I facilitate Guidance Counselling for Adults for 2-3 times a year and every time I spend a ton of time talking with people.

Yes, I get a lot of questions and emails from people who are interested but I also get a bunch of updates from GCA alumni.

Other than the Facebook Live / Instagram Live that I did today on The 5 Minute, No-Resume Job Search Strategy that you can do while you procrastinate on social media, I spent most of today feeling kind of like it was a GCA reunion.

Days like today show me that supporting people through Guidance Counselling for Adults *works* and it has a deep impact on students. This is why I do what I do!

To give you an idea of what Guidance Counselling for Adults can help you with, take a peek at what alumni are saying…

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Two unsolicited blog posts about Guidance Counselling for Adults

Over the past few days I’ve received TWO blog from GCA alumni that they wrote – UNSOLICITED – about their GCA experience.

Both of these alumni have non-linear careers and a seemingly disparate range of experience. We worked on figuring out what they actually wanted out of a job and how to package their transferable skills. 

4 women who guided me into tech

No such thing as a classically trained content strategist

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Kind words from GCA alumni

I also received messages from GCA alumni including these:

“This is fucking bananas. You are a magical, unicorn woman. I’d be in a very dismal place in my job search without Guidance Counselling for Adults.”

–A January 2019 Guidance Counselling for Adults student

This is from a GCA alumni who ended up staying at the same company but reshaping her role – that’s another potential outcome in GCA! Sometimes you just need to figure out what you need to change and how to change it (I can help with that).

“The best money I have spent in many years. Way better than the career counselling provided at my MBA (no joke). It was practical, tactical and I felt like I was getting value each week. I’m a big skeptic generally but I was happily surprised right from Module 1 at how applicable this was to me. It feels like a great exercise to do once a year even if you are not in career crisis! The homework forced accountability on me to really ensure I was deeply reflecting on the work. This was so helpful to crystallize what I am great at, what I want and more importantly what I don’t want.”

–Guidance Counselling for Adults student, Janice S, VP of Business Development

 

And I just received this earlier this evening from someone who just registered ?

 

GCA is more fun with friends ?

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Registration closes Thursday, May 9th

FYI registration for Guidance Counselling for Adults closes this Thursday, May 9th at 4pm EST.

The next time I’ll faciliate GCA will be Fall 2019.

If you want to have a similar experience to the Guidance Counselling for Adults alumni above, let’s work together.

GCA is not a course where you sign up and never hear from me again. It’s an intense 5 week program (with options for lots of individualized support from me).

You’ll leave GCA with a clear, actionable plan to find and land the job that’s right for you (which you will have started implementing *during* GCA).

Together we’ll:

• Decide and prioritize what you want in a job and employer
• Identify your skills and how to market yourself – even if you only have soft skills
• Job search AND explore other careers simultaneously (no resumes necessary)
• Make a plan and start implementing it *during* Guidance Counselling for Adults

This is the same process that has helped my clients land their ideal jobs with salary increases of over $50,000.

---

What will we cover?

Module 1 – Goal setting, resilience-building strategies, and setting you up for success in GCA and your job search

Module 2 – How to figure out what you want and what’s important to you

Module 3 – Unpacking & reframing your skills and experience

Module 4 – The new way to job search & changing careers using coffee chats as the main strategy.

We’ll cover how to build and leverage your network, how to approach people, how to leverage intros and more. If this sounds scary – don’t worry, we’ll get there by cultivating your building blocks through Modules 1-3.

Are you more of a visual person? Here’s a visual summary of what we’ll cover:

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Which GCA option is right for you?

Choose from 3 Guidance Counselling for Adults options based on your learning style, budget, and how much personal support you’d like from me.

GCA runs from Monday, May 13th – Friday, June 15th. You’ll have access to the course and any content updates after that.

Updates

• There are only 10 3 spots left in GCA: Intensive
• For all GCA levels, I’ve added more coworking sessions so now there are FOUR in total. The first one happens on the first of GCA to get the momentum going (this is available for all levels + as a GCA alumni, you’ll get free access to all future GCA coworking sessions)
• For GCA: Intensive, I’ve added one more coaching call on a Saturday – now there are 5 coaching calls in total (dates are on my site)

 

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Want to register?

Just click the option you’d like and type in your sliding scale rate* (taxes may apply).

To register for GCA: DIY – click here (sliding scale $297-$347).

