Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You tell her you can't recommend this career.
You point out the limits on funding for retraining and explain that because
of her age and lack of experience in this area, the government isn't likely
to sponsor her efforts.
You say you believe she'd be wonderful with children, but suggest she consider
other programs that will let her work with children and meet the government's
two-year retraining limit.
Claire decides to be a day-care worker and takes an 18-month course in
early childhood education. The government agrees on a cost-sharing arrangement
and pays half her costs. Two years later, you hear she has a full-time job
in a large day-care center.
Career advisor Karen Girard uses self-assessments that ensure clients consider
the length and cost of the education they're planning to pursue, and whether
the payoff is worth it.
"I will never make a decision for them, but I definitely spend time discussing
reality testing," says Girard. She's a high school career advisor and independent
career consultant.
"Our self-assessment goes into not only values and skills needed for a
job, but whether it will meet lifestyle expectations, [and] what the payoff
is based on length of education/cost of education...."