Career Coaching for Andrew Ferreira

Click on the following link for your: Vocational Style & Personality Assessment (VoSPA) Click on the following link for your: Values Profile Assessment (VaPro) Click on the following link for your: Mutli-Dimensional Emotional Intelligence Quotient (MEIQ) Click on the following link for the: O*Net Online Career Research Tool

Career Coaching Session #1: Wednesday November 21, 2012

- Andrew's E-mail address is andrew_footballer@hotmail.com - Andrew is 18 years old and he attended Maple Leaf School from Grade 4 to Grade 12, where he graduated from. - Andrew said that he was good at Math, English and Business, but he didn't like Science. - He had a co-op job at a company called Thompson's in landscaping, which he really enjoyed. - He is not sure what career path to pursue, but he really likes working with his hands, and may want to own his own business one day. - I discussed the results of the VoSPA assessment with Andrew, specifically his scores in the various categories of Interests, Intelligence Types, Values, and Work Styles. His scores can be reviewed in the report itself. - Here are the careers that the VoSPA assessment recommended for Andrew and how he rated them in terms of his passion level (1 is no passion and 10 is the highest passion):

Public Relations Managers (1/10)
Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (4/10)
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (4/10)
Financial Examiners (2/10)
Mediators (6/10)
Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors (3/10)
Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors (3/10)
Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts (3/10)
Social and Community Service Managers (4/10)
Education Administrators, Preschool and Child Care Center/Program (3/10)
Landscape Architects (7/10)

- Andrew seems to lean more toward a career in the field of Landscape Architecture. Acknowledgements from Session #1: - I acknowledged Andrew for completing the VoSPA assessment and for taking the time to engage in these career coaching session to determine his ideal career path. Takeaways from Session #1: - Andrew liked the process of doing the assessment he feels a little clearer about the process of career discovery. Action Plan from Session #1: - Andrew will review the VoSPA report in more detail and research on the Internet the recommended careers above which he scored 4 or more out of 10. - Andrew also agreed to consider doing the MEIQ and Values Profile assessments. - The next session was scheduled for Tuesday November 27, 2012 at 10:30 AM

Career Coaching Session #2: Tuesday November 27, 2012

- Andrew researched the five careers from the shortlist of session #1 using the O*Net Online tool and he documented his findings in the password-protected blog. In addition, he found two other careers that interested him on the O*Net Online website. The careers he researched were:

Landscape Architects (7/10)
Landscapers (6/10)
Mediators (6/10)
Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (4/10)
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (4/10)
Social and Community Service Managers (4/10)
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Nursery and Greenhouse Managers (Bright outlook)

- Andrew said that he could study for the career of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists at UTI in Texas. - His father encouraged him to take a one day orientation on greenhouse techniques being offered in Trinidad soon, which I highly encouraged Andrew to do. - I asked Andrew if he would be willing to do the VaPro and MEIQ assessments before our next session, and he agreed to do them. - The following careers from the VoSPA assessment and O*Net Online still interest Andrew. They are listed in order of his passion level:

Landscapers (8/10)
Nursery and Greenhouse Managers (Bright outlook) (8/10)
Landscape Architects (7/10)
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (7/10)
Mediators (5/10)
Social and Community Service Managers (4/10)

Acknowledgements from Session #2: - I acknowledged Andrew for researching the various careers using the O*Net Online tool and for even finding two more careers that interested him. Takeaways from Session #2: - Andrew is starting to feel better about narrowing down his career choices Action Plan from Session #2: - Andrew will continue researching the careers on the VoSPA shortlist. - He will complete both the VaPro and MEIQ assessments before our next session. - He agreed to attend the one day orientation on greenhouse techniques being offered in Trinidad - The next session schedule was scheduled for Monday December 3, 2012 at 10:30 AM

Career Coaching Session #3: Monday December 3, 2012

- Andrew completed both the VaPro and MEIQ assessments, and the links to both of these assessments, along with the original VoSPA assessment can be found at the start of this blog. - The results below are a summary of Andrew's top values - those that are most important to him and on which he bases his life decisions and goals. His Core Value is his top value overall. His Work Value is his top value in his professional life, and takes into account aspects like career path, work tasks, and job environment. His Personal Value is his top value in his 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: Realistic Values People for whom realistic values are important in work settings are happiest and utilize their talents best in positions where they can see tangible results of the fruits of their labor. They need to feel that they are accomplishing something with their work, as they desire to be productive and make an impact in some way. Hands-on projects are often their specialty, although they excel at any task that requires a practical and systematic approach. People with realistic values are not afraid of hard work, but like barter systems of old, they want to make sure that they are given fair compensation for their efforts. Given their more down-to-earth personality, projects that require them to think "outside the box" may not be their specialty. They could potentially complement creative people and projects in the sense of making sure proposed visions and ideas are feasible, but they can clash with more unconventional thinkers. - Suggested occupations from the VaPro report for those with realistic values are shown below. Note the three careers with the * as they correspond to ones from the original VoSPA report that Andrew showed an interest in: * Mechanic Electrician Carpenter * Agricultural/Marine/Mechanical Engineer * Landscape Architect Paramedic Firefighter Police Officer Pilot Athlete/Coach/Trainer - Since Andrew also scored high in the social values category, here are the suggested occupations for those with social values. Again, note the two careers with the * as they correspond to ones that Andrew a recent interest in: Caregiver/Nurse Physical Therapist Animal Trainer Teacher Counselor/Social Worker/Psychologist Personnel Trainer Civil Rights Lawyer Receptionist * Customer Service Representative * Retail Salesperson - Andrew confirmed that he did attend the agricultural seminar on this past weekend which was hosted by PCS Model Farm. A talk was given by Dr. Hannan who is a doctor of horticulture. PCS Model Farm offers free courses which Andrew is planning on taking more of to get a better feel for this career, which is related to Nursery and Greenhouse Manager. - His father got him a full-time job as a salesman at James Flavours, and Andrew works in a marketing and sales capacity trying to promote their products to various businesses. He is currently enjoying this job and wants to add Salesman (8/10) to his list of possible careers. - His current shortlist of careers is thus:

