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Career Coaching Services
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“Work is not, primarily a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do. It is, or it should be, the full expression of the workers faculties, the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental, an bodily satisfaction, and the way in which he or she offers themselves to God.” Dorothy Sayers
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Our approach to career coaching is different than most in that we begin by taking the broader view of work. What is work and what is its purpose in our lives? What meaning does work have for us as an individual and how can we grow through our work. What does the Bible say about work and should work be enjoyable?
Where do our talents come from and how do they shape our work and how does our work shape us? Perhaps most important is how do we achieve feelings of fulfillment and success in the workplace without compromising our values and beliefs?
Thinking about these questions and the answers is the beginning of career success and fulfillment.
Three Orientations Toward Work
The first orientation is to treat your work simply as a job. A job is the way to get needed money to pay the bills. The second orientation is to approach your work as a career. Here your motivation is higher, you focus on advancement, achievement and prestige. The third orientation is to look at your work as a calling. The language of a calling is rooted in faith. If there is a “calling” then its presumed there is someone making the call. That someone is God, which means you are the call-ee and should listen.
Any work that has meaning and can be a blessing to people can be a calling. A doctor viewing his/her work as a means of getting a good income will see it only as a job. The sanitation worker may see what he does as part of making the world a cleaner and safer place and therefore have a calling.
Discovering Your Strengths
The first step in developing a comprehensive understanding of your career is to understand your strengths as a person. The simple definition of a strength is an activity which when you do it, it makes you feel strong. When you discover your strengths you are learning why you where put on this earth. It’s what makes you come alive.
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“What should I do with my life? Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that, because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” John Eldredge
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How we Work
So how do you find out your niche – the job that is a good fit for your personality, temperament and strength? A job that moves you toward the person you want to become and the person God wants you to be.
The first step is in knowing yourself. This self knowledge will lay the foundation for the next steps in the process of career exploration. There are many necessary elements to making an effective career decision which include self-knowledge, as well as an understanding of the economy, labor markets and employment practices.
Once you have more personal insight, it’s time to look at specific jobs and industries. The next step is to research options which will provide more clarity about those jobs. Once you know yourself more completely and your available options, you can begin to make an informed decision about your career goals.
In our first meeting, I will work to gain an understanding of your specific needs and goals. If we are a match, then you will take a battery of assessments prior to your first counseling session. Typically I meet with a client for four one-hour career coaching sessions and, if necessary, additional follow up sessions.
The Purpose of Career Assessments
1. To facilitate your understanding of self and to encourage conversations
about that self and the type of work you were made for.
2. To better understand your strengths and weaknesses.
3. To suggest specific areas for further exploration.
The most frequently used instruments are the 16PF, Strong Interest Inventory, The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the and the FIRO-B. These instruments measure a variety of basic personality traits and temperament. Each of these tests will give you feedback on your personal strengths and insights about how your personality contributes to your job performance.
The 16PF
This assessment measures 16 normal adult personality dimensions and is useful in industrial/organizational applications, as well as clinical settings and career counseling.
The Strong Interest Inventory
This assessment will identify your top interests and is a very powerful tool to help you make good decisions about your career. It will also pinpoint the most satisfying career and educational choices for you.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Report
The MBTI Report is the most widely used personality assessment in the world. When we are able to accurately identify your personality type, we can determine occupational choices for you that match your same personality type.
FIRO-B
The Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation–Behavior assessment helps people understand their own behavior and that of others in interpersonal situations. It explores three basic interpersonal needs (Inclusion, Control, and Affection).
Once the assessment phase is complete, your counselor will guide you towards putting a plan together that will help you achieve your career goals and aspirations. This process is tailored to your specific needs and situation, and includes guidance and skill development in areas such as networking, interviewing and on boarding tips and support.
Please contact our office at 724-940-2455, or via our website Contact Form, for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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