My career change from tech to career counseling started with a volunteer experience. At the beginning of my career change, I had no relevant job experience and I had taken only one undergraduate class that was even slightly relevant to counseling (it was Introductory Psychology). Doing volunteer work is an excellent way to gain experience […]
How to Know When to Change Careers
By Last updated: Monday, October 23, 2017
Dear Career Coach, I work in higher education. I taught chemistry for 8 years at a community college. From there, I moved to a 4-year university to become a professional academic advisor. I spent 8 years there as well. My first 6 years there as an advisor and the last 2 years as the director […]
Career Coaching Success Stories
By Last updated: Wednesday, July 19, 2017
I love reading success stories of any type, so I thought it would be fun to research some career coaching success stories to share with my readers. I am not affiliated with any of these career coaches and they don’t know I am writing about them. These are success stories sent to me by happy […]
How to Use a Decision-Making Matrix
By Last updated: Tuesday, January 16, 2018
A decision-making matrix is a great tool to compare alternative paths using criteria that are most important to you. This decision-making method is credited to Benjamin Franklin, who called it “Moral or Prudential Algebra” in personal letters in 1772. I adapted his method to decision-making about career paths or job options. For this tool to […]
What Do Career Counselors Do?
By Last updated: Monday, November 28, 2016
One of the most common questions I am asked is, “What do career counselors do?” Usually people ask this question for one of two reasons: (1) They are considering becoming a career counselor themselves and they want to know what the day-to-day job is like, or (2) They are considering hiring a career counselor and […]
How to Get Wild About Work, Part 2
By Last updated: Monday, November 28, 2016
In the first part of this two-part article, I explored how to create an internal compass that points the way to a career that leaves you feeling energized and alive. In this post I want to take a deeper look at how to put that compass to use. Your internal compass is made of the […]
How To Get Wild About Work, Part 1
By Last updated: Monday, November 28, 2016
Are you at a career crossroads? Feeling like it’s time for a change to a career that lights you up, but not quite sure what that is or how to get there? Read on! In this two-part article, I want to explore a different way of thinking about pursuing your passion, one that both clarifies […]
How To Make A Career Change Into Tech
By Last updated: Monday, August 6, 2018
Dear Dr. Civitelli: Can you advise me about how to make a career change into tech? I think I would working in something related to technology but I don’t have any professional experience or education that is very relevant, and I don’t have the money or time to go back to school full-time. I hate […]
Career Change Success Story: Nursing To Career Coaching
By Last updated: Monday, December 1, 2014
Today’s interview is with Dawn Lewis. Dawn worked as a Registered Nurse for eight years before she changed careers to become a Resume Writer and Career Coach. Dawn describes her career change success story from nursing to career coaching below and she shares advice for other nurses who might be interested in exploring a career […]
Career Change Success: From Hospitality To Nonprofit
By Last updated: Tuesday, December 29, 2015
If you are considering a career change, one of the smartest things you can do is study the actions taken by people who are career change success stories. Recently I interviewed Leah Krieger, Executive Director of the Centerpoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal in Seattle. Krieger made a career change from hospitality into nonprofit […]