To register for GCA: Extra Support – click here (sliding scale $447-$547).

To register for Intensive – click here (sliding scale $647-$747). Only 10 3 spots left.

*There’s a sliding scale guide on the link above. If you identify as a person of colour (POC), queer, trans, chronically ill or disabled, please feel free to pay the lower end of the scale.

I do not require any documentation for your sliding scale selection so please don’t take advantage of it. It’s there for folks who need it.

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What happens after you click the link to register?

You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours with a questionnaire so that I can learn more about your specific situation.

You’ll also get an email with login details for the GCA course platform. You’ll get immediate access to the Welcome Module and Module 1 so you can get going even *before* we officially start.

You’ll get access to the rest of the course on the first day (May 13th).

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So what do you think?

Ready to join Guidance Counselling for Adults?

Click here to learn more and register.

Have any questions or concerns? Something unclear? Email me: kathryn[at]kathrynmeisner.com

More kind words about GCA…

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Do it! You won’t regret it! Kathryn is amazing. (In all seriousness, because of GCA, when I was midway through the modules I landed a new role, new title, and 10% salary increase at my current job!). GCA is an amazing way to focus your anxieties, worries, questions, and curiosity about work and your career, and actually *do* something about it. It forces you to think, reflect, digest, and explore in a safe, judgement-free and incredibly supportive environment.

–Natalie K

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I wish I’d had access to Kathryn (and her program) back when I was a teen and first making decisions about my career and education. I’m so lucky to have her now! I’d say I was president of the Kathryn Meisner fan club, but I suspect that pretty much everyone who takes GCA is vying for that position.

I feel a renewed sense of confidence in my abilities and believe that I have a lot to offer to a potential employer (and as a human being). GCA is like some sort of thought alchemy that transforms struggle/sorrow into hope and possibility.

Kathryn may not see herself as a therapist but her way of unpacking job searching and careers–and her ability to give you strategies for managing fears, anxiety, and setbacks that go hand-in-hand with job search and career exploration–has been as helpful (if not more helpful to me) as seeing one. (It makes sense–Kathryn is a professional in every sense of the world). GCA pushes you to value yourself and really articulate and own your abilities with concrete and thoughtful homework, ongoing group and one-on-one support, and excellent personalized feedback. Kathryn is a great teacher–she is gentle, kind and open in such a way that it empowers you to rise to the occasion and do your best work. You can tell from the way the program is designed Kathryn cares about people as much as she does match-making them to the best possible job. Kathryn is wise, experienced, and real. She is excellent at asking smart/challenging questions that help you dig deeper and focus on figuring out what you want out of work and outlining the steps to help you get there. She is the best (career) guidance counsellor I could ask for at this transitional time in my life.

–Marketing Manager

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A great investment in myself. I now have a plan in place to help me find what I want, and criteria to help me judge if an opportunity is going to be a good fit. I’m not just chasing any job that might come along. My challenge was confidence and articulating my strengths. The module about strengths was invaluable – and a great confidence boost! Kathryn, like all good counselors, knows the right kind of questions to ask so that you figure out the answer for yourself and can own and understand it. Having the homework as a means to force myself to do this important but often emotional work is a great accountability tool for me. It helps break it down into manageable pieces, so it’s not overwhelming.

-Jennifer S

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I had hoped it would build confidence and clarity and it has. I have felt a huge lack of confidence about my skills in the past couple of years and this was a positive eye opener for me about what I have to offer. I also found the weekly calls enlightening – knowing that so many people struggle with the same career challenges made me feel less alone, less like there’s something wrong with me! I feel more powerful about moving forward with my search.

Kathryn has a very positive and nurturing approach. Also I like the way she considers the importance of one’s personal life in one’s career, no question or concern seemed too small or unimportant. And all of her answers/advice to both myself and others on the calls were creative and not ones I’d have thought of myself.

The homework has really forced me to consider career things I had not previously considered in great detail and will remain as a record that I can refer back to.

A very comprehensive coaching program and almost more beneficial than one on one sessions with a coach because of the group calls, FB group etc. Lots of resources and ongoing support through the 5 weeks.

-Marianne W

Want my support? Register here.

Choose your GCA option and sliding scale rate* here: https://kathrynmeisner.com/gca

*There’s a sliding scale guide on the link above. If you identify as a person of colour (POC), queer, trans, chronically ill or disabled, please feel free to pay the lower end of the scale.

