By Amber Taverner

Career Advisor is the new, interactive tool designed using key concepts developed by Dr. Barbara Moses, best selling author of What Next? – The Complete Guide to Taking Control of Your Working Life. Whether you are struggling with issues of work/life balance, job burn out or boredom, or thinking about a change in your career direction, Career Advisor provides you with the support you need to map out your own personal journey and handle the tough career challenges.

Career Advisor provides direction and resources to assist you with your career management journey but, you are clearly in the driver’s seat. You have the option to complete various activities, read different topic areas, and learn more about yourself and what you really want to achieve in your work and in your career. It’s ok if you are unsure of where to start. You can start by taking a short quiz to develop your own personal road map or you can start with the interactive assessments in Know Yourself. You can also design your own road by selecting one of the many topic areas as a starting point. After completing the activities and exercises, you can store the results in the career portfolio and access a summary or report of the completed areas.

The activities in Career Advisor are well planned and thought-provoking – much more than just a mini personal reports directed at summarizing your skills and interests. As many of us know, there are many factors to consider when thinking about work and career success. Discover your work style and work preferences, learn about your job satisfiers and dissatisfiers and find out what your key motivators are.

What will you find in Career Advisor?

• • Knowing YourselfComplete the interactive assessments and exercises, at your own pace and in the order that you prefer. Learn about your unique talents, areas for development, your assets as well as your work style/work preferences, and values.
  • Choose Your Path Find out more about how it feels to work in a role, industry, or function. What do you need and want from an employer? Take a look at various career options – part time work to a career shift. Develop an action plan.
  • Overcome Career Distress Learn to overcome career challenges such as career crisis, boredom, burnout, a difficult boss, or lack of fulfillment.
  • Restore BalanceWith work and other commitments, identify what works and what doesn’t for you. Apply strategies aimed at fulfilling various life commitments.
  • Find Great WorkAccess job search strategies including designing effective marketing materials and interviewing effectively
  • Solve Career-stage DilemmasReview tips for older and younger workers at different stages of their careers. Learn about strategies specific to your career stage.
  • Use Career StrategiesLearn about boosting your career intelligence. Determine your career activist quotient. Find out how well you know the 12 new strategies for career success including networking, finding a mentor, being a compelling communicator, How to make an impact if you are new on the job.
  • Career Proof Kids Read about strategies and resources to assist you in preparing your children for tomorrow’s workplace.
  • Coach OthersInformation on a variety of topics to assist you in supporting your staff including: improving coaching skills and effectively responding to career challenges.

Special attention should be paid to the last two sections mentioned above: Coach Others and Career Proof Kids.

First, for those in a leadership or management position and interested in learning more about supporting staff, Coach Others contains a wealth of information aimed at assisting people in these roles. A number of important issues are discussed: working with older or younger workers, assisting staff in utilizing their talents and skills, information on coaching and career self-management, strategies for successful career discussion, responding to career challenges such as burn out or boredom. Career advisor contains a vast amount of information on employee engagement including working with individuals of different ages or in different work functions as well as information on various motivational types and what motivates employees.

Equally important and valuable is the Career Proof Kids section. Look for strategies for promoting positive work experiences for children. Learn more about how a parent’s attitude or values toward a job or an employer can impact the views of a child. Discover several strategies to assist parents in “career proofing” children which include encouraging them to discover what they are good at and what areas they excel in. Other strategies suggest steering clear of pushing them toward particular careers or professions that are listed on a “what’s hot” list. Don’t force them into career choices prematurely but allow them to pursue things that they passionate about. Parents and others who work with children and teens will also benefit from reading the “Look to the Future: Benefit from Trends” section. Look for information on trends currently affecting the world of work and tips on utilizing trend information.

Interested in Reading More Reviews?

Contact Point has reviewed other books by Barbara Moses.

What Next? The Complete Guide to Taking Control of Your Working Life

The Good News About Careers: How You’ll be Working in the Next Decade

Career Intelligence: Mastering the New Work and Personal Realities