Will Career Counseling Help You Make a Career Change or Perhaps Make Your Dreams a Reality?

If you are considering a career change, you mightof cash and need help with a job search or resume
want to know that you are in good company.preparation 5)You just need help figuring out what
A recent finding from the "Working in America: Theyou want to do quickly, once that is done, you can
Key to Employee satisfaction" survey showed thatmove forward on your own
32 percent of the respondents were not satisfiedYou may want to hire a career and life coach if any
with their current employer. This survey wasof the follow rings true for you:
conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by1)You are successful but want more passion and
Kronos Incorporated.fulfillment in your career and are not sure what that
A prior survey by the same group, found that:would look like 2)You want to do what you are
Across America, only 45 percent of workers arepassionate about and make a good living but don't
either satisfied or extremely satisfied with their jobsreally know if that is possible 3)You want a great
Only 20 percent feel very passionate about their jobscareer and a great life too - you don't want to have
33 percent believe they have reached a dead end into sacrifice one for the other 4)You know what you
their career 21 percent are eager to change jobsideally want to do but have some fears or doubts
Okay, so misery loves company. Now what? Youabout your ability to make it happen 5)You want a
may or may not have considered career counselingbetter understanding of your natural talents and how
to help you in making that change.to best use them to have more satisfaction and earn
You may not have even been aware that thisgood money 6)You want to learn how to work
service is available for adults. Most people are familiarsmarter not harder and have more fun at whatever
with various types of career testing but not withyou do 7)You want to start a new business or grow
what is available beyond that.an existing one and want some support in making
Perhaps you feel trapped - like you have no choicethat happen 8)You make a good living now and are
but to stay in your current career. You may haveafraid you would have to give that up to start all
been taught that you have to just suck it up andover.
stick it out and make a living for you and your familyNote that these are general descriptions and actual
-- fun and passion is something you save for theservices will vary with each practitioner.
weekends or when you retire.I find that most people have made up some stories
Or maybe you thought you knew what you wantedabout what is and is not possible for them. The
to do, but then you grew and evolved, and yourroadblocks appear too large to overcome.
current career is no longer a good fit. You also mayA good coach can help you see past the roadblocks
have squashed some dreams you had earlier in lifeso that you can create a career and life that truly
for the sake of practicality (or a million otherfits for you.
reasons.)Certainly there is some overlap between counseling
If any of that sounds like you, there is hope.and coaching. Bottom line, career coaching is often a
Sometimes its just hard to see past your currentmore in-depth approach than career counseling so if
situation or even make the time to do somethingyou are looking for a quick fix, it may not be the
about it. A good career counselor or career coachbest fit for you. One solution might be to take an
can help.interim job that pays the bills and allows you the time
So which is right for you? Career Counseling? Careerto invest in creating what is right for you in the long
Coaching? Either? I have made two check lists toterm.
help you decide.Career coaching takes more of a whole life approach
You may want to hire a career counselor if any ofso that you can create the career that best fits for
the following ring true for you:the life you desire to live. An ideal career is the goal;
1)You are not sure what you would be good atpersonal transformation and more happiness in life
2)You are in a hurry and NEED to make a job changealso often come as a result of this process.
quickly 3)You already like what you do and you justLet's face it; we spend 5 out of every 7 days of our
want to change employers within your currentlife at work. Why live for the weekend, when you
profession 4)You are unemployed and running shortcan also enjoy the rest of your week?