I do not require any documentation for your sliding scale selection so please don’t take advantage of it. It’s there for folks who need it.

This is me, age 9, OWNING my fanny pack on the E.T. ride at Universal Studios

I was so passionate about that fanny pack – it didn’t matter what anyone else thought?I knew I loved it and that was good enough for me.

And then that changes. We stop knowing what we want.

And even if we *do* know what we want, we don’t own it.

It’s the same with ♥️job searching♥️ – you need to start with what *you* want – identify it, articulate it, and the OWN it.

I’m not talking about knowing exactly what you want to do like a specific job or title (that comes later).

I’m talking about the QUALITIES of a job and a workplace – your priorities and what’s actually imortant to you.

And yes, prioritizing means that you have to make a decision about what’s most important to you. Not everything can be a priority lol☺️

For you and your specific career situation, maybe it’s owning things like the fact that…

You want a job where you can learn and grow or…

You want a job where you can leave your job at work or…

You want a job where you can make lots of money or…

You want a job where you have a desk away from the front door…

(These are all real examples of what my clients have had trouble owning in their job search btw).

⚠️Heads up – it’s possible that a job or company that was once right for you may no longer be a good fit.⚠️

And that’s ok! It means you can either reshape your role or start figuring out your next step.

Of course there’s not perfect job (FYI I’m not the type of Career & Salary Negotiation Coach who says QUIT YOUR JOB AND GO AFTER YOUR DREAM NOW) but…

If you can’t identify, articulate, and then OWN what you want…

How are you going to be able to find a job and organization that can give you that??

⚠THIS is 1st of 4 building blocks in the NEW way to job search that doesn’t rely on resumes.⚠

I do a lot of work with clients to get incredibly specific about what they want.

This can be difficult.

And then we work on OWNING what you want.

This can be even more difficult.

Because sometimes what you want isn’t what you feel you SHOULD want.

Or you feel it doesn’t really matter ?

(that desk example above seems trivial but it was the key to that person enjoying their job).

This is all the focus of Module 2 in ⚡Guidance Counselling for Adults⚡

Figuring out the next step in your career doesn’t start with finding a job you want to apply to.

And it doesn’t start with updating your resume.

The first step is starting with you – your priorities and what’s actually important to you.

This is the first building block of the the New Way to job search that doesn’t rely on resumes.

And it’s the focus of Module 2 in Guidance Counselling for Adults (Module 1 is focused on resilience-building strategies to help you maintain motivation throughout your job search and deal with any setbacks or fears you might encounter).

If you’ve been trying to make career-related decisions recently, you’re probably decision-fatigued.

One of the major benefits of starting with what’s important to you is that your priorities actually help you make those big, career-related decisions.

Your priorities help you focus and figure out your next step strategically.

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When you don’t know your priorities…

It’s really easy to fall into the trap of pursuing a particular career path or job because it seems interesting/is your passion, or because it makes a lot of money, or because you heard, “it’s stable and the job prospects are good.”

It’s also really tempting to take to whatever new job comes your way so that you can stop exploring and job searching and end the uncertainty and discomfort.

Sometimes you do need to take that job, sometimes that’s legit if you need to make money ASAP.

However, if you can take the time to discover your priorities (like say, the 5 weeks it would take to work through Guidance Counselling for Adults with me), and base your next career step on your priorities, you can change the dynamic from being selected to being selective.

If you don’t take the time to do this step, you probably WILL get another job eventually.

But eventually, you’ll end up in the same place you probably are now—unhappy, unfulfilled, and stressed.

I want to help you stop that cycle.

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OWN IT

Your priorities are just that—yours.

They are about YOU, not what family, society, or someone else tells you that you should want.

Think of your priorities as if they’re a real living creature.

They shift and change as you go through life. They may have changed already and they may change again in the future. And that’s ok!

A job or company that was once right for you may no longer be a good fit. And that’s ok!

It just means a shift is needed in your job or career to align with your priorities.

---

Me: “But it looks good on paper”

I found myself in this situation about 1.5 years into my Director role at a tech company.

I had worked SO HARD to turn my liberal arts degree and range of generalist skills and seemingly disjointed jobs into a “successful career” (coffee chats and the four building blocks were my key strategy).

