Career Coaching for Reeya Rampersad

Click on the following link for your: Vocational Style and Career Assessment - Revised (VoSCA-R) Click on the following link for your: Values Profile Assessment - 4th Revision (VaPro-R4) Click on the following link for your: Multidimensional Emotional Intelligence Quotient (MEIQ) Click on the following link for the: O*Net Online Career Research Tool

Career Coaching Session #1: Saturday 8 October 2016

- Reeya's E-mail address is reeyarampersad30@gmail.com - Reeya is currently 38 years old, and has been working at Scotiabank for past 16 years. Her current position is Senior Processing Accounting Clerk. - Reeya lives at home and cannot accept a pay reduction because of her health and the fact that she has to support her parents who are retired. - Reeya feels stuck in the current field and finance because her parents pushed her into the field of accounting in Secondary School and post-secondary. She stopped the ACCA program. She doesn't like the field of accounting. - When she was younger, Reeya thought about working with animals because she liked Biology in Form 3. - Her Dad felt she could have been a good lawyer. - Friends and her Psychologist thinks that she would be good in the field of Counseling. - Reeya suffers from Fybromyalgia and it drains her energy. This started in 2010 and her energy started to go downhill. - She likes children but her illness drains her energy so she does not think she could handle children at this point in her life. - Reeya's both parents were Primary School teachers, and her mother worked with really young children. - She gives a lot to others but she feels that God has forgotten about her needs, like health, career, her family dreams etc. - She gets awards at work for service delivery, but she often gets overlooked for promotions becasue of health issues. There is a stigma attached to illness. - Reeya has been studying Project Management at SBCS, and she would like to write the PMI exams one day. She finds herself neing very interested in process in most tasks that she does at work. - She also studied Aesthetics and is certified in it. She had to stop because of her illnes. - I then discussed the results of the VoSCA-R assessment with Reeya, specifically her scores in the various categories of Interests, Intelligence Types, Values, and Work Styles. Her scores can be reviewed in the report itself. - Here are the careers that the VoSCA-R assessment recommended for Reeya and how she rated them in terms of her passion level (1 is no passion and 10 is the highest passion): #1 Spa Managers (5.5/10) #2 Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (7/10) #3 Occupational Therapy Assistants (7/10) #4 Administrative Services Managers (8/10) #5 Human Resources Specialists (8/10) #6 Occupational Therapy Aides (6/10) #7A Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (4/10) #7B Preschool Owner (9/10) #8 Residential Advisors (5/10) #9 Neurodiagnostic Technologists (6/10) #10 First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers (4/10) #11 Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (4/10) #12 Tour Guides (2/10) #13 Training and Development Managers (7.5/10) #14 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (7/10) #15 Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (4/10) #16 General and Operations Managers (6/10) #17 Social Science Research Assistants (6/10) #18 Quality Control Systems Managers (5/10) #19 Chefs and Head Cooks (3/10) #20 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School (7/10) #21 Patient Representatives (7/10) #22 Agricultural Inspectors (3/10) #23 Histotechnologists and Histologic Technicians (4/10) #24 Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (5/10) #25 Management Analysts (8/10) #26 Directors, Religious Activities and Education (3/10) #27 Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (6/10) #28 Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage (2/10) #29 Food Science Technicians (2/10) #30 Skincare Specialists (4/10) Acknowledgements from Session #1: - I acknowledged Reeya for completing the VoSCA-R assessment. - I also acknowledged her for coming to these Career Coaching sessions to get a better understanding of what career path she would like to pursue. Takeaways from Session #1: - Reeya liked the process of doing the assessment she feels a little clearer about the process of career discovery. Action Plan from Session #1: - Reeya agreed to review the VoSCA-R report in more detail and research on the Internet using the O*Net Online Career Research Tool (www.onetonline.org) the recommended careers above which she scored 7 or more out of 10, and document her research in this password-protected blog under the section at the end called “Leave a Reply”. In particular, you should at least copy and paste the following sections from the O*Net site into the blog: Tasks, Knowledge, Related Careers, and Wages & Employment Trends. The careers on her list are: #1 Preschool Owner (9/10) #2 Human Resources Specialists (8/10) #3 Administrative Services Managers (8/10) #4 Management Analysts (8/10) #5 Training and Development Managers (7.5/10) #6 Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (7/10) #7 Occupational Therapy Assistants (7/10) #8 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (7/10) #9 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School (7/10) #10 Patient Representatives (7/10) - She also agreed to see if any of the careers in the Related section of the O*Net Online website catch her interest, and to put those in the blog as well. - Reeya also agreed to complete the Values Profile. - The next session was scheduled for Saturday 19 November 2016 at 8:30 AM.

