on "career exploration". Individuals seeking these services may not be ready
to embark on a complete job transition. Rather, they are seeking information
about themselves and attempting to identify job roles and organizations that
would satisfy them professionally and represent a good "fit".
These services are ideally suited for several types of client situations.
A person could be functioning successfully in a job role; however, he
or she may no longer be challenged. The focus of their exploration is to
determine what alternatives may be out there based on a number of factors.
A person may be just beginning a career and interested in making sure that
the positions that he or she pursues will deliver a great deal of professional
and personal satisfaction.
A person could be just re-entering the workplace after some time away, and
he or she may want to consider what options are available to them.
A person could be a recent MBA graduate who determines that his or her
former professional life is no longer satisfying, and he or she wants to identify
a new area where those newly minted skills would be valued.
The approach that we use is a simple one to understand. We firmly believe
that there is a better way to approach the professional side of an
individual's life. Instead of allowing a job role to define who you are, we
shift the focus and guide you in a direction that allows you to pursue positions
that best suit who you are.
Many factors impact why a person can't just quit the job and strike out in
totally new directions. There are bills to pay, a family to support, fear of
giving up a steady paycheck, potential criticism from friends and family and
concern about altering your style of living. Most individuals don't have the
financial resources to support a lengthy search process, and, sadly, some
will jump into a new position without giving a great deal of consideration to
such critical elements as job role, expectations, environment and long term
satisfaction. That's why it is so important to spend the time up front
considering all of these factors before the financial pressure of
unemployment is upon you. Changing careers is a challenging and stressful
process, and sometimes the job search can take several months. With an
investment of time in a career exploration process, you can begin a career
transition with a clearer idea about what it is you want to do and not waste
a substantial amount of time in your job search exploring alternatives.
We engage in a process that involves several approaches:
* Career Assessment Interview
First, we engage in a thorough and intensive interview process that focuses
on your career to this point in time and attempt to help you understand your
motivations behind career moves that you have made to date. The discovery
of patterns of behavior can be quite insightful to clients as they can see where
they continue to repeat mistakes or perhaps resist change for fear of failure.
* Personality Temperament Testing
Second, we use limited testing to assist in the exploration so that clients
can have an objective view of who they are from a temperament perspective
and how well suited they are for the positions that they have held. It is not
unusual for the client to discover that he or she has spent years in a
profession or job role that is totally opposed to who they are from a
temperament standpoint. There is little doubt in these cases as to the basis
of their dissatisfaction.
* Career Alternative Survey
Third, we take testing data and feedback on the personality temperament
quadrant that the client falls into and demonstrate the correlation to
specific professions and job roles that people with that temperament tend to
thrive in. We examine, in depth, the client's reaction to this information and
determine if there are specific areas mentioned that are of interest and worth
exploring.
* On-going Strategy Development
Last, we combine the testing data and the historical career perspective of
the client to brainstorm innumerable career alternatives that may be
available that the client has never considered. Once, several avenues have
been determined we partner with the client in developing a clear strategy to
pursue those alternatives. We re-enforce your knowledge of your natural
strengths, we point out the pitfalls that confront individuals with your
temperament in a search, we focus on your basic values and help you move
forward on your list of career options.
We then determine how we can support you in your job search and work with you on specific strategies that can increase your effectiveness: information
gathering, resume development, verbal branding, strategic networking,
interviewing and negotiating offers. (See information on website labeled
"Career Transition" for more detailed information). However, it is up to the
individual client to determine how much or how little support that he or she
needs after the career exploration is completed.
Remember that it's easy for most of us to identify from experience what we
don't need or like. The real challenge comes in figuring out what really
satisfies us and matching that with fulfilling career alternatives that would
match those parameters. That's where Business Mentors, Inc. has assisted
individuals across multiple industry segments and professions in making these
transitions.