I had a high-level role at a very trendy international company. It was the kind of place that had beer kegs in the office and where company retreats included performances from big name musicians.

The money was great, and I got to travel North America and Europe, staying in fancy hotels, eating amazing food, and drinking fantastic wine.

And I was a woman in the tech world! This was something I was very proud of.

But somewhere along the line, what was important to me changed.

I didn’t really realize it because I was always hustling and didn’t have time to stop and think about what I wanted.

I was also probably burnt out.

I was successful on paper, but I felt awful and anxious. I had internalized the typical definition of “success,” without examining what my personal definition was.

It wasn’t until I identified my new priorities and gave myself permission to OWN them that I could start moving forward.

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Celebrate & grieve

If your priorities have shifted, take time to celebrate what your old priorities gave you or helped you achieve. Grieve your old priorities as necessary.

And then identify and own your new ones.

Can we get all of our priorities met? Maybe not.

But by KNOWING your priorities and OWNING them, we have a significantly higher chance of getting what we want.

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It’s kind of like relationships…

Usually, you don’t just settle down with the first person you see.

If you have a clear idea of what you want in a partner, it helps you to filter through the duds, the ones that aren’t right for you, and helps you get to a partner that’s right for you.

In case you’re wondering… Yes, I did have a list of priorities for dating…

I did a lot of online dating (UGH) and having a list of criteria helped me figure out what I want and helped me be super-efficient.

That’s actually how I ended up with my husband and how we knew that we wanted to get married within the first three months of dating.

Cheesy, I know, but true.

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Knowing your priorities shifts the power imbalance

It can be hard to move out of feeling like an impostor, being stressed about getting a job, or worrying about rejection.

So often when we have a coffee chat, go for an interview, or get a job offer, it can feel like begging.

Knowing your priorities in advance means you can shift the power imbalance between you and the employer.

With a clear, specific list of what you need to be able to move into a new career, industry, or role, it’s no longer about what the employer wants. Now, it’s also about what you want as well.

Some people might think this process is a bit selfish. I know there’s a feeling of scarcity in the job market right now and although the scarcity may be real, you’re not doing anyone any favours if you’re not getting what you need.

Join Guidance Counselling for Adults & we’ll figure out your next step together

You’ll leave GCA with a clear, actionable plan to find and land the job that’s right for you (which you will have started implementing *during* GCA).

GCA is not a course where you sign up and never hear from me again. It’s an intense 5 week program (with options for lots of individualized support from me).

Together we’ll:

• Decide and prioritize what you want in a job and employer
• Identify your skills and how to market yourself – even if you only have soft skills
• Job search AND explore other careers simultaneously (no resumes necessary)
• Make a plan and start implementing it *during* Guidance Counselling for Adults

This is the same process that has helped my clients land their ideal jobs with salary increases of over $50,000.

FYI registration for Guidance Counselling for Adults closes this Thursday, May 9th at 4pm EST.

The next time I’ll facilitate GCA will be Fall 2019.

---

What will we cover?

Module 1 – Goal setting, resilience-building strategies, and setting you up for success in GCA and your job search

Module 2 – How to figure out what you want and what’s important to you (if this blog post resonated with you, Module 2 is where we’ll go deep on this topic)

Module 3 – Unpacking & reframing your skills and experience

Module 4 – The new way to job search & changing careers using coffee chats as the main strategy.

We’ll cover how to build and leverage your network, how to approach people, how to leverage intros and more. If this sounds scary – don’t worry, we’ll get there by cultivating your building blocks through Modules 1-3.

Are you more of a visual person? Here’s a visual summary of what we’ll cover:

---

Which GCA option is right for you?

Choose from 3 Guidance Counselling for Adults options based on your learning style, budget, and how much personal support you’d like from me.

GCA runs from Monday, May 13th – Friday, June 15th. You’ll have access to the course and any content updates after that.

Updates

• There are only 10 3 spots left in GCA: Intensive
• For all GCA levels, I’ve added more coworking sessions so now there are FOUR in total. The first one happens on the first of GCA to get the momentum going (this is available for all levels + as a GCA alumni, you’ll get free access to all future GCA coworking sessions)
• For GCA: Intensive, I’ve added one more coaching call on a Saturday – now there are 5 coaching calls in total (dates are on my site)

---

Want to register?

Just click the option you’d like and type in your sliding scale rate* (taxes may apply).