Career Coaching Session #2: Saturday 19 November 2016

- Reeya and I discussed her Fibromyalgia condition, and the possibility that drinking Matcha green tea might improve her condition because of the following benefits of Matcha tea:

High-powered antioxidant protection: 137 times more Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) than a cup of regular green tea
Balancing and calming effects of L-Theanine
Blood cleansing chlorophyll
Slow release caffeine over eight hours

- Next, Reeya shared the fact that her situation at home with her mother, father, and her brother's family is quite stressful. She has to make enough money to take care of her parents, and she shared that her brother is quite self-centered. This is the reason why Reeya just cannot leave her job at Scotiabank to pursue another career in a field more suited to her personality strengths and values. She will have to plan this carefully and try to make a transition over the next three to five years. - Reeya was able to narrow down her list of possible careers to the following: #1 Preschool Owner (9/10) -> Future long-term career #2 Human Resources Specialists (8/10) #3 Administrative Services Managers (8/10) #4 Management Analysts (8/10) #5 Training and Development Managers (7.5/10) #6 Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (7/10) #7 Occupational Therapy Assistants (7/10) #8 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (7/10) - Reeya asked about the career of Occupational Therapist, and the description is as follows:

Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays.

- We discovered by doing research on the Internet that Reeya could try to pursue an online Master's degree in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University, as it is one of the best Universities for this degree. See the following link for more information: www.onlinecollege.org/masters/occupational-therapy - Reeya shared that she just has an exam to finish in order to get her Project Management certification. - She said that her current manager at Scotiabank is younger than her previous manager, and is more understanding of Reeya's Fibromyalgia condition. She is trying to get Reeya a promotion to a project management position early in 2017. - I asked Reeya how she feels in general on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the worst and 10 is the best. She said that she fluctuates between a 4 and a 6.5. We discussed the importance of trying to stay above the "radar" level of 5/10 in order not to crash, which Reeya understood quite well. - Next, we discussed the results of Reeya's Values Profile assessment. The results below are a summary of Reeya's top values - those that are most important to her and on which she bases her life decisions and goals. Her Core Value is her top value overall. Her Work Value is her top value in her professional life, and takes into account aspects like career path, work tasks, and job environment. Her Personal Value is her top value in her personal life and reflects issues related to relationships, hobbies, and world view. Top Core Value: Social Values Those who place importance on social values enjoy being helpful, kind and agreeable. They think it's important to try to find the good in everyone, and have faith that if they dig deep enough, they'll find it. They give of themselves, whether on a small scale (e.g. by spending time with a friend in need), or on a global scale (e.g. by volunteering for a human rights organization). In helping others overcome obstacles, people with social values hope to assist them in becoming the best they can be. They are giving and compassionate individuals. Social people likely become passionately angry at signs of social injustice. They enjoy and benefit from being with others, both in their work and personal sphere, and as a result, seek out jobs and activities where this is possible. In times of crisis and change, people with social values are both a source of comfort for their family and friends, and able to be comforted by them as well. Top Personal Value: Social Values For people whose top personal value is social, their interests, hobbies, home life and general attitude will revolve around people. In