I'm not talking about some shmoe who works in your campus placement office, I'm talking about paying someone to help you with your career path.

Part of me thinks this would be a good idea (for myself and others in my life), but I've never done it before, so I'm not sure if the cost/benefits are worthwhile. I'm not particularly interested in a headhunter type person-- I'm more interested in talking with someone who can help me refine my resume, as well as pinpoint what those key selling points about my skills are. I'd also like some guidance in finding out what it is I should be doing with my life... I guess I feel like if I'm going to be spending the majority of my time at work, I should at least enjoy that time. I'm not saying I'm dissatisfied with my current work environment, but I do feel like I'm getting bored with the job, not interested in the challenges presented to me, and kinda lazy. I feel like I just need a change. I've become unfocused and lackadaisical. I get my stuff done, but there's not a whole lot of reward or pride in it.

edit: furthermore, I feel like I'm in a job where I've been given room to grow in all sorts of directions, so I don't feel like I'm an "expert" at any one thing, and would therefore not feel confident selling myself. So part of me just thinks I should suck it up, and stick it out at my job where I'm secure, vs. leaving it to find something that could potentially be more rewarding.

Or do you think just talking to a regular counselor would help with this?

Thanks in advance.

I work with headhunters, but they all get paid by the folks who may or may not hire me.

That said, I paid $200 to have my resume reviewed professionally. Best money I've spent in a long time.

Thanks, Bill.... do you know of any national or web references for finding capable people for hire in your city/state?

www.thevault.com

It's not local, but that's the service I used. You send them your current resume, and their specialists turn it around w/in two days. I got about three pages of suggestions--format, content, clarification.

Challenger, Gray and Christmas is supposed to be top flight as well.

all i know is that there is a lot of hiring going on because recruiters are calling me about once or twice a week.

i am just not sure how valuable a career counselor would be - but if it is relatively cheap it probably wouldn't really hurt.

you do HR, right?

I was looking over what femgar does (pharma sales) and it is so remarkably similar to what I do, yet she gets paid, gets respect and doesn't put up witth half the bullshit.

I really need a new gig, or just to come out HARD on this campaign.

pharma sales is an interesting job - there are some companies that treat their sales people pretty well and hire really good people - and others that hire idiots right out of school and pay them crap. my wife has a lot of friends that went to school with her at UNC that are doing medical equipment sales (like x-ray machines, etc.) and are cleaning up.

i do HR but the recruiter calls I get are mainly about compensation analyst jobs (which was my old job at my current company). It is kind of a niche skill. this lady from microsoft calls me about once a month inquiring if I will move to Seattle.

come to my sleepover and we'll help you figure it out.

You flying me out, sugar mama?

if i could....and hey, that's stacey's pet name for me.

Wait, there's a sleepover?

yeah.
my place.
saturday.
me and the poet.
come on up.

Saturday? Fuck. Where do you live again, western mass?

Ah yes, the location: field. If I get a shit tonne done tomorrow I almost could.

i'm sure this makes sense to you, but, man it would be cool.
northampton.

Ditt.ooooo.

I went to a career counselor, and I said "I want to work at a shoe shop and discover shoes that have never been discovered." And he said, "Look, you're British, so scale it down a bit."

so one cool thing:

went to an open house last night for a firm we worked with on our website redesign, and I chatted with my contacts about potential job prospects there. They were both totally willing to help me with my resume, and clue me in on some things about the company that might help me get a leg up on the competition.