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Patricia A. Crew
Master Career Counselor MA, LCPC, NBCC
Patricia has almost 30 years of experience helping individuals pursue, change, manage and advance their careers. As well as a Masters degree in counseling from Catholic University, Patricia has completed numerous post-graduate classes in counseling and career development at Johns Hopkins University.
Patricia previously worked as the Career Development Manager for the Montgomery County Government and as a career counselor for the Montgomery County Commission for Women.
She continues to be a featured speaker with recent presentations topics that include: Secrets to Predicting Career Success That Only You Know, Get Out of Your Own Way To Get What You Want in Your Career and Winning Strategies to Enhance Your Worth at Work.
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COMPREHENSIVE CAREER COUNSELING CAN HELP YOU TO: |
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~ Gain a clear understanding of your core strengths. ~ Do a thorough career exploration. ~ Manage a career change. ~ Improve your work performance. ~ Remove artificial, organizational barriers to success. ~ Navigate thorny management issues. ~ Prevent derailment by building strategic alliances.
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| CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
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K.W.
Reston, Virginia
"Sometimes the decisions that we make at an early age
regarding our careers are not our own decisions. For the past 20 years, I have been unhappy
with this choice but I stuck with it because it was easier than starting
over. I was not being honest with myself
about finding a career that I was passionate about and admitting that it was
not a good fit for me.
I had a major life change a few years ago which forced me to
make a change. I was introduced to
Patricia through one of her previous clients.
It was my time in my life to have a "do over" but I was overwhelmed and
paralyzed with the choices. Patricia
helped me sort it all out, take away the fear and find a career that I was
truly passionate about.
I discovered
that I may need to go back to school and now was the time to do it. However, I realized through the research and
soul searching process with Patricia that another college degree or a long term
program was not right for me.
This year, I completed a certificate program in Event
Management. I can say it is not
something I would have probably ever discovered on my own but I am so happy
with my choice. It feels right. Patricia helped me understand that my past
experiences were easily transferable and with the certificate program, I would
be very marketable in my new profession.
It is never too late to start over or go back to school and learn
something new. I will always keep learning
and I thank Patricia for all of her support and guidance with my finding a new
life!"
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Volume 5: December 2008 Greetings!
Welcome to the fifth edition of my Comprehensive Career
Counseling Newsletter and thanks for your feedback. My last newsletter: "I Hate My Job and Think I Want to Make a Career Change" touched some nerves with many of my
readers. Hopefully this current edition will also be helpful and thought provoking.
I am pleased to announce that I will now be seeing clients on
Wednesday afternoons and evenings in Washington, D.C. at the following
location: 1700 17th Street, NW, Suite 201.
Hard times require tough choices! Is it time to make a change - or hold steady
until the air clears? Where does
professional development fit into this picture? Scenario 4: "I Think I May Need Additional Education to Move to the Next Stage of My Career But I am Uncertain" addresses this dilemma.
Because of the accelerated rate of change in business and technology and in order to maintain your level of expertise, this dilemma is simply answered by the following:
Readiness maximizes opportunity so when opportunity knocks - Be Prepared!
In my article, I will more fully explore the role of professional development in one's career life.
The two workshops I presented this Fall - "Secrets to Predicting Your Career Success That Only You Know" and "Take the Plunge - Promote Yourself" were very well received by those who attended. One participant of "Take the Plunge" indicated: "This seminar was awesome!! I would definitely recommend this program to others and I will most definitely attend another seminar by this presenter." If you need a speaker for your next association, network or corporate event, I am available to deliver these and other, timely career seminars.
I am happy to announce that my new web site is available. Please share it with friends and colleagues: www.crewcounseling.com.
Tune into my early winter edition for a listing of my upcoming seminars! |
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SCENARIO 4:
I Think I May Need Additional Education to Move to the Next Stage of My Career But I Am Uncertain
Several of my existing clients, colleagues and associates
are recognizing that right now may not be the best time to make a change in
employment or pursue that "wished for" career change. While I agree, I believe
that career development is an ongoing process addressed throughout prosperous
and slow times. In reality, I am convinced that now is the ideal time to dig in and work on further education as well as networking,
building relationships and volunteering for stretch assignments.
Clients often balk at the idea of continuing education believing
that an advanced degree is the only option. In fact, many educational
opportunities abound for professional development and these are becoming a
necessity in our society's work life. For senior managers and executives, it is
equally as important to maintain proficiency and state-of-the-art knowledge in
order to manage newly educated employees.
While "hands-on" experience may get you into the job, continuing
education is a key component to advancement, career change and upward mobility.
Make no mistake; you must stay current or ahead in your career field just to remain
even in today's competitive work world.
In the Washington,
D.C. area, professional
development can be achieved through a diverse number of certificate programs. These
include but are not limited to: Certificates in Business Administration or
Executive Leadership Coaching from Georgetown
University, as well as a graduate
certificate in Public Management from American
University and an Information Security
Management certificate from the University
of Virginia, Northern
Virginia Center. Certificate Programs
are designed to give the professional timely and marketable skills in order to secure
a position, change careers or advance in an existing job.
Another pathway to expand marketable skills is by attaining
a designation of expertise via professional associations, institutes or non-profit
organizations. Examples of this include:
a property management designation with the Association of Property Managers, a
project management designation with the Project Management Institute and a
certificate in non-profit management through the Maryland Association of Non
Profit Organizations.
One way to begin to determine what skills you may need to
strengthen is to focus on the following exercise called a gap analysis:
Take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. Next, choose the job you wish to have. In the
left column, write down the key responsibilities required for this position. In
the right column, state your strengths, core skills and abilities. Comparing the two columns identify where gaps
may exist. With this new knowledge you may now begin to target appropriate
learning objectives for yourself.
Individualize your professional development by utilizing
career counseling services to assist you in identifying the best and most
efficient educational options. Please feel free to contact me for a free 30
minute consultation regarding your educational needs at 301-838-9456 or
trishacrew@aol.com. |
PARTNERS CORNER
Blue Sky Innovations
Blue Sky's Million$ Mastermind group begins this fall! Are you
a women business owner with at least $150K in annual revenue? Do you want to
grow your business to the $1 million mark in the next 36 months? Would you like to work with a group of savvy, successful women like yourself? Then this group is for YOU! Contact Amy Palmer at apalmer@blueskyinnovate.com or for details go
to www.blueskyinnovations.blogspot.com.
Marva Goldsmith
Believe it or
not, the judgment game is played every day. Hundreds of decisions are made in 30 seconds or less about the people we meet. Likewise, many potential employers, managers,
customers and colleagues make multitudes of decisions in very short intervals of
time about you based on what they see. These decisions will ultimately impact
your business success. Marva Goldsmith, a Certified Image Professional provides workshops, workbooks and coaching in all areas of image and personal branding so that you can Market Yourself for the Future. www.marvagoldsmith.com |
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| As always, I look forward to your feedback.
Sincerely,
Patricia Crew
Comprehensive Career Counseling
trishacrew@aol.com
301-838-9456
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