Most of us will spend a good portion of our lives working. Some people see their jobs as a necessary evil, a way to “play the game,” earning the money required to live comfortably in our modern society. For others, though, their job is an exciting, fulfilling part of their life.
Which one sounds more like you? If thinking about working fills you with a sense of dread, we’ve got good news. To move from the type of person who sees work in a negative light to someone who gets enjoyment from their career, we offer career counseling.
With this specialized service, our team can partner with you to figure out what you want to do with your work life, then develop a plan to get that job.
What it is and how it works
When you start career counseling, you meet with one of our dedicated team members. Everything begins with a conversation.
Some people come to career counseling knowing they want to get into a certain field, but many people meet with us because they’re unhappy at work and they don’t know where to go from here. Your career counseling tailors that first conversation to your current state, whether that’s finding your path or developing a game plan to your goal.
A lot of career counseling centers around us asking you specific questions and helping you to dig deep enough internally to get real answers. Some of the things we might ask include:
- What do you gravitate toward doing in your free time?
- What skills do you have?
- Do you have any degrees or certifications?
- What do your friends say that you’re good at?
- How much money do you need to make to feel safe and comfortable?
- What types of things do you think are fun?
- What’s your favorite part of your current job (if applicable)?
- What’s your least favorite part of your current job (if applicable)?
- What did you dream of growing up to be?
- Would you rather be challenged or comfortable at work?
- Do you prefer a job with lots of structure, or do you like working independently?
These are just a few examples. Your career counselor trained to work with people who need clarity or direction about their professional lives. They’ll shape the conversations you have to help you get a better idea of what type of career would be a good fit for you.
When career counseling might be right for you
In July of last year, 4 million Americans quit their jobs. Experts are calling it The Great Resignation. Maybe you were among the ranks of people parting ways with their employers, or maybe it just sounds really tempting. Either way, if you’re unhappy at work, career counseling can help.
In some cases, we’ll help you find and chart a new course toward a different, more fulfilling career. In others, we’ll help you identify changes you can make to your current work situation to help you enjoy it more.
Career counseling can also be useful if you’re new to the work world. Whether you just graduated high school or college or you’re a parent rejoining the workforce after years off to raise your kids, finding the right job can feel daunting. Our career counselors can help you identify roles that might be a good fit for you. Beyond that, we can also help to equip you to land those roles.
If you feel like you might benefit from talking with a career counselor, we’ve got a team waiting right here at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center. To get started, contact us today. You can fill out that contact form, call us at 805-620-8046, or email us at info@venturacwc.org.
