Career Confusion: Information Overload
Nancy, a recent graduate of Fairfield University, came in for a career counseling session as she was suffering from complete information overload. She had studied nearly a dozen different career paths. She noted the advantages and disadvantages of each and how each could or might not be suited to different parts of personality. Increasingly, part […]
Career Testing: Interpreting the data is what matters
“Can’t you just give me that test that will tell me what I should do?” Sarah said as she lamented her career confusion. Much like many twentysomethings, Sarah was lost in her career musings and wondering whether she should stay in Connecticut – where she loved – or move to Boston to look for work. […]
Life is short or life is long, either way career change makes sense
“I don’t want to start over now…” so began Dave a thirtysomething sales executive from Stamford who had just expressed his “near hatred of going to work each day.” “Well, without a career change, you will be hating your work days for a very long time.” I responded. It’s either a long life or short […]
Planning your side business
Back in the 1990s, my friend Paul told me about the beauty of a side business. If you get something up and running, even if it provides a small income, you have a hedge against losing your job. Paul has always had a knack of seeing the worst so, as a natural optimist, I did […]
When to start career counseling? Before The Crisis
Mike said he was the only guy he knew that had worked at the same company for over 20 years. Having been hired out of college, Mike was on his 22nd year in the same company. While working out of his home office in Madison, Connecticut, Mike had a sales position that usually put him […]
Career happiness: Find Your People
Stacy noted that she never felt comfortable around her colleagues. Largely because she was good at math and was pushed by her parents to find a career path, Stacy went to UCONN for engineering. She never fit in with her classmates and, while finding work in Connecticut was easy because as she put it “Connecticut […]
Getting unstuck
“I’m stuck.” Paul, a 25-year-old insurance analyst in New Haven, Connecticut, called to say that he had no idea what to do next. “I graduated with a degree in business. I have a decent job. But I’m not happy and I can see that I probably won’t be that successful in this business either. The […]
Are you so skeptical that you stop yourself from getting help?
Most people who call me know me through their own sources. Those who find me through a web search for career counselors in Connecticut usually read my articles or watch me in media appearances or read my books. Each type eagerly seeks out help. While many naturally wonder if I can help them, they enter with […]
The joy of finding your career path
I live in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. We have acres of woods behind our house. There are no trails. I actually prefer the unfettered nature as I go on my long walks. Given my innately horrible sense of direction, my penchant for getting lost in thought and not paying attention to where I’m wandering, I should […]
“Career” equals many years of “life”
I have an old friend who has a wonderful wife and two terrific kids. He has excellent relationships with his neighbors and extended family and friends. His health, finances, and psychological make-up are all in good shape. He has it all but he called me in semi-depressed state. I can’t believe I’m turning 50 and […]