their free time they seek to be surrounded by those they care about, as relationships in general are very important to them. On a wider scale, they may start social causes or respect and support those people who fight for them. Those with social values have a knack for networking and connecting with others - they simply cannot imagine their lives without the camaraderie of others. While almost anyone would dislike conflict, people with strong social values are particularly affected by it. It bothers them to see others in pain or to see a relationship break apart, and so they will strive to help, heal, and resolve disagreements. Top Work Value: Social Values People for whom social values are important in work settings are happiest and utilize their talents best when their job does some good for mankind, they have contact with people, and/or they do not feel that they are taking advantage of others. People with social values either work or see themselves working in a "helping" profession (e.g. medicine, nursing, teaching, or counseling). Even if they don't, they probably bring a sense of humanity to their position that makes them considerate to fellow employees, employers and clients. They are often very personable colleagues - people may come to them for help and advice, and they are often well-liked. If social people work in a position where they do not have contact with others, either coworkers or the public, they may feel lonely and frustrated, especially if their job doesn't satisfy any other values they may hold. - The following is a summarized version of Reeya's results, categorized according to her Dominant Values (those that are most important to her), Influencing Values (those of moderate importance to her), and Minor Values (those of least importance to her). Dominant Values Social Values (81/100) Theoretical Values (70/100) Influencing Values Traditional Values (65/100) Aesthetic Values (60/100) Realistic Values (57/100) Political Values (47/100) Minor Values None fall into this category - The suggested occupations for those with social values are: Caregiver/Nurse Physical Therapist Animal Trainer Teacher Counselor/Social Worker/Psychologist Personnel Trainer Civil Rights Lawyer Receptionist Customer Service Representative Retail Salesperson Acknowledgements from Session #2: - I acknowledged Reeya for persevering in these Career and Life Coaching sessions. Takeaways from Session #2: - Reeya said that she sees a little more light at the end of the tunnel because her current manager is supportive of her, and is trying to get her the promotion she is looking for at Scotiabank early in 2017. Action Plan from Session #2: - Reeya will continue researching the careers on her shortlist using the O*Net Online Career Research Tool (www.onetonline.org). Her shortlist consists of the following careers: #1 Preschool Owner (9/10) -> Future long-term career #2 Human Resources Specialists (8/10) #3 Administrative Services Managers (8/10) #4 Management Analysts (8/10) #5 Training and Development Managers (7.5/10) #6 Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (7/10) #7 Occupational Therapy Assistants (7/10) #8 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (7/10) - Reeya also agreed to read through the Values Profile assessment report in more detail. - She also agreed to complete the Multidimensional Emotional IQ assessment in preparation for a Life Coaching session. - Reeya agreed to complete her exam in order to get her Project Management certification. - She also agreed to look into pursuing an online Master's degree in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University, as it is one of the best Universities for this degree. See the following link for more information: www.onlinecollege.org/masters/occupational-therapy - She agreed to looking into purchasing Matcha green tea from Amazon to see if it will help her Fibromyalgia condition. Here are the links on Amazon to get started:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007G93G18/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0159JZLVE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - The next session schedule was scheduled for Saturday 3 December 2016 at 8:30 AM.

