Are career advice consultancies worth the money?

sh-cooper · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

I'm in my mid-forties in career doldrums, with a family to support. I'm considering using one of these paid for career consultancies to help me work out a plan to re-vitalise my career. I'm slightly wary in case it turns out to be a waste of money (around £500 for a fulll consultation)

Does anyone have any experience of this kind of thing? Any experiences good or bad? How do you choose a company to use?

Thanks
Sh

James · Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 2

Hi Sh,

Sorry to hear your down about your career, but thinking of ways to get out of those doldrums means that you're motivated at least - which is a great first step!

Career consultants can be terrific in terms of providing more motivation, and a plan forward, but, they're not for everyone. I've found that clients who go to a career counselor or consultant looking for all of the magic answers will always come away disappointed.

You'll find they'll work best for you if you've done some prior research before you go. This can involve just thinking through what you like about where you are now and what you don't like, what your ideal career would look like, what things interest you, what further education you would be prepared to do etc. Consultants can only work with what you give them, so if you have something (even if it's just a lot of messy ideas) they will be able to untangle that mess and help you forward.

The best way to choose one is obviously by referral from someone else. If you don't have any referrals, start with the phone book and start calling around. Ask them what exactly they do in your consultations, what you should expect, and what happens if you're unhappy at the end. If possible, try to speak to an actual consultant and not just the receptionist - it will start to give you a good feel for who you click with - which is also very important when choosing a consultant or counselor (probably more important than the actual firm that you go with).

Yes, it's a lot of money, but if it helps you spend the next 20 years in a career that you like - would it be worth it?

All the best!

Silvia · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

...have you taken the time to make some thinking space around what it is that you want anyway?

Hey sh-c, here's some thoughts you can play with.

What 'turns you on' in life? Are you a closet musician (like one of my clients was, whilst being a very well paid, yet miserable IT manager). What, truly have you always wanted to be/do for your career?

Is that a start, even if it seems an impossible dream?

And then as you express your 'dream' around you, it's just conceivable that someone you already know will know someone who wants someonbe just like you.

Or you can make a strategic plan of step-by-step actions you can take to get exactly where you want, like my client did (it took him two years and now he teaches music from home).

Hope this helps