It's hard to imagine that I've been a Career Counsellor for over 20 years.
A lot of learning and growth has taken place over this time. There's not much I haven't seen or experienced and very little catches me off guard anymore. Some of the things I’ve observed won’t come as a big surprise to anyone, but a few might get you thinking. Here are 20 things I’ve learned from my 20 years of Career Counselling. There's a lot more, of course, but I’ll save them for future posts :)
1. Many people are one missed paycheck away from financial disaster.
2. Anxiety and depression are rampant among job seekers.
3. Many career changers have a hidden disability they're afraid to disclose.
4. There are a lot of highly skilled and talented people working in jobs that don’t utilize these skills and talents. Sometimes because their credentials aren't "recognized" and sometimes because they lack confidence or experience.
5. Most people are very grateful to be given a chance and will rise to meet even the most difficult challenges when someone believes in them.
6. More people are honest to a fault than dishonest when it comes to job searching.
7. Many career changers and job seekers only apply to posted job openings and conduct their search in isolation. They experience frequent rejection or complete disregard. They send out hundreds of resumes and cover letters and are often encouraged by well meaning folks to just send out MORE. This. Feels. Hard.
8. People I talk to often place a lot of emphasis on "job security". What does this even mean any more?
9. A large majority of my clients feel like they might never be able to retire.
10. Many people earn much less money than you would think, given their lifestyle.
11. Some people are relieved to get fired or laid off from their job. More people than you think. That's how much they hated their job even though losing it meant a sharp reduction in their standard of living.
12. Many of us underestimate the lengths others will go to help us but they need to believe they actually can. It's never because they think we're a bother, or an inconvenience, it's almost always because they don't believe they have anything to offer. This is never true.
13. People often feel guilty for quitting even the most terrible job.
14. Micro-managing is never helpful.
15. I see employees expecting their boss to set boundaries on their behalf. This can be a big problem. We can all learn to set and enforce our own limits. I would dare say, we must.
16. You DO NOT need to treat your job search like a full time job.
17. I’ve worked with a significant number of people who were within a few years of retirement when their employer went out of business. They had job security, until they didn't.
18. I’ve witnessed employers try to fire an employee because they had a disability or they were considered “too old”.
19. I’ve witnessed people with significant pain and injury refuse to let that stop them from getting up and going to work every day with a smile on their face.
20. I’ve seen employers so loyal to their employees that I’ve been brought to tears by their integrity, kindness, and generosity.
21. Bonus: Many folks will go to great lengths to avoid making decisions and it can hold them back.
*Please note, these are findings of my own gathered over the last 20 years of this work. They are my observations only and not necessarily all supported by science :) During this time I’ve remained passionate in my studies related to behavioural change, personal and professional transition and what motivates people. Ready to make a move and want some support to make it easier and more successful?
I know something brought you here and maybe it was a search for what to do next about your career. There are a few ways I can help:
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Sarah took the Make Work Better quiz and said this:
“Christine! I wanted to say thanks. I completed the quiz and then it clicked: I don't feel my contributions are recognized or valued by my employer. Time to have a tough conversation and make some decisions. Thanks for the nudge.”
Kim, a one on one coaching client had this to say about working with me:
I followed Christine on social media for quite some time before I reached out so I felt confident that she was the right coach for me. I’d recommend her coaching for anyone who feels stuck in their career and doesn’t quite know where to begin – anyone looking for accountability and motivation to change. Working with Christine led to a huge shift in my thinking about the level of power I have over my personal contentment. What I liked best about working with Christine was that I felt safe – she is genuine, honest and supportive – so I was able to be vulnerable and easily share what I needed in order to move forward. Her constant reassurance that it’s okay to continue exploring, shifting and changing as I grow was invaluable for my piece of mind. Most importantly, Christine believed in me when I had trouble believing in myself. She helped me truly internalize that no matter what obstacles and challenges arise, I can persevere and continue moving forward.
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