Career and Life Coaching Session #3: Saturday 3 December 2016

- Reeya shared with me that work has been very stressful lately because of the ongoing restructuring at Scotiabank. - Her mother wasn't well this week which added to Reeya's stress level. - As a result, her Fibromyalgia was not good this past week, with a lot of fatigue and weakness. - Reeya said that her family situation is the cause of a lot of her stress, and she feels that she often neglects herself at the expense of her family's needs. - I recommended to Reeya that she should try to convince her family members to seek counseling as a family, so that a professional can point out to each family member how they might be negatively impacting the other family members. - As much as Reeya would like to move out of her parents home on her own, she cannot financially afford to do so at the moment. - Reeya said that she has eliminated all of the careers on her shortlist except for the following: #1 Occupational Therapy Assistants (8/10) #2 Human Resources Specialists (8/10) #3 Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping (7/10) - She would like to know which Universities in Canada offer an online degree in Occupational Therapy. - She would also like to know what the salary level and job market is like in Trinidad for Occupational Therapy. - Reeya also said that she would like to know more about position in the Human Resources field in Trinidad. - I also suggested to Reeya that she should register with the top recruitment firms such as Eve Anderson and Regency, and ask them to help her in writing her resume, and in finding a job in the HR field. - Next, we discussed Reeya's Emotional IQ assessment. Reeya's score on this assessment (93/155, 34th percentile) is satisfactory, but there is room for improvement. Overall, she is adequately skilled at understanding and dealing with emotions, but she needs to further develop her skills. Awareness is key to helping her find the motivation to improve in this area, and knowing which areas she most needs to work on developing. - The following is a summarized version of Reeya's results, categorized as Strengths, Potential Strengths, and Limitation. Strengths Her overall emotional IQ level is good She is empathetic She is socially insightful She is driven toward further self-development She is able to let go/rise above minor issues She shows social responsibility for the wellbeing of others Potential Strengths She is doing reasonably well in the area of Emotional Identification, Perception, and Expression She sometimes acts in accordance with her values She is doing reasonably well in the area of Emotional Understanding She chose some reasonably good forms of resolution for conflict situations on the test She is sometimes able/willing to adapt her social skills to the circumstances around her The manner in which she would resolve conflict situations on the test were reasonably effective/healthy Limitations Her emotional self-awareness is limited She doesn't seem to be entirely aware of her strengths and weaknesses She is not very comfortable with emotions in general She struggled with recognizing emotions depicted on the test Improvement is required in the area of Emotional Facilitation of Thought She has a tendency to ruminate excessively Her approach to problem solving is not always conducive to resolution Her mindset could stand to be more positive She struggled with the emotional integration aspect of the test Improvement is required in the area of Emotional Management Her impulse control needs improvement Her self-control needs improvement Her resilience/hardiness needs further development She needs to work on using more healthy coping techniques She is not very self-motivated She is not very assertive Her self-esteem needs to be strengthened She does not seem to be very content She seems to struggle to act independently She is not in the habit of setting goals Her flexibility is limited - Reeya chose the following five (5) EIQ limitations to work on in the next twelve months or so: #1 She is not very assertive #2 She has a tendency to ruminate excessively #3 Her impulse control needs improvement #4 Her mindset could stand to be more positive #5 She does not seem to be very content Acknowledgements from Session #3: - I acknowledged Reeya for completing the MEIQ assessment. Takeaways from Session #3: - Reeya feels a little better about the fact that she was able to narrow down his list of possible careers to two. Action Plan from Session #3: - Reeya agreed to try to convince her family members to seek counseling as a family, so that a professional can point out to each family member how they might be negatively impacting the other family members. - She also agreed to investigate which Universities in Canada offer an online degree in Occupational Therapy, what the cost of the program would be, and if she has the necessary qualifications to be accepted. - Reeya agreed to register with the top recruitment firms such as Eve Anderson and Regency, and to ask them to assistance in writing her resume, and in finding a job in the HR field. - Reeya agreed to read the article entitled "How to Stop Worrying and Make a Lasting Impact with Your Life". This will help her to surrender the reins of her life's decisions to God. - She also agreed to work on her top five EIQ limitations using the tips under each limitation below: #1 She is not very assertive

Start small. Try to be assertive in mildly tense situations, such as requesting to be seated at a different spot at a restaurant.
Learn to say no. People worry that saying no is selfish. It’s not. Rather, setting healthy limits is important to having healthy relationships.
Let go of guilt. Being assertive can be tough — especially if you’ve been passive or a people-pleaser most of your life. The first few times it can feel unnerving. But remember that being assertive is vital to your well-being. “Assertive behaviour that involves advocating for oneself in a way that is respectful of others is not wrong — it is healthy self-care,” Marter said.
Express your needs and feelings. Don’t assume that someone will automatically know what you need. You have to tell them. Again, be specific, clear, honest and respectful.

#2 She has a tendency to ruminate excessively

The source of emotions. Remember: emotion is just a whirlwind of activity passing through your body and mind. You help create it and feed it; how you react is important to its outcome. See a professional in cognitive therapy if you wish to learn concrete strategies to overcome negative thought patterns and to question any heavily ingrained beliefs.
Learn the art of trusting God to help you to solve your life's pressing problems.

#3 Her impulse control needs improvement

Try to delay gratification. If you're not used to saying 'No' to others when they ask you to do something or to go somewhere when you have a more important commitment, try saying that you wouldn't mind doing what they ask, but on another day that is more convenient to you.

