Career Coaching for Alex Pantin

Click on the following link for your: Vocational Style & Personality Assessment (VoSPA) Click on the following link for your: Mutli-Dimensional Emotional Intelligence Quotient (MEIQ) Click on the following link for your: Concentration Ability Assessment Self Report (CAT-SR) Click on the following link for your: Values Profile Assessment (VaPro) Click on the following link for the: List of Questions for Interview Process Click on the following link for the: O*Net Online Career Research Tool

Career Coaching Session #1: Friday January 18, 2013

- Alex's E-mail address is alex_pantin@hotmail.com - Alex is 19 years old and he attended secondary school at Fatima College up to Form 5, and then attended ISPS for 2 years for Grades 11 and 12 - He currently has an office job at a Civil and Structural Engineering firm called Prime Project Managers in Woodbrook - I discussed the results of the VoSPA assessment with Alex, 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 Alex and how he rated them in terms of his passion level (1 is no passion and 10 is the highest passion):

Coaches and Scouts (4/10)
Marketing Managers (6.5/10)
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists (4/10)
Special Education Teachers, Middle School (1/10)
Emergency Management Specialists (5.5/10)
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (1/10)
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers (7/10)
Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (3/10)
Police Patrol Officers (1/10)
Child, Family, and School Social Workers (1/10)
Diesel Mechanics (8/10)

- Alex seems to lean more toward a career in the field of Mechanical Engineering or Diesel Mechanic - We discussed how Alex would rate himself in terms of his emotional IQ (EIQ) and he said that he tends not to show his emotions in general. I mentioned to Alex that we will review his completed MEIQ assessment at our next session to see his results. I stressed the importance of developing a healthy EIQ as Psychologists have recently discovered that it is as important and maybe even more important than having a high IQ score. - We also discussed Alex's spirituality, and he said that he stopped going to Church last year - We also discussed Alex's physical health and exercise habits, and he said that he used to play a lot of sports but not since he left high school. Acknowledgements from Session #1: - I acknowledged Alex for completing both the VoSPA and MEIQ assessments - I also acknowledged him for coming to these Career Coaching sessions to get a better understanding of what career path he would like to pursue instead of just going straight to University after high school. Takeaways from Session #1: - Alex liked the process of doing the assessment he feels a little clearer about the process of career discovery. Action Plan from Session #1: - Alex will review the VoSPA report in more detail and research on the Internet using the O*Net Online Career Research Tool the recommended careers above which he scored 5 or more out of 10, and document his research in this password-protected blog. These careers are:

Diesel Mechanics (8/10)
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers (7/10)
Marketing Managers (6.5/10)
Emergency Management Specialists (5.5/10)

- He also agreed to see if any of the careers in the Related section of the O*Net Online website catch his interest, and to put those in the blog as well. - Alex also agreed to the Values Profile assessment. - The next session was scheduled for Friday January 25, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Career Coaching Session #2: Friday January 25, 2013

- Alex and I reviewed the various careers that interested him from the first session, and based on the research that he did on the O*Net Online website, here are his comments: 1. Mechanical Engineer (8.5/10)

This career is of interest to him because he enjoyed building things when he was younger
He has a keen interest in car engines.

2. Airline Pilot (7.5/10)

This career is of interest to him because it involves engines.
He commented though that it would involve a lot of time away from home, while having his own family one day is important to him.

3. Aircraft Mechanic & Service Technician (8/10)

Alex felt that this was a good combination of the above two careers and should be on his shortlist.

4. Mining and Geological Engineer (6/10)

Alex says that this career seems OK but it does not stand out enough for him, and should be struck off his shortlist.

5. Marine Engineer

Alex said that he is not interested in this career anymore because he does not really like the sea.

6. Marketing Manager (7/10)

Alex said that he has an uncle who works as a Marketing Manager at Angostura
He said that this career is a good possibility for him

7. Diesel Mechanic (7/10)

Alex is also interested in this career because it involves engines
There is a high demand for this career in Trinidad because diesel is the way of the future.

- The following careers that score 7 or more out of 10 are still of interest Alex:

Mechanical Engineer (8.5/10)
Aircraft Mechanic & Service Technician (8/10)
Airline Pilot (7.5/10)
Marketing Manager (7/10)
Diesel Mechanic (7/10)

- Next, we reviewed Alex's MEIQ assessment results, and his score (92/155, 32nd percentile) on this assessment is satisfactory, but there is room for improvement. Overall, he is adequately skilled at understanding and dealing with emotions, but he needs to further develop his skills. Awareness is key to helping him find the motivation to improve in this area, and knowing which areas he most needs to work on developing.

- The following is a summarized version of Alexander's results, categorized as Strengths, Potential Strengths, and Limitation. Strengths

He was able to recognize the emotions depicted on the test
He is empathetic
He performed well on the emotional integration aspect of the test
He is driven toward further self-development
He is assertive
He has a healthy level of self-esteem

Potential Strengths

He has a satisfactory emotional IQ level
He is somewhat aware of his strengths and weaknesses
He does not ruminate excessively, which is good, but he also may not give things sufficient thought
His approach to problem solving is sometimes conducive to resolution
His mindset is moderately positive
He is doing reasonably well in the area of Emotional Understanding
He is reasonably resilient/hardy
He is reasonably self-motivated
He seems to be reasonably content

Limitations

Improvement is required in the area of Emotional Identification, Perception, and Expression
His emotional self-awareness is limited
He is not very comfortable with emotions in general
Improvement is required in the area of Emotional Facilitation of Thought
He doesn't make it a point to act in accordance with his values
His social insight ability limited
He did not always choose the most ideal form of resolution for conflict situations on the test
Improvement is required in the area of Emotional Management
His impulse control needs improvement
His self-control needs improvement
He needs to work on using more healthy coping techniques
He seems to have difficulty rising above minor issues and annoyances
He has difficulty adapting his social skills to the circumstances around him
The manner in which he would resolve conflict situations on the test were not always the most beneficial
He seems to struggle to act independently
He is not in the habit of setting goals
He seems to be somewhat indifferent towards the wellbeing of others
His flexibility is limited

