Our approach to job searches for young professionals in Arlington and the DC area:

First, we find out what you want to get out of working with us. If your questions are best answered by an hourly consultation, we are happy to provide that also! Most clients see the greatest benefit from a package of multiple conversations.

We take a whole person approach to wellness. Gallup research has shown there’s five main elements of wellbeing:

1) Career (or sense of purpose, liking what you do everyday)

2) Emotional

3) Financial

4) Social (feeling safe and liking where you live, feeling connected to those around you)

5) Physical

We explore these five dimensions, how to manage stress, organize time, and recognize thought habits that keep you trapped. In between our conversations, we invite you to reach out via email.

Job Search Support FAQs

Is it worth investing in looking for a job? 

Many people are unhappy or unfulfilled  in their jobs because they are not sure if they’re in the right place. 1,680. That’s the number of hours in ONE year …if you work 35 hours per week, 48 weeks.

That’s quite a chunk of your life. How do you want to spend it? Think of your daily investment of time, energy, and money into work. It makes sense to meet with a trained professional who specializes in career guidance to help you make sure you are making the most of your working hours in service to your overall wellness.

Benefits include:

• The opportunity to think about a career, not just a job

• A greater awareness of potential career paths that are a good fit for you

• Connecting your values, interests, and skills to additional work options

• Setting realistic goals and support to achieve them as you think along the longer career trajectory

• In-depth analysis of opportunities within your network 

What ages is the job search support for? 

This program is specifically for young professionals who need support with their applications. 

What can I expect for my first appointment? 

A combination of exercises to get clarity on the best use of energy for your job search plus suggestions for how to improve your applications. 

How do I find the right person to support me with my job search? 

This is an investment of your time, energy, and money, and it’s important to find the right fit. First, evaluate: 

1. Training and credentials 

2. Verify experience - is it in helping people like you? 

3. Previous client reviews - what can you learn from others who have worked with this person?

Here’s some questions to ask to see if you feel comfortable with the professional:

• What is your career guidance philosophy? 

• How do you determine a good outcome for clients?

• What other questions should I ask that I haven’t asked? 

What do career counselors do? 

We help you understand which roles, environments, and tasks are a good fit for you. We help people explore the question “What else is out there?” and better develop a career path, leaving clients feeling more satisfied with their professional lives. 

What’s the difference between a career coach and a career counselor?

Please know that neither a career counselor or a career coach will jump to “fix” your issue and tell you what job to pursue.  We provide you with information and support to understand how you fit into various options and make decisions based on the other variables in your life both now and the future. 

Career Counselor Training: Often a Master of Arts degree in Counseling (which entails studies and practice on working with diverse individuals from various life background experiences, special training in how to listen, understand adult development, counseling theories, best practices, and various frameworks of implementation). In addition, career counselors take additional coursework in career counseling and may pursue additional training or certifications in career development. 

Career Coach Training: There are certified coaching programs which specialize in helping people in their career advancement. Not all career coaches seek education and training; some use their prior professional experience in Human Resources, recruiting, hiring, resume writing, etc. as a platform for their career coaching services. 

Certifications: Career development training to better understand how one’s personal attributes (interests, values, life stage, skills, natural aptitudes, personality, and strengths) come to align in the world of work. Certifications also provide information about the different industries in demand and the training, skills, and education that go along each pathway, resume development, interviewing techniques, and network building; helping clients build those skills for themselves.

Coaching Philosophy: Career coaching is not like sports coaching where the coach is the expert - instructing the players on how and when to make a move. Career coaches meet their clients where they are and not where they think they should be. Coaches ask powerful questions to help you understand your situation better, and create awareness to think critically of how you are perceiving your circumstances, identify other “right ways,” or “perfect outcomes,” and engage you in opportunities for small mindset shifts that can add up to create a larger impact in your life. 

How do I get started?  

If you’d like to see if we’re a fit, please fill out the inquiry form and tell us more about you and what you’re looking for. Even if we can’t help, we’ll provide you with the information of someone that can. We take pride on providing an individualized response to all legitimate inquiries through the website. 

Get help from a job search support specialist. 

We know what it’s like to be in a job that is not a good fit, leaving you feeling confused, stressed, or stuck. We can help you sort out your questions, figure out your criteria to make decisions to move forward, and map out a plan for next steps. The purpose of coaching is for you to achieve a new perspective on your situation from which you have clarity on how to move forward towards beneficial outcomes.