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What I can do for you |
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I aim to identify thoroughly and scientifically who a person really is and what they are capable of, and then to match this with suitable career or lifestyle choices. In the consultation I then advise on the adjustments people need to make in order to achieve Career Fulfilment, Enhanced Quality of Life, Better Lifestyle, More Time, Improved Relationships - and More Fun... HOW MY
SERVICE IS DIFFERENT
The fact is, anyone can administer psychometric measures with a small amount of training. For many consultancies in this field (and more to the point, for their clients) herein lies the problem - administering and marking the psychometrics is only a very small part of the equation! Selecting the right tools in the first place is crucial. Years of experience has taught me that for a thorough understanding of a person’s make up, several well selected and complementary psychometric measures need to be administered. These should cover different facets of an individual’s motivation, ability and style and the key is that these must not be interpreted in isolation. These measures provide the raw material, but the value-add is in my ability to interpret, listen and discuss with the client and then give strong and detailed advice and solutions which makes sense. A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING A career is a journey (hopefully a fulfilling one) but it is only one element of a life situation. Clients are sometimes surprised when I ask about their personal circumstances; financial requirements; parental or partner’s expectations and occupations; where they want to live; how flexible they can be regarding retraining; interests and leisure experience; relationships; and much more. This enables me to consider all elements that may influence personal and work situation and choices. Often individuals are prompted to come as a result of a traumatic experience such as a life-threatening or stress-related illness or divorce, and it is important to understand their motivation and to be able to empathise with how they feel. Many clients are referred by counsellors, therapists and psychiatrists. In giving career advice, if aptitudes were not cross-referenced with motivation and personal qualities, and with current personal circumstances and emotional state, it would be like trying to fly a plane in the dark with only the altimeter working. You would know how high you were but you would not know the direction or the outside conditions. Because you do not have all the available information - you may be about to fly into a mountain! QUALITY TIME WITH A PROFESSIONAL During the two-way, in-depth consultation, you explain more about whom and where you are, where you have been and how you got there, and where you think you want to go next. This is overlaid with the psychometric profiles, and should there be indications in the feedback with which you disagree, you are welcome to explain why this may be a potential misrepresentation and put forward alternatives. The whole process is a structured and directed joint effort. The more you, the client, put in, the more you get out. I do not rely upon computer generated, narrative reports but I cross-reference
psychometric profiles, subjective input and discussion points, looking
for corroborative evidence from all aspects of life past and present. QUALIFICATION COMBINED WITH A British Psychological Society approved Chartered Psychologist,
I have accumulated detailed knowledge of industries, professions,
career options and job markets, often through dealing with the
clients (both corporate and individual) themselves. Not only
do I know what companies are looking for, but I have a good understanding
of the make up and strengths necessary for a very wide variety
of roles. To do my job effectively I also stay well informed about further education, vocational and academic courses and training possibilities. Clients walk away with ideas on the day and the thorough and individual
report that follows a week or so later, gives recommendations on which
to reflect and act. Narrowing down on consistently positive client
feedback: the bottom line comes down to achieving big increases in
confidence and clearer direction. About Me I live near Tooting, South West London with my 17 year old twins. On a personal level we enjoy general family things including barbecues, cooking and entertaining, trips out, occasional holidays, sport and just being at home pottering or doing up the house. Professionally I believe very much in what I do, and having seen the big effect quality career advice can have on people’s lives and am a shameless evangelist! I believe that Career Advice should be like having a health check; it should be done every few years. While there is the obvious cost, as I have seen time and again, these are far outweighed by the benefits. My Experience Sherridan Hughes BSc, MEd, C. Psychol., AFBPsS. An Occupational Psychologist with 25 years experience in Career Counselling and Assessment for Guidance, Development and Selection, Outplacement and Retirement. In 2002, having being trained and mentored by the Pioneers
of the Career Advice sector, and worked for their company for 16
years, progressing
from trainee to Managing Consultant, I co-founded and launched
my own business, Careermax. While on a customer and systems level we got it right, with all clients giving positive or very positive feedback, and despite increasing sales each month to the point we where we were virtually profitable, we were unfortunately unable to generate sufficient sales quickly enough to support our costs before the money ran out. Experience & • Personally assessed and advised up to 12 individual and corporate clients per week. Clients ranged from 15 – 65 in age, and are of all occupational levels and types. • Executive Counselling services, involving bespoke in depth individual counselling of more senior clients for positive and pro-active career management and life planning, including for organisations e.g. Environment Agency and MOD. > Assessment Centres for East London Health Service Trust, Medical Foundation and Independent Assocaition of Prep Schools etc. • Undertook psychological audit of small marketing company to create profiles of the ‘perfect employee’ and assessed recruitment needs and selection criteria for a well-balanced team. Similar blanket Career Development counselling assesments for easyJet employees. • Initiated working party to survey all psychometric measures currently published by Test Agencies, to ensure continued quality and to increase range of products and services. • Responsible for training and professional development of all new consultants. Wrote Professional Training and Development Manual. Introduced in-house team building, professional development and quality programmes. • Group leader on “Interview Methods” training course for Texaco. Ran similar courses for IPD. • Provided profiles of short listed candidates for selection, e.g. Finance Director for British Heart Foundation, Portman Estates etc. • Redundancy Counselling for Lloyds Bank etc. • Individual Career Development Consultations for Nokia, Ernst & Young, Smith Kline Beecham, C&A etc. • Organised competition for ‘She’ magazine and conducted three prize consultations. Previously responsible for career counselling features (e.g. Good Housekeeping) and career guidance advice column (e.g. Daily Telegraph). • Provided psychological input for outplacement company (Kidsons Impey Career Consultants). Freelance for other career counselling and occupational psychology consultancies. • Assessed and advised IT departments of London Underground on career development issues (both internal and external movement). • Several media appearances (including BBC Television, Radio
4). Regularly asked for comments on work issues by the press e.g.
The Times, Financial Times, Red and Glamour Magazine
etc.
• Author of 'Working in Accountancy' published by Trotman ' |