I trained as a Careers Adviser in 2007-8 after a long career working in the charity sector in a range of roles including managing a Volunteer Centre, working with community groups, managing volunteers and recruiting learners to courses run in the community. Some of my more unusual jobs have involved working in a Youth Hostel in the Yorkshire Dales, working on a sheep farm for two years in Australia and being a Tour Guide in a monastery.
Being a Careers Adviser has been a great way of combining my two main passions – helping people achieve their goals and researching and disseminating information. An optimist by nature, I believe that everyone has skills, talents and abilities. Sometimes individuals need help uncovering these and with communicating them clearly to employers or with working out their next step on their career journey. I have certainly benefitted myself over the years from the support of various career professionals.
Between 2013 – 2017 I was employed as a Careers Adviser delivering a national contract for adults seeking careers advice. Whilst I loved the work I became increasingly frustrated by the limitations of the contract which prevented many clients getting what they really needed support with. I realised the only way to be able to provide an excellent client-centred service was by providing it myself! And so I launched my own business.
For your peace of mind I have Professional Indemnity Insurance and am a member of the national Career Development Institute (CDI). As a Registered Professional on the CDI register I am required to carry out 25 hours per year of Continuous Professional Development. I’m really interested in being the Best Career Consultant I can be so I regularly attend training and information events in order to develop my skills and knowledge.
I have the following qualifications:
- Level 6 BA Hons Applied Social Studies 1991 from Sheffield City Polytechnic
- Level 4 NVQ Management 1996 through Voluntary Action Sheffield
- Level 6 Qualification in Careers Guidance 2008 from Nottingham Trent University
- Level 4 NVQ Information, Advice and Guidance 2009 from Nord Anglia
- Level 3 Award in Education and Training 2017 from AD Training Solutions
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