The most satisfying part of my work is solving the career puzzle for my career counseling clients: what should someone do for their career to lead to optimal happiness and success? In addition to years of reading/studying/learning and counseling on the issue, this type of problem is perfectly suited for my unique abilities. (Highly aware of my non-abilities – if you saw me try to fix anything mechanical, you would run!)
The second most satisfying part is creating a plan for my clients to follow towards their new career. Fortunately, I’m also pretty good at that but, more importantly, I understand the world of work better than most everyone due to my career counseling experience. So my range of knowledge about what how to forge one’s path is extremely deep.
The most challenging part of my work is hearing from a client a year later… “Daryl, I’m still stuck”. In most every case, the client agreed that the career path and the plan to get there were great. For those who got stuck, they usually took a step or two in the direction of their path and then stopped, almost as if the first few steps were all that were needed.
Water is only boiled when it reaches 212 degrees. Turning off the stove at any time before 212 will prevent the water from being boiled. So it is with careers change. Most new career counseling clients will call and say they “looked for jobs in the New Haven area” or “called some friends in Stamford” or “reviewed job board listings in Connecticut”. Some will say they “sent their resumes”. In those cases, the career changer does not have a clear career vision and career plan,. That’s where I can help the most. But, after we meet, you have to do the follow through for successful career change.