FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is career counseling?

Career counseling is a process that enables the client and the counselor to collaboratively develop a road map. Through career assessments and counseling the client can develop a career strategy to pursue a career or college major that is right for them. The client is encouraged to develop a strategy for action with the counselor and gain the self-confidence to pro-actively proceed with that strategy.

2. What does career counseling involve?

Programs are all tailored to the specific needs of each client. However, a program frequently begins with a set of career assessments to help identify the primary interests, values and skills of the client. These assessments are well recognized and are very helpful in identifying skills that are readily transferable and where those skills might be most effectively applied. These assessments, combined with counseling, result in an action plan. Interviewing skills, job search strategies and resume/cover letter creation and now Career Web Portfolios are also important components.

3. How important are the assessments?

That depends on the individual and the situation. An action plan is made up of a number of factors, and the career development assessments constitute only a part. When the direction is clear, but the way to proceed requires counseling, research and preparation, the assessments are less important.

4. How long does the career counseling program take?

That varies by individual needs. Most programs range from four to six sessions although many programs are longer, and some shorter. Many clients also look to the counselor to provide ongoing coaching as they take action to proceed with their plan.

5. How many career assessments should I take and how do I know which will work best for me?

That depends on the level of certainty clients have relative to the direction they have chosen. For those whose job development direction is more certain, validation alone can help. That means fewer or no assessments. Where there is greater uncertainty, for example for students entering college, career changers, people entering the work force after a long hiatus, the needs would be greater and the number of assessments recommended would also be greater.

6. What is coaching?

Coaching is both a process and a structure that helps individuals discover their passion, providing a guide toward fulfillment. Coaching supports the effort to create a more balanced life, to certify what matters, to help the client stay on track and move toward realizing their life goals. A coach is trained to help find solutions to make both work and personal life more complete and balanced. A career coach, like a sports coach or music teacher, challenges you to more clearly define what winning in life means by helping to create a career assessment inventory and build the career development strategy.

7. How do we help individuals further their education and identify an appropriate course of study?

A combination of formal assessments, personalized consulting with the counselor and exploring interests and goals can help determine the right education needs. Based on this determination, we can identify the right schools, programs and course of study that that is the best fit.

8. Can you recommend employment related resources and information?

Yes. In addition to a well-developed set of professional contacts, we have access to resource material, databases and a wide range of current information including education and job related material.

9. What type of background do most of your clients have?

The client base is extremely diverse. It includes students looking for the right major or college, managers, engineers, lawyers, and other professionals, executives and non-professionals. Frequently, young college graduates find they have entered the wrong profession or gone to the wrong school. Some people are reentering the workforce and need a direction. Others who face a layoff or have been downsized want help in moving forward to either their current profession or, very frequently to a new career. Over the years we have successfully served clients with almost any type of background.

10. How much do these services cost?

Again, that varies from client to client. However, Berke & Price Associates was founded on the premise that by establishing a reduced overhead environment, the same high quality level of service provided by the expensive counseling services can be delivered to clients in a cost-effective manner. We have maintained that philosophy for over 20 years. As a result, a very large number of new clients come to us based on recommendations from their friends, family and colleagues who are familiar with Berke & Price and the career and college consulting results we deliver.