They not only have academic training but also have spent time learning in internships and more specialized programs, he noted. Martin deals with a range of students from those zeroing in on a first career to those returning to school for a new one. The signals may not mean you need a new career, but could mean that a move to a new company, professional development within your chosen job or new responsibilities are in order. Regardless, career counseling can help get you there, he added. Take into consideration factors such as compatibility and job satisfaction that come with the right match.
Counselors focus on a student's interests, personality, skills and values.
All are pieces of a puzzle that can lead to finding the right job, he added. But there are also practical concerns such as how long it will take to get training for the job a person wants, the costs and where the training is available. Sometimes an older adult may not have the flexibility to move or go to school for four years that a younger student would, Martin said. Mona Valdok, director of the University of Washington Business School Career Center, said it's important to start off with a self-assessment that will help you evaluate your interests, values, what you've gotten energy from in the past and what has drained energy. Martin also puts students through the assessment hoops, using a choice of standardized programs or computer-based programs, although he noted that not all students are comfortable working in that arena.