

• Greater self confidence from a clearer understanding and recognition of your own abilities and personal qualities
• From this confidence, the ability to narrow down the range of opportunities to pursue
• A clearer vision for your future direction
• The identification of skills transferable to new areas
• Knowledge of how your particular qualities suit certain work contexts more than others
• The confidence to consider new ways of developing and pursuing your potential
• Understanding more fully what motivates you at work
• Improved decision-making skills
• The courage to make a change of career or job, if appropriate
• An Action Plan for your career and personal development
• Contacts in relevant employment fields, where available
• References based on your test results for colleges and employers, where appropriate.

index

HOW DOES CAREER COUNSELLING WORK?

WE GIVE YOU

• 11-13hoursofourtimeandattention(includingdlscussionsandtesting) normally spread over four meetings
• The opportunity to talk through your career situation with an independent professional
• The opportunity to take tests and questionnaires covering aptitudes, occupational interests and personality
• Loan, reference and photocopying facilities in our Library, which has information on occupations, job hunting, retraining and personal development opportunities
• The opportunity to involve partners in the final meeting if you wish
• The opportunity to tape record the test feedback discussion. Our experience shows that using tapes is most helpful in enabling you to recall the meaning of the test results. The tape is, of course, yours to use as you wish. You might, for example, want to share it, with someone you trust
• The opportunity to use the CCS Job Search Programme as an alternative, or in addition to, career counselling
• The opportunity to receive mentoring for career and personal development
• The opportunity to have counselling for personal issues, including managing pressure and relationships at work
• index

CAREER DEVELOPMENT COUNSELLING
(21 years and over)

PREPARATION

• Written preparation

VISIT 1 (about one and a half hours)

• Review of your career, education and training to date

• Review of other relevant life issues

• Agreeing general objectives for career counselling -
  for example:

Do I need a change of career or just a different employer? What are my strengths and weaknesses for the occupations which interest me?

• Agreeing any specific questions for career counselling -
  for example:

Would I fit better into a commercial or not-for-profit organisation? Would I be more suited to a generalist managerial or more specialist technical role?
Would I be happier in a larger or smaller organisation?
Do I have the right kind of temperament for self employment?
How might a different work role affect or be affected by other facets of my life? (eg relationships, finances, circumstances)
Am I more a 'number one' or 'number two'?
How can I better use my creativity?
What kind of work activities would I enjoy more?

• Agreeing written self appraisal exercises

• Preparing for the administration of tests and questionnaires

index

VISIT 2 (about six hours)

• Administration of tests and questionnaires

VISIT 3 (about one and three quarter hours)

• Discussion of tests, questionnaires and self appraisal exercises (tape recorded, if desired)

• Exploration of your strengths, weaknesses and development needs

• Provision of appropriate information

• Agreeing any research assignments and decision-making exercises

VISIT 4 (about one and a half hours)

Could include the following:

• Identifying career and personal development options

• Blocks and bridges

• Making a decision

• Summarising key elements for obtaining job satisfaction

• Agreeing action plan

• Providing information where appropriate

• Agreeing further research for you to follow up

• Discussion with your partner, if desired.

WRITTEN SUMMARY

After the final meeting, a summary of the results and points arising from the meetings will be sent to you, usually within two weeks.

FOLLOW-UP

We are always pleased to answer questions after the consultations and our Library is available for your reference for as long as you need further information. We will also write to you one year later to find out how you are progressing.

index

TESTS, QUESTIONNAIRES & SELF APPRAISAL EXERCISES

At CCS, we make use of several tests, questionnaires and self-assessment exercises to stimulate and focus discussion. No single test or exercise can produce the 'right' answer. However, it may contribute significantly to the overall picture. Your Counsellor will help you to identify recurring themes from the different exercises, thereby increasing your clarity and confidence in the results. This acts as a sound basis for developing a picture of your future career direction.

