Career Counselling Case Studies

The following case studies illustrate the real benefits to recipients of career counselling.

“Jacob” – a husband of a relocating employee had found it a big wrench to leave his high earning job on another continent, in a male dominated industry of sub sea diving and as an equal provider. We took a dual-prong approach: identifying the opportunities in this country to continue similar work, with different legislation and certification required, and by being in pin-pointing the key people in the industry, and at the same time exploring his hopes and aspirations, as he recognised this was an opportunity for ‘time out’ to reflect and do something he may never have had the time or space to do, and within a fixed time frame of 3 years. It emerged that he was passionate about film and media, though had very little experience. He had explored a very expensive route by distance learning, but had no clue where to start here as he had just arrived and was experiencing culture shock and the transition process. Having identified his core values, it was clear where he could most easily and effortlessly take a part-time job, aligned to his interests and future studying. Through contacts within Higher Education, various options were identified through Access courses over the summer (his qualifications didn’t count in the UK), and with a fair amount of coaching and coaxing, he put himself forward for the course, and then for a place on a perfect course within easy travelling distance from home. This meant that he could both support his wife in her new role in a new place, and take care of his own career, which felt absolutely great for him. Win-win-win.

“Jane” – Having made contact by email to introduce myself, and offer support through her transition (at this point she was still in the southern hemisphere), she sent through a fabulous CV already in place, brimming with confidence and vitality, and sounded very up-beat and self-assured in text. A candidate who could so easily have slipped through the career counselling net. She had been a successful manageress of a large retail chain, with glowing reports and success stories, and yet when I met her, was struck by her low self-esteem and confidence, due in the main to being out of work for a few years, relocated with her husband’s job, and having out of necessity been a home-builder and a mum of small children. She had lost her sense of self, which had been hugely important for her and was the basis of her relationship with her husband. We did some developmental work on her achievements, her loves, her core values, etc while carrying on conversations about what she felt drawn to. She did not need money for money’s sake, but she needed a purpose and to be able to contribute and make a difference. The easy option was to go for another job, at a lower level, within the same organisation, or in another similar where the skills and competencies would be easily transferable. But it emerged through discussion that she had been doing some research into the industry while away, that she had some ideas about developing the business itself (not just a store), and came to see that she had the skills and expertise to offer something more to her previous employers, with whom she had good relationships, although much had changed since she had left. She decided what she could do, the hours she wanted to put in, and how far she was willing to commute, for how much. With coaching and mentoring, she gained confidence, developed a process to contact key people with her message, arranged meetings and essentially created her own job as an internal business consultant, identifying gaps and potential, bringing her international perspective and experience, whilst keeping management fresh in their thinking, at a good financial return, within the flexi-hours that she felt she had available. She created her dream job, which will in turn provide her with an excellent career enhancement, and will also seamlessly travel with her wherever they next go.

“Joelle” – was reluctant to come along to a session because she believed that she didn’t need career assistance. With encouragement, she saw that the sessions would help to position herself in Aberdeen, within a new culture, to check her life progress to date and ensure she was going in the right direction for her, incorporating her husband’s career, family issues etc. She was studying for a higher degree, and spent all her time alone at home in a rented house, studying. It transpired that she had some emotional issues about moving and change, and her studying, whilst very aligned with her interests, was not helping her to integrate into life, both here and back home. We met on the university campus because it was an environment which she enjoyed, and I introduced her to some university researchers and lecturers working in her discipline, and facilitated a conversation. With encouragement, she was in touch with one of them and secured a part time teaching job and takes part in discussion groups, which helped her in multiple ways and is perfect for her transition.

“Janine” – from Algeria, bright and bubbly with lots of energy to give but unsure of what direction, since she had only had one job since university, had a small child, and had moved to a totally different culture. Through guided discussion, we identified areas that she was particularly interested in, and she quickly realised that she wanted to study more as well as work part-time. With support and guidance, she applied for a distance-learning post-graduate course in one of the aspects of her university degree which had inspired her most, and which a good fit for her natural propensity to be outgoing and helpful. At the same time, so that she did not overburden herself and also stay connected with her culture, language and interest in Arabic women’s issues, she picked up on a local network contact and is now teaching Arabic and communication to a local group, as well as socialising and integrating. I also connected her to other N African spouses who shared common interests and they now meet regularly for coffee and to catch up. Very appreciative of the ‘service’.

“Jo Jo” - an HR graduate from South America, with a small child and dealing with the cha-ordic transition process, and desperate to find a job though unsure about her fluency in English and her self-confidence.

We identified her core strengths and her vision for the future to be able to travel with her husband and ‘hold her own’ in her career. She was clear about what she wanted to do, and what her transferable skill set needed to be … and yet was looking in an area that was extremely far from her house, which would in time compromise her time with her child and husband, as well as eating into the salary with travel and nursery care. So we re-defined her ideal work preferences, and she narrowed down her choices, got clear about what she wanted – and secured a good starting job in HR within the building industry, with potential for career development and also which would fit any future moves. A happy customer.