FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS OF WORKING CAREER
- INDIVIDUAL SERVICES
What is Career Counselling?
Career Counselling is a process of understanding yourself and the issues you face at work. This may include issues such as a career decision, whether or not to change jobs or what sort of job to go into.
Career Counselling can involve one to one counselling and coaching and the use of psychometric tests and questionnaires. Rather than telling you what to do, the process is one of giving you the tools of self-understanding, so that you can make up your own mind about career issues - make an informed choice or decision.
What are the Benefits of Career Counselling?
Career Counselling allows you to make more informed choices about work decisions. For example, in order to make the right career choice, it is important to have a good understanding of what you are about - our interests, abilities, skills, personality, motivators, values and goals. This gives you more self confidence to make decisions. It also gives you more information about what you want to gain from future roles and your future direction, including action planning.
How much does it cost?
The cost of Career Counselling depends on how long the process takes and what tests are used. This depends on the individual. In order to assess this, the initial meeting is free of charge so your issues can be discussed more fully and an estimate of cost can be given.
What are psychometric tests?
Psychometric tests can be taken either online or on paper and for a variety of reasons such as to find out your unique personality type or to establish your natural abilities. These can be used to aid in the process of recruitment, career choice and career development. Psychometric tests should only be administered by qualified individuals (those who have the British Psychological Society Level A or Level B qualification, depending on the test used). The tests that are used by Working Career are not the same as free career tests that you find online. The tests used have research behind them showing they do what they say they do!
Can I just do the tests and not get feedback?
Unfortunately not - tests are administered in accordance to the British Psychological Society regulations. This means that feedback is necessary and integral to the testing process for interpreting your unique results.
How long does the career counselling process take?
This depends on the issues and the individual. Some career issues can be resolved in one session, whilst it can take up to eight sessions for someone to decide on a new career, for example. At the initial discussion stage, an indication will be given as to the amount of sessions expected.
I see Working Career is based in Edinburgh, Scotland - do you have to live there to benefit from the service?
Career counselling can be successfully carried out face to face or by email and telephone so their is no need to come to Edinburgh at all for sessions. We have clients from all around the UK and do travel to see clients if necessary.
Can I start doing some tests such as The Highland Abilities Battery and upgrade to more counselling after that?
Yes, if you would like to try a test such as The Highlands Abilities Battery initially and then look at other areas afterwards, that is possible. It is recommended, however, that you look at the whole picture (e.g. interests, skills, family background, personality etc) especially if deciding to change your career as all of these personal aspects are important and make up the career counselling process.
I just want to talk to someone about an issue at work - can I do that?
It is possible to arrange one off sessions to discuss issues at work. This can be by telephone, email or face to face and is of course completely confidential.
How do I start?
Either use the contact us page, email or telephone 0131 466 8645 (0044 466 8645 outside the UK) for a free initial consultation to discuss your particular career counselling requirements.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with us! We look forward to hearing from you.
Page last updated on Thu, 28 August 2008
© Working Career2008, Career Services, Hudson House, 8 Albany Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3QB, Scotland.