Best Way To Start Over..

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2006
Best Way To Start Over..
20
Mon, 06-26-2006 - 4:50pm

Somebody please refresh my memory. I work in advertising and going to school for my masters in counseling. So what is the best way to start over. career wise? I want to get a job more related to what I am going to school for, but how do I go about that?? How do I figure out if there are any head hunters in the area? I don't know why I am at a loss. Probably because I have not had to start over since I graduated from college.

Anyone know of any good social service head hunters??

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Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 06-26-2006 - 5:23pm

It seems like everything is becoming automated these days.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2006
Mon, 06-26-2006 - 5:27pm

No, not really. Everyone that I know, is in marketing or advertising...

I plan on talking to one of my professors to see if he can give me any advice/direction.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2005
Mon, 06-26-2006 - 7:24pm
My best advice is to get an internship in your new field - or find a mentor in the field who can show you the ropes and help you network.

AJ, enjoying life with C.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2006
Mon, 06-26-2006 - 8:22pm
Kcol68, I love counseling and I'm in Marketing right now, just finishing up. Kind of at a crossroads myself because I like psychology and it's affect on out health. I've been educating myself for the last 3 years. I've probably read enough to earn my own degree. I think it's awesome that you want to be a counselor. Definatelty talk to one of your professors, you may even want to talk with a college counselor or career services at your college. You may even want to talk to a licensed counselor as well, maybe just skim through the phone book or if you know one personally. You may even want to post your resume on different job sites, because recruiters may call you. But you should be able to get plenty of info from your college or university. Keep us posted, because I am considering doing the same. Hope you find your answers.
Avatar for mhash
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 06-26-2006 - 8:54pm

You might want to check out Craigslist, Monster.com, Jobdango as well looking via Google especially non-profits. Networking .. go where other people go to talk social services, e.g. seminars, etc.

I admire you for making the career change especially in an area that would directly help others.

Nothing personal but I have made a rule for myself is never to date a therapist/counselor. I consistently have had bad experiences. I went into dating them with an expectation of them being more self aware, which is a key criteria for me to have as a partner. I found that they may have the vocabulary but walking the talk seems more of a challenge for them. Of course I am grossly generalizing but it's my rule-of-thumb experience.

Mark

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2006
Tue, 06-27-2006 - 9:58am
I will actually have to do an internship, plus two semesters of clinical work. It will be a part of finishing my masters degree. So I have another full year of classes, then a year an a half of the internship and clinical work. So my delema right now is to continue to work full time ( which I do as I take classes) in a more related field. So adding an internship along with working and classes won't work.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2006
Tue, 06-27-2006 - 10:05am

And I find that I tend to attract the guys who actually NEED counseling when dating :) I can see your dilemma.

I originally went to school for psychology and bailed out at the last minute when I was 21 and just graduated with my bachelor degree. So I took some time and worked in another field that I love and talented in, but will not work for the future if I want a family. So, hence the change at age 30.

If I would have made the jump right after under-grad, then I would not have learned as much about life and what is important and what isn't. So I guess what I am saying is that maybe the women therapist who you have dated, just went with the punches to get through school, but did not actually learn anything about themselves in the meantime.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Tue, 06-27-2006 - 10:09am
Have you tried the career center at your school? I know a couple of corporate head hunters but the counseling field is not their forte at all. Also, would you consider working for a government agency? With a graduate degree in counseling, I would imagine that you would be attractive to all sorts of social service agencies. Here is a website that lists all Federal jobs: www.usajobs.opm.gov
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2006
Tue, 06-27-2006 - 10:37am

I would COMPLETELY consider working for the government or the city of Chicago. They seem to pay more then the non for profit agencies.

Thanks for the info :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2006
Tue, 06-27-2006 - 10:44am
Kcol, what exactly is your major now? From what I remeber, you can be a counselor with a Master's, but I believe you need a Ph.D to be a psychotherapist. Do you have a particluar interst in the type of counsling you want to do, like children, or family, etc.?

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