Career Counseling
Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t. – Erica Jong
Face-to-face counseling is the traditional form of career counseling, and it is proven to be effective. Clients benefit from the support, experience, and wisdom of an experienced counselor as they face change and uncertainty in the world of work.
Anne has been a career counselor for over 20 years. She can meet with you in suburban Maryland, outside Washington, DC. With Anne Headley, there is no need to commit to a certain number of sessions or a large amount of money: you will receive only the amount of counseling you need.
Anne Headley can also offer career-planning services via telephone, e-mail, fax, and the Internet. Call 301-779-1917 or send an e-mail message to asheadley@verizon.net to learn more. You will have the freedom to set the career plan you need into motion wherever you reside. Back to Top
There is nothing better for a man than to rejoice in his work. –Ecclesiastes
Assessment is often the first step. Working with Anne Headley, you can be tested in personality style, career interests, and transition management, in order to be more confident in your career decision-making.
What can assessment tell you? Let’s be realistic. Very few people take vocational testing and then decide to do exactly what the test results indicate. A more typical and appropriate use of the results is to look at the suggested answers as launches – areas for further research and discussion. The difference between doing the testing on your own and consulting with a career professional is that the career person is experienced at interpreting results in ways that answer your questions and point you toward further exploration. Back to Top
Career Decision-Making
If you are thinking of “choosing” your occupation in terms of one great, momentous decision, your thinking is obsolete. It will not be one crucial decision; it will be a continuous process. –Sylvia Porter
We are all gifted people. Your career should allow the best use of your talents, while accommodating your present reality. What should be factored into your career decisions? How have you made choices in the past? Would you like to be more proactive in your job search? Do you yearn to incorporate spiritual values into your career? These questions are all excellent subjects of exploration in career counseling and planning. Back to Top
Coaching
Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. –Will Rogers
Coaching is a rather new word for an old concept, strategizing for success. Coaching is addressing your strengths and weaknesses in preparing a resume or facing an interview. It is specific and practical. Coaching may be about what to wear or how to write a great cover letter. Coaching is a firm reminder to write a thank-you letter or a recommendation to read a book or consult a web site. Career counselors know that coaching is no substitute for long-term career planning, but it does have its place in the real world.Back to Top
Who is not an appropriate candidate for career coaching?
Coaching is not appropriate for someone who is depressed or experiencing serious obstacles in the job search. It is not appropriate for someone who has not yet made the basic decisions regarding the direction of the search. Back to Top
Practice Interviews
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great. –Mark Twain
Practice Interviews: in person, client and counselor may role-play interviews. Some clients even bring video cameras to capture the performance. On the telephone, we don’t have the visual cues, but much can be done through dialogue. Did you know that your tone of voice is more powerful than the words you choose?
As your career coach, Anne Headley will guide you through sample questions, including those which you identify as being your typical stumbling blocks. Back to Top
Résumés
You can stroke people with words. –F. Scott Fitzgerald
Yes, you still need one (or two or three). Styles change slightly, but the basic rules still apply. If you are unsure about those rules, and confused about how to sell yourself, Anne Headley can help.
If you have already written a resume, and would like feedback on it, she can help. If you don’t trust your writing, or just plain don’t have time, she can do it for you or refer you elsewhere. Back to Top
Social Media
The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow. –Bill Gates
It has been said that between 60% and 80% of hiring managers check candidates’ online presence. How is yours? You don’t want to be absolutely invisible, and you don’t want to be inappropriate. Career coaching can help you make the most of your online life, emphasizing your strengths, reinforcing your work experience, and filling in gaps not elsewhere addressed. Successful job hunters do not overlook this valuable tool. Back to Top
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