I offer career counselling support for women and men who want to:
• Search for a new job
• Transition effectively into a new role
• Understand better what they’re suited to do
• Move forward in a positive way after a job loss or termination
• Renew their career or head off in another direction
• Re-enter the workplace after an absence
• Better cope with workplace stress
• Improve their ‘people’ skills
• Manage through change in their organization
Career counselling provides the guidance to create or modify a career plan, develop or fine-tune career management skills, explore and cope with work-related issues, and generally improve upon one’s own level of satisfaction and fulfillment with work.
As a career counsellor, my role is to provide support, give input and direction, and teach skills that allow the client to find the right role for them – whether entering the workforce for the first time or after an absence, or making a change from a previous role.
I help my clients identify their work preferences, skills, strengths, values, and interests – all factors that shape who the client is and what they are best suited to do. Together, a client and I will work on creating (or updating) an effective resume, discuss the client’s best networking strategy and speaking points, create strong cover letters, and review interview questions. If needed, we will also talk about the “mental and emotional” side of the job search, and ensure that the client is approaching their search with the right mind-set.
As a counsellor, my role is not to identify specific jobs or companies that the client should work for. The work of a career counsellor is not to direct clients to a specific role. By engaging in career counselling, a client learns or refines the skills they need to understand their strengths and “value proposition” (what unique, interesting, and valuable things they bring to the table), conduct an effective search, present themselves in the best light, and secure the best new role given their interests and experience.
Understanding one’s own career preferences and strengths is an important step in the creation of a career plan; without a plan, we are at risk of “burning out” or being “adrift”. Career development is a lifelong activity, and having a strong sense of direction and personal identity equips people to manage in the continually evolving working environment.
Contact me at katie@katiearmstrong.ca and we can discuss how I may help you with your career goals, job-search challenges, or work-place issues.