Who are your typical clients?
My clients are very diverse. Some are young, some in mid-career and others are in their 'third age'. Some are job-holders, others are self-employed, looking for that first job in Australia, relocating back home after living overseas, retrenched, wanting to change direction after years spent in one industry, home-makers or semi-retirees. What they have in common is a desire to achieve their potential and to participate in work that is meaningful to them.

I haven't been able to identify any one type of work activity or career stream that makes me feel fulfilled. Can this process help me?
There can be no guarantees, but I have been assisting adults to resolve career issues for more than 13 years. I strive to guide and coach all who engage my services to achieve sustainable outcomes which match their uniqueness.

Do you specialise only in helping career changers?
Clients come to me with a wide range of issues. I can help you:
- prepare a Career Action Step Proposal for discussion with your employer
- rehearse for selection or performance review interviews
- develop successful job search strategies
- choose the right course of study
- choose between career direction options
- develop strategies to address work-life balance issues

How many times would I meet with you and what would the service cost?
For many clients, an initial consultation of 1.5 hours with a follow up phone conversation at $150 is all that is needed. For others, more support is desired. If you decide that more support would be helpful, subsequent sessions of approximately one hour would be at $100. GST is included in the cost.

Homework, i.e. research and tasks to complete, is usually agreed with you between these meetings. But this is flexible, depending on your particular issues and urgency of need. You can be assured that you will not be subjected to a standardised way of coaching all clients. My service is tailored to suit your individuality. One or two psychometric tests or tools may be selected at the initial meeting the cost of which would be discussed and agreed.

What if I get stuck doing the homework between meetings?
Your emails or telephone calls are welcomed and are provided for within the fee. Please do not hesitate to tell me about a success, or share a frustration, new obstacle or uncomfortable work situation that may arise.

Do you use psychological tests?
For most career development issues self awareness is a vital step. It is essential to a satisfactory outcome that a client is able to identify and articulate personal strengths, development areas, interests, motivators, values, life and personal style needs. Whether a particular test, tool or structure would be helpful or unnecessary, will be discussed and agreed with you. If you decide to complete a test or tool, the outcomes would be debriefed with you alone and would then be yours to keep. Please refer to my Privacy Statement and discuss with me if you have any concerns.

I've read many career self-help books and guides but have not found my 'ideal career' yet. Why should I hire you?
A skilled career development practitioner can help you to achieve a deeper level of self awareness, guide and support your research of your options, facilitate your decision making, provide objective feedback while being an empathetic and supportive companion for your career journey. My service to you is governed by an extensive Code of Professional Conduct through my membership of the Australian Association of Career Counsellors.

I have been in the same job type and career stream for many years and have hard-earned qualifications within it. I no longer like it, but am apprehensive about changing. How do you help in this situation?
It is reasonable to be apprehensive and even to experience fear of change. By helping you to specify what you really want in terms clearly defined for new job role content, nature of employment environment, integration of lifestyle needs and selection from the substantial range of income-generating employment, you will become sure of your options, When guided through the reality testing phase and also the job hunt or contact seeking techniques, your confidence is likely to be significantly increased and your apprehension less pronounced. Being coached on how to make your transition in small, progressive steps enables the energy of the fear to be channeled into useable energy for seeing it through. Liking yourself better, being proud of your transition and experiencing the enhanced regard of those for whom you care are among the special rewards.

I can think of lots of career alternatives but I have financial obligations and responsibilities to and for others. How realistic is your form of assistance?
Obligations and responsibilities to and for others are realities in all our lives. My approach is pragmatic and I will work with you to support and guide you to achieve a balance between dreams and the realities of life. In other words - 'to have your cake and eat it too'.

What are the significant changes in personal career management in recent years?
Clearly there has been an expansion of 'personal freedom' to choose and to change. Our need and obligation to be true to our authentic self in the work we do is the current theme of career management. One career for life for everyone is now a very outdated concept. The consensus view is that a series of careers, with carefully prepared transitions between each, contributes more to a sense of satisfaction in one's life. Such career changes also reflect the changes within ourselves as we move from one decade to another in our life's journey.

Applicants for jobs are expected to have much more information about their prospective employer, the industry and the issues current within their profession more so than in the past. I can help you identify research sources.

Employers have substantially reduced their guidance for our career development. They expect that we are career self-resilient and capable of preparing and submitting detailed Career Action Step Proposals for their consideration. This is a complex skill that one needs to develop to ensure one's employability.

Changes in workplace legislation now mean that many people need to take responsibility for personally and directly negotiating their terms and conditions of work with their employer. A Career Development Practitioner can help clients to develop the skill and confidence to ensure that this potentially stressful situation results in a win/win outcome.

How can I get the best from engaging your service?

Make sure that you define what you believe are your needs before the first consultation. It helps to write these down. This can be sent in advance by email to rosemary@peoplefocus.com.au. Attaching your current resume would also be helpful.