Getting Started --Questions to Consider In Career Change

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Though the process of career counseling is important in terms of issues “unfolding”, first meetings with potential career counseling/coaching clients are important, because they establish the point of view, experience and beliefs, and desires of clients. Sometimes these questions initially have no easy answers, but allow the client to think about his/her personal direction in career exploration. I often ask some or all of the following questions (some of them overlap) plus questions about specific background, in addition to any that surface during the conversation. Some of these may help you in pondering your career move.

What is your motivation for changing careers?

What are you doing now-or have you done, in terms of preparation/research/personal exploration?

If money was no longer a consideration what would you be doing with your time?

What is your personal definition of career “success”?

The Content (and purpose) of the work you want:

What are your “values” relative to work? (E.g. Helper? Leader? Independent? Add to the World? Add from your expertise and knowledge? Money? Stability? Take care of family? Freedom?) What is most important to you in a job?

What motivates you?

If you were self-employed (own business) what would you do now? If you have been self-employed in the past what did you do?

What is the “secret career” you have always wanted—what parts of yourself and your talents do you “long” to use in a job?

Describe an ideal work day?

What kinds of jobs did you envision as a young person?

Who else do you see working with you if any (alone, with other adults, with kids, etc)

What is the job title alongside your name you would most LOVE to put on your business card? (E.g. Joe Smith, Writer)

What are some your personal talents you want to use in your career? What talents haven’t you used in the past that you would like to use in your next job?

How do you want to feel in your job?

The structure of your work and private life?

Describe an ideal work day?

What is the structure of the job you want? (Part time, 8-5, independent, combinations of all/any these, on a team, in an office or at home, meetings?)

If you could combine the best elements of all your former jobs –what would the new structure look like?

What are your major skills and talents? What are your greatest technical skills?

Of all of your former jobs which one made you FEEL the best? Which gave you most personal satisfaction? Why?

If you are a student or recent graduate, what subjects excited you most in school?

What were the elements of your former jobs that made you feel the best? The worst? What did you dislike?)

Which jobs earned the most money? Which jobs gave you the lifestyle you wanted?

What was that lifestyle?

How do you envision the “perfect” lifestyle –for you?

What is your history with your most recent profession? What is it that is no longer working for you? What parts do you like? Dislike?

Myers Briggs type—have you taken it or another psychometric test? What did you learn about yourself?

What are your greatest interests/hobbies? (how do you love spending your time?)

What do you consider to be your greatest personal achievements in previous jobs?



In initial sessions I don’t focus much on money issues though they do come up. Many young people are concerned about lifestyle over work substance: e.g. how much will I make? Will I have time off? What will the balance of my life be? These are legitimate questions but need to be compartmentalized—by that I man –they need to be in a separate category from work substance and structure.

Here is the commitment from my clients I am looking for: Are you willing to take regular quiet time, allowing connection with your “inner self”? Are you willing to be direct, thorough, honest and courageous in exploring yourself and what you truly want in life? Are you willing to look at patterns in behavior and at beliefs that may no longer serve you? Are you willing to give up some expectations and allow a new career to “unfold” for you?

If you are searching for a new career, I hope these questions help!

With warm regards, Jill

Jill444@counselingjob.net