Landscapers (8/10)
Nursery and Greenhouse Managers (Bright outlook) (8/10)
Salesman (8/10)
Landscape Architects (7/10)
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (7/10)

- We also discussed Andrew's MEIQ report in detail, and ways in which he can improve his overall EIQ. The most important recommendations that Andrew can act upon that will help him improve in many areas of his emotional health are the following:

Improve upon his emotional self-awareness
Become more aware of his strengths and weaknesses
Try to become more comfortable with emotions in general
Try not to ruminate (or worry) excessively

Acknowledgements from Session #3: - I acknowledged Andrew for completing both the VaPro and MEIQ assessments as part of his action plan from our last session. - I also acknowledged him for accepting the sales job that his father got him as this will help him to gain more confidence in himself and to network with other people. This can only lead to opportunities for Andrew in discerning his career path. Takeaways from Session #3: - Andrew is feeling somewhat better that he has narrowed down his list of possible careers to four or five, and he feels happy about the fact that he has a sales job, and plans on taking more agricultural courses offered by PCS Model Farm. Action Plan from Session #3: - Andrew plans on using the Microsoft Word template that I sent him in order to interview professionals in each of the five careers on his shortlist. - Once these interviews are complete, Andrew will E-mail me the documents so that I can upload them to this blog. - The next session was scheduled for Monday December 17, 2012 at 10:30 AM.

Career Coaching Session #4: Monday May 26, 2014

- Andrew spent the past year at Fleming College in Lindsay, Canada studying his first year of drilling and blasting. His second year is coming up starting in September 2014, and finishing in April 2015. - He has learned the fundamentals of drilling, as well as related environmental subjects. The study material will get more specific and more challenging in year 2. - Andrew found his first year in Canada difficult because of the culture change, the weather change, and because he missed his family and friends back in Trinidad. He tried to visit his sister in Toronto a few times per month, but it was still a difficult year for him. Because of that, Andrew is not really looking forward to going back to Canada for year 2. - I asked him if he could gather enough strength to complete his year 2 studies, and at least get the certificate from Fleming College. He said that he woulds try his best to go back to complete his second year. - I asked him to rate his mood while he was in Canada, and he said that his lowest was 2/10, and hie highest was 7/10. He felt that he averaged about 4.5/10 while he was there. He said that mentally he rated himself 7.5/10, spiritually 8/10, physically 6/10, and emotionally 4/10. - He found that he turned to God and prayer more while he was in Canada because he found the life there so difficult. - He is happy to be back in Trinidad now with his family and friends, and he is currently working with his Dad in the stationary business. - Andrew feels that he can use his education in drilling and blasting to possibly get a job in the oil and gas industry in Trinidad, but he cannot see himself working in this industry for more than five years. - He is leaning strongly more toward a career in landscaping, and a possible plan that we discussed was for Andrew to work in oil and gas for five years, while developing his landscaping business on the side. - Here is how Andrew rates the various careers that his is currently interested in, in order of his passion level: #1 Landscape Architects (9/10) #2 Nursery and Greenhouse Managers (Bright outlook) (8/10) #3 Horizontal Drilling Specialists (utilities / construction) (8/10) #4 Water Drilling Specialists (8/10) #5 Salesman (8/10) #6 Oil and Gas Drilling Specialists (7/10) #7 Landscapers (6/10) Acknowledgements from Session #4: - I acknowledged Andrew for passing his year 1 at Fleming College, and toughing out the change in culture and weather! - I also acknowledged him for keeping up and even deepening his spirituality while he was in Canada. - I also acknowledged him for coming to this Career Coaching session to try to finalize his choice of career path. Takeaways from Session #4: - Andrew feels better now that he has a plan to finish his year 2 at Fleming College. - He also feels good about the possibility of working in the oil and gas industry for about five years, and developing his landscaping business on the side. Action Plan from Session #4: - Andrew agreed to regain his energy while he was in Trinidad for the next three to four months, so that he can be ready to go back to Canada in late August to complete year 2 at Fleming College. - He agreed to review his new career shortlist below, and to see if he wants to make any changes to his passion level in the various careers: #1 Landscape Architects (9/10) #2 Nursery and Greenhouse Managers (Bright outlook) (8/10) #3 Horizontal Drilling Specialists (utilities / construction) (8/10) #4 Water Drilling Specialists (8/10) #5 Salesman (8/10) #6 Oil and Gas Drilling Specialists (7/10) #7 Landscapers (6/10) - He agreed to reflecting on the possibility of working in the oil and gas industry for about five years, and developing his landscaping business on the side.

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