Mid-life career coach needed

My husband has found himself in the job market at age 55 and in his field he is competing with 30 year olds. We need to ''re-package'' him (maximize his strengths and minimize his deficits) and are seeking the advice of a career coach for this purpose. He is not entrepreneurial but instead wishes to be employed at a stable company. We know about Marty Nemko, and would like other recommendations from this group. anon

Career Coach for Biotech

I am looking into the possibility of using a Career Coach for my husband who was unexpectedly laid off from his biotech job earlier this year. Does anyone have any recent experiences and recommendations? I understand that these individuals have to be jack-of-all-trades but if anyone knows of a career coach that has some experience with biotech in particular that would be great (my husband was a PhD level research scientist). Thanks!

Career counselor for veteran animator?

I have a B.F.A. and have been animating for fifteen years. I am dissatisfied w/my job and need to rethink my career. Looking for a career counselor who understands visual artists. Thanks. anon.

Looking for a crackerjack, gifted career counselor

Hello, I am looking for a crackerjack, gifted career counselor, who might specialize in creative blending of skills and interests as well as narrowing in on a field and work style. Experience in education, business, entrepreneurship, mid-life changes and women returning to workforce preferred. Any ideas you have would be much appreciated! Thanks!! anon

Career counselor who can recommend specific job types

My husband has been unhappy with his job for some time, and is motivated to get some professional help in finding something new. He is currently in education administration, but is willing to move to other related fields that would value his great people skills and management style and compensate him better.

Several months ago, he met with a ccouselor who he felt was not what he's looking for--that she was more of a life coach, almost therapist type of counselor. I guess he is looking for something more straightforward. He says he would like to meet with a knowledgeable person who could say, ''Based on your strengths and experience in A, B, and C, you could get a great job doing, X, Y, or Z.'' Also, we wants this person to be well-informed in the various pay ranges for different jobs. His field is pretty low-paying right now, and he does not want to get into another area that will max out pretty quickly.

Any suggestions?
Partner hoping to help

Tiffany

Grad School and Career Counselor

Has anyone had a really good experience with a career and/or grad school counselor for an adult child who has finished college and is not sure what to do next? This seems like such a difficult time in life. High school was straightforward, with the goal of college clarly in mind. College wasn't that difficult to get into with so many choices for college education in this country. But when kids finish college they have to face the big world and it is scary and competitive and there is no one to guide them as in the past. Typical career counselors give interest inventories and then tell the clinet to go and research the results. I am looking for a more personalized approach for a 24 year old. Thanks. Lydia

High-tech career counselor?

I'm unhappy with my job, which I've had for many years; it involves writing software for biomedical applications. The problem I'm having is that I can't even imagine what sort of job, or career, would make me happy. I'm thinking I might need a career counselor, but it'd have to be someone who understood software. I need someone who could understand something like, ''I've done plenty of perl CGI web forms, but only a little PHP and no ASP, so what kind of web jobs could I get?'' Maybe there's a career counselor out there who used to be a software/biotech headhunter?? Burned out techie

Career Counselor for medical career

Hello, I am currently a Physician Assistant looking to switch careers slightly into more Health Education/Public Health focus and away from clinical work. I have some health ed. work experience but no formal education beyond my PA degree. I am interested in seeing a career counsellor to figure out how to best make this change. My questions are 1) does anyone know of a career counsellor with an emphasis on the health professions? 2) what exactly does a career counsellor do? Can I expect help with auctual leads to people or organizations or is it more like traditional conselling except talking about work? 3) Does my situation sound like one in which career counselling would help or is there something else I should be doing? I already read What Color Is Your Parachute and did the suggestions (ie informational interviewing) there, which was really helpful but has not landed me a job. Thanks so much.

Getting a job as a career counselor

I'm wondering if anyone out there in BPN land is a career counselor for either high school or college students. I'm considering graduate school in counseling - specifically career counseling. I have a background in Human Resources and I think my skills would fit nicely in career counseling but I wanted to hear from people who are in field to learn more about it. What are the pros and cons? Do you like what you do? What would you change? Are jobs in this area tough to come by? Thank you.

