Piper C. Reason   on Friday 12/02/2011 at 08:26 AM

Thank you so much for this article, Robert. You touched on a couple of issues that have been particularly challenging lately. Your insights, warmth, and excellent writing style are greatly appreciated.

Susan Guarneri   on Monday 12/05/2011 at 11:42 AM

Robert you hit on a very important point - that as career counselors we help our clients to naviagate a process to achieve their goals. But it is up to the client to take action and incorporate suggested professional guidance.

As a matter of fact, we have no locus of control over what our clients or others, including potential hiring managers and recruiters, do. However, we can inspire our clients with examples (stories) of how other clients we have worked with in similar situations have succeeded.

Thanks for your terrific insights and motivation!

Bernice Kao   on Monday 12/05/2011 at 03:05 PM

I love your story-telling idea to share. It reminds me that career counselors are like tour guides to plan clients career journeies. You provide the maps, directions, highlights, pitfalls, and timelines. A successful counselor will help clients to achieve the best value with his/her own resources. As you indicated with three stories, every situation is different; therefore the the coaching strategy will be different every time. That's what makes career coaching so much fun and challenging. I often like to refer it as career therapy.
Thanks for sharing.
Bernice Kao

James Paul Berry   on Tuesday 12/06/2011 at 07:31 PM

Thank you for this great article. Working with job seekers, I sometimes feel as if I have failed, because I could not help them to land that perfect job, and if I approach my Clients with that disposition, I am certain that I will be doing both me and the Client a disservice. Your insight has given me lots of food for thought. I am instantly, a better-prepared professional.

James Paul Berry
Business/Placement Services Representative