Career Transition Counseling
Particular challenges face people looking to transition from their current career field to several major fields prevalent in greater Washington D.C.
CAREER TRANSITIONS
Government
Because of the highly bureaucratic nature of the government it is difficult to point to specific contributions you’ve made – progress in government is notoriously slow, and most initiatives are the result of many participants, making it hard to single out your own accomplishments. Nonetheless, choosing the right way to describe and define your role and impact correctly can make a huge difference when attempting to transition out of your government role. I can help you frame your experience for a successful career transition.
CAREER TRANSITIONS
Law
A large percentage of my clientele consists of lawyers who, after undergoing the grind of law school, passing the Bar, and joining a firm (or serving in a legal capacity in government or at a non-profit), discover that they really don’t like what they do – the work is often repetitive, formulaic, and high stress. I have a great track record of directing lawyers to new career directions and helping them land fulfilling positions. Are you ready to make the jump, and find another career suited to your legal expertise that you enjoy?
CAREER TRANSITIONS
Academia
A different type of bureaucracy, professional profiles of academics seeking to enter “the world outside” tend to be oriented to papers published and distinctions granted. It’s difficult to translate the skills of an academician in such a way that it becomes clear what contributions you can make to a different career. Networking via colleagues who have connections to those careers, as many academics do, is of particular importance here. Let me help you leverage your network and expertise to make a smooth career transition from academia.
CAREER TRANSITIONS
CONSULTING/LOBBYING
It can be challenging for people in these fields, which are centered on advising or persuading, to specify what they bring to the table on a new career path. In my experience, however, many consultants and lobbyists have valuable skill sets that are applicable to a wide variety of potential work situations. It’s simply a matter of learning how to translate them appropriately. As a career transition counselor, I’m an expert at framing an individual’s skills and accomplishments to match new career opportunities.
CAREER TRANSITIONS
Military / Defense
In my experience, resumes (and related profiles like on LinkedIn or even an “elevator pitch”) in these fields focus too heavily on positions held, promotions, and assigned responsibilities, which communicate clearly to folks in the military and the militarily-oriented defense industries, but don’t say nearly enough to “outsiders.” I can teach you how to turn a static profile into a dynamic sales pitch that highlights the value your military experience can bring to a private sector business, non-profit, or another government entity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Normally, sessions are 50 minutes long, although arrangements can be made for longer sessions.
The answer to that question depends entirely on the issue(s) you are seeking to resolve. If you’re coming in for something fairly straightforward, such as networking or interviewing coaching, or to improve your resume/LinkedIn profile/cover letter, you’ll probably need to meet with me once or twice. If you’re looking to tackle a more complex issue (e.g. if you’re dissatisfied with your current career but don’t know what alternatives would make sense, and/or if there is a significant emotional block like low self-confidence or debilitating anxiety) we’re probably looking at somewhere between four and eight sessions. After a preliminary conversation with you I’ll be able to give you a reasonable estimate.
For the foreseeable future I am only conducting sessions virtually (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, or phone). I have found virtual sessions to be just as effective as in-person, in addition to being more convenient for both my clients and me. I can schedule sessions just about any time between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays, and even on weekends if necessary.
My rate per 50 minute session ranges from $200 to $400. The rate varies according to the complexity of the issue(s) we will be working on, and your ability to pay.
If, after our initial meeting we determine that multiple sessions make sense, I will be happy to discuss a package with a reduced per-session fee.
Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, check or cash.
I work with clients at every stage of their career, from about-to-graduate college students to seniors looking to open a new work chapter in their lives.
The primary tasks in our first session will be:
Agree to a goal (s) for our work together.
Get to know each other so as to ensure that we’re a good “fit” (it’s very rare that the fit isn’t good).
Agree to next steps that will begin to move the ball forward. I believe that every session should include assignments that will result in progress towards our agreed-upon goals.
Despite conventional wisdom, most people do not have one passion buried inside of them that simply needs to be discovered. More generally, people are capable of developing passion for multiple careers.
Career testing is not something I do a lot of: quite honestly I’m not a big believer in career testing for most people. Test results generally confirm what people already know about themselves, and the results are frequently so broad that they don’t provide much practical guidance. Furthermore there is next to no evidence that following the findings of career testing leads to career fulfillment and success.
I have had 4 successful careers – as advertising executive, psychotherapist, non-profit president and career counselor, so I know the challenges inherent in launching and thriving in different jobs. And having built fulfilling lives in 3 vastly different cities- NY LA and DC – gives me valuable additional perspective. Plus having coached many hundreds of clients in just about every conceivable field and through all kinds of challenges I have an unmatched breadth of career knowledge and insight.
Insight – my training as a therapist allows me to better under my clients and helps me provide them with superior guidance. Tone of voice, facial expression, body language, the stories you use to illuminate your history and the way you express yourself – confidently, tentatively, modestly, with an edge – all help me understand you and allow me to tailor our conversations and the homework I usually give so that they achieve maximum impact.
Creativity- I thrived in advertising, a career in which creativity is the most important attribute. It’s one I cherish .Helping my clients think in new ways, see new patterns, and identify opportunities that are sometimes unorthodox are skills that have repeatedly borne fruit.
Intelligence – it’s uncool to boast but as a Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard graduate and Jeopardy winner I think my background speaks for itself.
Curiosity- I’m interested in a huge range of topics ( that really helps on Jeopardy!$ I’ve been to all 50 states and over 80 countries. I speak 5 languages. And what drew me to psychotherapy and career work was the chance to hear the stories and share the experiences and the world view of an astounding variety of people. I love learning about them and coming to understand them.
Achievement orientation ~ I’ve always been motivated by getting results., whether grades, honors, fluency, mastery, or concrete contributions to others. Providing specific, actionable guidance to Help my clients find greater satisfaction in their lives is more than a job – for me it’s a joyous endeavor.
“I will coach you on the techniques you need to do it beautifully.”