SAHM going back to work

Newly single mom looking for career counselor who is skilled in getting stay-at-home moms out in the working world again. Jennifer

I am currenty a SAHM with 2 kids under 4 - I am thinking about getting back into the workforce in another 6 mos. or so but what I find is that I'm pretty stumped about what I really want to do, and how to combine my interests with something that actually makes money and fits in with being the primary caretaker in the family. I'm considering seeing a career counselor but don't want to spend the money just to have someone run me through a bunch of personality tests (I've taken them already - not a big help)... can anyone recommend a pragmatic effective counselor? Or even a useful book that might help me focus my interests? thanks. searching for inspiration

Husband considering a job change

My husband is quite unhappy and stressed in his current job, but due to the rise and fall of the tech industry, is hesitant to leave his current position, feels that his resume/career may have ''holes,'' and is uncertain about what job or career changes he should make next. Does anyone have personal experience with this kind of situation? Any advice? Also, I was thinking he might benefit from a career counselor and am looking for a recommendation. Thanks.

CDOP Career Counseling

Has anyone used the university's CDOP Career Counselling program? If so, would you recommend the counselling service you used? Please share names of specific counsellors and any general comments. Thank you! Next move?

Need help figuring out "what I want to be when I grow up"

Can anyone recommend a career counselor or a life coach who helps individuals figure out the answer to the question ''what do I want to be when I grow up?''. I am currently a 30-something SAHM who has been in career transition mode for a few years now. I've done all the career assessment tests, now I need to get to the next level. I live in Oakland, so local recommendations are best, but I appreciate all suggestions. Thanks! Laura

Need help finding something permanent

For 3 years now, I've been trying to patch a career together after being laid off from my job as a instructional designer and technical writer. I've done all sorts of short term freelance jobs while looking for something permanent, but I don't seem to be able to get a job. I have applied for hundreds of jobs, and am very discouraged, not to mention close to broke. Does anybody know a job coach or mentor I could work with to get some guidance? I've checked the names on the website, but the last posting is about 2 years old. Also, are people still using headhunters to find them jobs? Thanks!

Politically Progressive Job Counselor

I am seeking a recommendation for a job counselor who brings a social change persepctive to her/ his practice. I'm a single mom looking to make a career transition and would like the guidance and support of a job counselor who has worked with folks who have a history of doing work that is somewhat aligned with their political/ social values. This economy is very challenging for those of us who are raising kids in the extremely expensive Bay Area and who need to both pay the bills and do meaningful work. I have checked the website but have not found this resource. I'd appreciate any recommendations.

I am looking for a job/career counselor. I'm tired of looking for, and occasionally finding, low-paying short-term jobs, and it's clear that at my age, without additional graduate work (which I will almost certainly not be able to do) I won't be able to get the kind of job I think I want. So I need advice . I've looked at the UCB Parents web site, and I'm not interested in Alumni Resources, although I know they do good work. Does anyone have experience with a competent and sympathetic counselor of this type? I'd prefer Berkeley or Oakland or a location near BART.

I am looking for recommendation for a Career Counselor - specifically one who deals with individuals who are currently stuck in their professions and need to move on, yet they are scared and unwilling to do the work to find a new, rewarding job. It would also be helpful if this counselor specialized in careers for scientists trying to break out into the high-tech market. I am hopeful that my spouse could find something else that would bring him more reward, money and security. It is just that I need someone who can convince him of that as well as find him resources to also have him believe that he can change jobs AND have happiness, wealth and security. Thanks

Can anyone recommend a career counselor outside the UC career services? This is for my husband, who is already a successful Silicon Valley programmer but who is longing for a career that will make him happier, so any recommendations for counselors who have helped people make the switch AWAY from a standard professional career would be particularly appreciated. Thanks.

I am an experienced (tenured) faculty person in the Humanities at UCB. Recently I have been plotting an escape from 1) the Bay Area and 2) possibly academics. It seems to me that I have heard of job counselors who help people with mid-life career changes, and I wonder if anyone out there has heard of such a person who works with errant PhDs. Any suggestions would be most welcome.