To register for GCA: DIY – click here (sliding scale $297-$347).

To register for GCA: Extra Support – click here (sliding scale $447-$547).

To register for Intensive – click here (sliding scale $647-$747). Only 10 3 spots left.

*There’s a sliding scale guide on the link above. If you identify as a person of colour (POC), queer, trans, chronically ill or disabled, please feel free to pay the lower end of the scale.

I do not require any documentation for your sliding scale selection so please don’t take advantage of it. It’s there for folks who need it.

---

What happens after you click the link to register?

You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours with a questionnaire so that I can learn more about your specific situation.

You’ll also get an email with login details for the GCA course platform. You’ll get immediate access to the Welcome Module and Module 1 so you can get going even *before* we officially start.

You’ll get access to the rest of the course on the first day (May 13th).

---

So what do you think?

Ready to join Guidance Counselling for Adults?

Just choose your GCA option and sliding scale rate here: https://kathrynmeisner.com/gca

Have any questions or concerns? Something unclear? Email me: kathryn[at]kathrynmeisner.com

A note about the sliding scale

*There’s a sliding scale guide on the link above. If you identify as a person of colour (POC), queer, trans, chronically ill or disabled, please feel free to pay the lower end of the scale.

I do not require any documentation for your sliding scale selection so please don’t take advantage of it. It’s there for folks who need it.

⚡The 5 minute, no-resume job search strategy⚡ You can start doing this right now – even if you don’t know what you’re looking for AND you can do it while you’re procrastinating on social media.

But you have to be using the NEW way to job search and change careers (I explain what this is and the 4 building blocks you need to prep before you start)

UPDATE: Guidance Counselling for Adults closes on Thursday, May 9th at 3pm EST.

Only 10 2 spots left for the GCA: Intensive.

GCA is the same process that has helped my clients land their ideal jobs with salary increases of over $50,000.

In Guidance Counselling for Adults, we’ll work together for 5 weeks to figure out your priorities, frame your experience (even if you’ve had a non-linear career), and use the NEW way to job search and explore careers/orgs simultaneously.

Choose from 3 GCA options depending on your learning style and how much personal support you’d like from me.

All without resumes or gross networking ♥️

Sliding scale available.

Register here.

PS: I only facilitate GCA 2-3 times a year so if you want to get working on your next step, register for the Spring GCA by Thursday.

I only facilitate GCA 2-3 times a year.

Only 10 3 spots left for the GCA: Intensive.

Th 5 minute strategy I cover in the video above is part of the NEW way to job search which is the focus of Guidance Counselling for Adults.

This is the same process that has helped my clients land their ideal jobs with salary increases of over $50,000.

In GCA, we’ll work together for 5 weeks to figure out your priorities, frame your experience (even if you’ve had a non-linear career), and use the NEW way to job search and explore careers/orgs simultaneously. 

All without resumes or gross networking ♥️

Register here.

One of my strategies involves a ritual of reading celebrity gossip sites.

UPDATE: Guidance Counselling for Adults closes on Thursday, May 9th at 3pm EST.

Only 10 2 spots left for the GCA: Intensive.

GCA is the same process that has helped my clients land their ideal jobs with salary increases of over $50,000.

In Guidance Counselling for Adults, we’ll work together for 5 weeks to figure out your priorities, frame your experience (even if you’ve had a non-linear career), and use the NEW way to job search and explore careers/orgs simultaneously.

Choose from 3 GCA options depending on your learning style and how much personal support you’d like from me.

All without resumes or gross networking ♥️

Sliding scale available.

Register here.

PS: I only facilitate GCA 2-3 times a year so if you want to get working on your next step, register for the Spring GCA by Thursday.

UPDATE: Guidance Counselling for Adults closes on Thursday, May 9th at 3pm EST.

I only facilitate GCA 2-3 times a year.

Only 10 3 spots left for the GCA: Intensive.

Th 5 minute strategy I cover in the video above is part of the NEW way to job search which is the focus of Guidance Counselling for Adults.

This is the same process that has helped my clients land their ideal jobs with salary increases of over $50,000.

In GCA, we’ll work together for 5 weeks to figure out your priorities, frame your experience (even if you’ve had a non-linear career), and use the NEW way to job search and explore careers/orgs simultaneously. 

All without resumes or gross networking ♥️

Register here.