Aptitude Tests

These are appropriate if you want a thorough appraisal of your potential, and if you are considering the possibility of training or of entering a new career. They include a range of reasoning tests, which can indicate specific talents and aptitudes for learning and problem solving.

Interest Questionnaires

These act as a basis for discussing what you really enjoy doing. Your interests are the key to your energy, and therefore your commitment and application.

Personality Questionnaires

Personality questionnaires are important because they give you ideas on your suitability for a variety of work environments, your strengths for coping with different people in different situations, and whether you are likely to work better in a team or in a more self-sufficient role.

Self Appraisal Exercises and Other Questionnaires

These exercises may reveal important themes relevant to career choice, change or development. They include:

• Transferable Skills

• Life achievements

• Job satisfiers

• Work values

• Career anchors

• Managing stress and conflict

• Managing relationships at work

index

CAREER REVIEWS

A Career Review enables you to talk over how your career is going with someone who is an unbiased professional - not your manager, partner or friend. In-depth career counselling is appropriate if you are uncertain about your career direction, or want to benefit from a thorough self appraisal.

A Career Review is more appropriate if you want to:

• discuss ways of developing your career

• talk over a recent appraisal, performance review or assessment centre

• discuss current or possible changes in your organisation or field of employment

• examine your longer term career aims

• review your career to date

• explore ways of making yourself more marketable.

A Career Review gives you the opportunity to discuss your thoughts and
feelings about your career Are you 'on track' or do you see a need to make some changes? A single consultation of one and a half hours may be sufficient. Further meetings can be arranged if required.

index

PERSONAL COUNSELLING

Sometimes, a personal problem may be preventing you from thinking clearly about what it is you want from work or how to go about getting it. It may be that you are having difficulty developing your career because of problems in handling pressure at work.

Personal counselling can ease feelings of depression you may be feeling as a result of, for example, redundancy, bereavement or a broken relationship.

If you are not sure if Personal Counselling is appropriate for you, do talk this over first with one of our counsellors.

Note.. All our counsellors are trained and qualified in counselling and psychology. They are members of the British Psychological Society and the British Association for Counselling, and receive regular supervision.

index

SINGLE CONSULTATIONS

These may be appropriate if:

• you are uncertain whether to proceed to the full Career Development Counselling service

• you are not sure whether aptitude testing will benefit you

• you are uncertain whether personal counselling is appropriate

• you are fairly clear about your career direction, but want to talk over how your career is progressing with an independent professional

You will normally be asked to complete some written preparation prior to a Single Consultation.

index

FLEXIBLE PROGRAMMES

We have found, from experience, that four meetings is right for most people wanting to 'take stock'. You may, however, want to have either more or fewer meetings. You might want more time to explore:

• personal and career issues in greater depth

• job search strategy - see The CCS Job Search Programme

• improving relationships at work, including handling conflict

• managing pressure at work.

OPEN EVENINGS

Open Evenings are free of charge. They give you an opportunity to meet a CCS Associate, ask questions, and hear more about our approach to Career Counselling. Please telephone for current dates and times.

index

MENTORING

"Mentoring enables me to stand outside my working environment. By reflecting on what I'm doing, I gain real refreshment, support and insight. It feels like the mentoring process holds it all together."

Director, Community Action Organisation

Mentoring can be of great practical benefit to anyone wanting or needing to reflect on their performance, satisfaction and development at work. It also provides a focus for developing self-awareness and discussing ideas and plans for the future in a confidential and independent setting. Meetings can be spaced out according to individual requirements. As a guide, most people prefer to meet either once or twice a month. Meetings last between one and two hours.

Aims

• To facilitate a course of action which will enhance an individual's performance level

• To provide a personal, ongoing relationship which will act as a catalyst for ideas, self management and development

Benefits

• Increased self knowledge and ability to develop skills

• Better self-management, self-expression and enhanced leadership capacity

• Improved performance

Who For

Anyone wanting an ongoing forum for in-depth discussion to manage personal performance, development and change

index