#4 Her mindset could stand to be more positive

View setbacks as short-lived. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed and find yourself plunging into negativity, remind yourself that things can get better. If you're having a hard time in a class you're taking, for example, or you're having relationship problems, look at it as temporary. Whatever the situation, you can take proactive steps to deal with the underlying issues. Even if you are faced with something that you will have to deal with for a lifetime (like a health problem or family issue), there is always some way to improve the situation. You will grow stronger, heal, or find better ways to cope.
The good and the bad. Both good and bad feelings facilitate the thinking process by allowing us to view things from different perspectives. Did you ever notice how, when thinking pessimistically about a problem, you come up with solutions that are in line with that thinking, and when you think positively, the perspective and solutions change? Our feelings, good and bad, offer us different perspectives on the world. While one perspective may be more beneficial than the other, both angles offer us valuable information about the world around us, and about ourselves.

#5 She does not seem to be very content

Try to count all the blessings in your life. Actually try making a list of all the good things that you have in your life, as well as all of the good relationships and people that surround you. It is amazing when we put pen to paper and list all that we need to be thankful, how long the list can become, and how quickly we realize how blessed we are.
View the glass as half full instead of half empty. It is always so easy to see what is missing in our lives, instead of what we actually have. Here are some facts: - If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. - If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. - If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week. - If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering. - If you can read this message you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.

- The next session was scheduled for Saturday 17 December 2016 at 8:30 AM.

Career and Life Coaching Session #4: Saturday 14 January 2017

- Reeya shared with me that 2017 is off to a rough start, with lots of stress which is causing her fibro myalgia toflare up. - Reeya also said that work is not too bad at the moment because it's a slow time. Restructuring at Scotiabank is happening slowly but surely and causing more stress for all employees. - There has been a lot of fighting among Reeya's mother's family members regarding Reeya's grandmother's will. THis has also been adding to her overall stress. - Reeya, her Mom and her brother are open to family counseling because her father is becoming impossible to live with. - Reeya and her family are seriously thinking of applying for residency in Canada. I recommended contacting Mendel Green as an Immigration Lawyer for an initial consultation: www.gands.com/team/bio/mendel-green - She looked into the online in Occupational Therapy, which will assist in her potential application to Canada. - The link to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Centennial College in Toronto is: www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/occupational-therapist-assistant-physiotherapist-assistant/#panelFour - Reeya asked if I thought it made sense to pursue the degree in Occupational Therapy here in Trinidad, and whether it is recognised internationally. - She would also like to interview someone in the field of Occupational Therapy. Acknowledgements from Session #4: - I acknowledged Reeya for persevering in her search for a career change. Takeaways from Session #4: - Reeya said that when she reached the breaking point with her father over Christmas, it made her realize that she needs to take some serious steps to care for her own well-being and that of her mother. Action Plan from Session #4: - Reeya agreed to ask her Mom and her brother to come to some family counseling sessions with me to start with. - Reeya also agreed to investigate applying for residency in Canada. I recommended contacting Mendel Green as an Immigration Lawyer for an initial consultation: www.gands.com/team/bio/mendel-green - She also agreed to look into the online in Occupational Therapy, which may assist in her potential application to Canada. The link to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Centennial College in Toronto is: www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/occupational-therapist-assistant-physiotherapist-assistant/#panelFour - Reeya asked if I thought it made sense to pursue the degree in Occupational Therapy here in Trinidad, and whether it is recognised internationally. The following links indicate that the only degree offered along the OT lines is a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern Caribbean (USC). The integrated curriculum in OT at USC is supported by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. There are currently no programmes in Trinidad and Tobago for Occupational Therapy Assistant. Furthermore, the prerequisites for the Master's programme in OT at USC are:

A minimum of BA or BS in any undergraduate subject matter from an accredited institution;
Pre-requisite courses with a C+ grade or better: Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab; Abnormal Psychology; Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology; Introduction to Statistics, Human Lifespan Development; and Medical Terminology;
A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

- Reeya is encouraged to explore the information in the following three websites to get a better idea of what is offered in the field of OT in Trinidad:

- She agreed to interview a professional in the field of Occupational Therapy using the following contact info: Sara Stephens of Therapy Works Limited

Office: 628-0528
E-mail: therapyworkstt@gmail.com

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