Clients often ask about my personal career history and how I became a Career Consultant. As my 35th anniversary in business approaches, I thought I would share with you about how my own career has unfolded. Like your own career, perhaps, it is a story with many twists and turns to create and live a rewarding career that would be fulfilling and enriching.
Starting Out
I had prepared for a career as a French professor, but I discovered early on that this field would not be a good fit for me. Like many of my clients whose original goal has not worked out, I was very uncertain about what to do next. Adding to my confusion, I had recently moved to Chicago from New York City. I had no sense of direction and knew just about nobody.
Finding My Way with a Career Counselor
Being resourceful, I found an agency which assisted professionals in defining a career direction and finding new jobs they loved. (Sound familiar?) I quickly signed up as a client and began to identify my strongest skills (news to me as a 20-something), my interests outside of French literature and what my goals were. My counselor helped me with my resume and taught me to network and interview.
The Power of Networking and Volunteering
My career counselor connected me with a man who worked in international education (a field new to me) which related to my background in French and travel abroad. This gentleman introduced me to several of his colleagues and one of them hired me! Through networking, I had gotten my first professional position in Chicago!
Having learned the value of volunteering from my mother, I was pleased when the career counseling organization that had been so helpful to me offered to train me to volunteer as a counselor. I really enjoyed the work and eventually joined the Board where we worked on career issues.
Discovering and Nurturing My True Calling
I was able to use this experience to become the Career Placement Director at Columbia College as its first Director. Wondering about my next move, I returned to Flexible Careers, for a “tune-up.” This time part of our work included a guided meditation — or visualization — where I saw myself having exactly the Career Counseling Practice that I currently have. This image was instrumental in guiding me through the steps necessary to start the business. I went back to school to learn more about business and counseling and I practiced on anybody I knew who wanted career help.
This is, of course the abbreviated version of the last 35 years of my own career. I only wish you the satisfaction that I have enjoyed. If you’d like to create a similarly rewarding career, please write me at jlansky@lanskycareerconsultants or call me at (312) 285-2000.
Best of life,
Judi Lansky
