Career Exploration, Career Change and Career Transition Services in Washington, D.C.

“What do I want to be when I grow up?”

Many, many people come to Career Exploration with this profound question. It is the most common question that I help my clients address. I’m here to help you successfully align your strengths, values, personality and interests. When you do, you’ll achieve:

More happiness, fulfillment and meaning
Less stress and worry
Eagerness for the next day of work
A more successful professional life

How Career Exploration, Career Change and Transition Work

“Am I in the wrong career, or just the wrong job?” “What are my options without a big pay cut?” “I want to make a difference.” “Should I go to grad school?” “What are my core strengths?” “I want to love what I do — AND make good money.”

You may have done some assessments already, but still don’t know what career will work best for you. That’s because the assessments can’t synthesize all your key factors. That’s what we do together.

I use standardized assessments such as Myers Briggs and Skill Scan as well as customized assessments to look at your values, interests, personality, and core strengths — the big four in career counseling. I will interview you about your career story for clues. We also will pay close attention to relevant personal life goals and situation, and to workplace trends.

Weaving together many factors, we’ll first broaden your options and then come up with the best possible job(s) for your unique self.

Action Plans and Tools for Career Change

After looking hard at the possibilities, some clients decide to stay put. But if you want to change careers, we’ll map out an action plan.

It might be to use your existing skills in a related type of job.

Or your plan might call for a totally new career. You might need a new degree or, more likely, a certification or some coursework (perhaps an almost-free MOOC?), or targeted volunteer work to gain new skills. And then some job search tools: tailored resumes, effective social media, and better networking skills.

You’ll develop confidence that you can succeed in the new direction you’ve chosen.

Clients often find the process of changing careers exhilarating. But if they are forced into career transition, it can be tough.

Involuntary Career Transition: Making Lemonade

Sometimes a transition isn’t voluntary. A downsizing forces you and others out. Your job is eliminated in a takeover. Or you are just plain fired, with or without cause.

It’s no fun. Often clients in this situation undergo a lot of psychological and money stress. It can be very painful. We work together to control stress, figure out options, and minimize job search time.

A consolation at this tough time is that many clients find a new job that they like much better: better supervisor, better pay, better organization, or more fulfilling work.

What You Can Expect in Career Exploration and Transition

I will ask important questions and listen carefully to the nuances of what you tell me.
I will pay close attention to your hopes and dreams as well as your needs, fears and challenges.
I will see positives and possibilities without ignoring realities.
I will bring you my managerial experience, knowledge of jobs and workforce trends, and recognized skill in synthesizing and generating ideas.

Our work together will be challenging, but you’ll get the kind of help that even the best career books can’t give you, and develop a solid game plan for getting where you want to be. Contact me to discuss your career exploration and career change options.