Acknowledgements from Session #2: - I acknowledged Alex for doing the research on the various careers of interest from the first session using the O*Net Online website, and for documenting his findings in the blog. I also acknowledged him for completing the MEIQ assessment, and for being attentive to some of the key areas that he needs to work on in order to improve his overall EIQ score (such as expressing his emotions more in a healthy way, and not letting them build up inside). Takeaways from Session #2: - Alex is feeling a little better that his career shortlist is being narrowed down. Action Plan from Session #2: - Alex will continue researching the careers on his current shortlist. - He agreed to complete both the Concentration Ability assessment, as well as the Value Profile assessment. - The next session schedule was scheduled for Wednesday February 6, 2013 at 12:30 PM.

Career Coaching Session #3: Wednesday February 6, 2013

- Alex and I reviewed the results of his Concentration Ability assessment, and his test score 40/100 revealed that he has problems concentrating. Somewhere along the line, he failed to pick up all the tricks of the trade that could help him zone in on important tasks. This may often result in daydreaming that leads him astray from the task at hand. The good news however, is that it doesn't have to be this way - concentration is a skill that he can learn and practice. It will help him achieve success in whatever he pursues, not to mention save him a lot of time and stress.

Mental Focus (score 32) According to his responses on this test, Alexander doesn't possess a lot of self-discipline when it comes to concentrating despite distractions. He seems to have difficulty tuning out his environment and as a result, his concentration tends to be disrupted fairly easily. He may find himself daydreaming often, likely when dealing with a task that he doesn't find particularly interesting. People who are very self-disciplined can block out most distractions in their environment and focus when they really need to. Should their minds drift off or an interrupting thought pop into their head, they can bring their focus back with ease. Although concentrating on tasks and keeping his mind on track seems to be a problem for Alexander, self-discipline is a skill that can be improved with time and practice. Tactics (score 48) Alexander's results indicate that he uses some strategies to help him concentrate, but this isn't always the norm for him. Sometimes, he may have a lot of difficulty getting started on and completing tasks, especially if they're really boring or complex. Although staying focused does require a certain act of will, there are ways to keep his mind on track and lessen the tendency to daydream. It is likely that he does use some tactics, but not often enough. Using these tactics can not only help increase his concentration span, but also make it less likely that he will get bored, frustrated or distracted. - The following is a summarized version of Alexander's results, categorized as Strengths, Potential Strengths and Limitations: Strengths

He often alternates between tasks in order to avoid monotony
He doesn't take on more tasks than necessary

Potential Strengths

No potential strengths detected

Limitations

He has poor concentration skills
He is unable to stay mentally focused amidst distraction
He doesn't use strategies to help improve his concentration
He doesn't take full advantage of break times in order to re-energize himself and clear his head
He has difficulty motivating himself to complete tasks
He doesn't work according to his body's schedule
He tends to set unreasonable goals and expectations for himself
He doesn't take the steps necessary to minimize distraction as much as possible

- I encouraged Alex to review the Concentration Ability report in detail, and in particular to follow the advice given at the end of the report. In particular, I recommended that he try some of the free online memory and concentration games such as can be found at http://www.memory-improvement-tips.com/brain-games.html - We also reviewed the results of his Values Profile assessment, and the results below are a summary of Alexander'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: Realistic Values People with realistic values are most concerned with being productive and useful, and desire to achieve efficient return on the investment of their time, money and effort. They are practical, reasonable, and think their actions through before they act. Investing for their future is one of your top priorities. The affection that people with realistic values share with their family and friends is probably expressed in non-verbal ways, such as putting in time or effort to make a gift, or simply being there when they are needed. Giving themselves is their way of showing that they care and to them, is more meaningful then words. 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.

- The following is a summarized version of Alexander's results, categorized according to his Dominant Values (those that are most important to him), Influencing Values (those of moderate importance to him), and Minor Values (those of least importance to him): Dominant Values

None of the values fall into this category

Influencing Values

Realistic Values
Social Values
Political Values

Minor Values

Theoretical Values
Aesthetic Values
Traditional Values

- The suggested occupations for those with realistic values are:

Mechanic (*)
Electrician
Carpenter
Agricultural/Marine/Mechanical Engineer (*)
Landscape Architect
Paramedic
Firefighter
Police Officer
Pilot (*)
Athlete/Coach/Trainer

- The above three career categories in bold with the (*) confirm some of Alex's career choices from the previous sessions and the VoSPA report. Acknowledgements from Session #3: - I acknowledged Alex for completing both the Concentration Ability assessment, as well as the Values Profile assessment. Takeaways from Session #3: - Alex is feeling better about the careers on his shortlist, especially as they are being confirmed by each successive assessment which he does. Action Plan from Session #3: - Alex agreed to review the various Psychometric reports in more detail and to follow the advice given at the end of the reports, where applicable. - He also agreed to use the interview template document found at the top of this blog, and which I will also provide for him in an E-mail, in order to interview and document his findings with professionals who work in the careers on his current shortlist, which are:

Mechanical Engineer (8.5/10)
Aircraft Mechanic & Service Technician (8/10)
Airline Pilot (7.5/10)
Marketing Manager (7/10)
Diesel Mechanic (7/10)

- The next session was scheduled for Wednesday February 20, 2013 at 12:00 PM.

Career Coaching Session #4: Wednesday February 27, 2013

- I discussed with Alex how his concentration skills were improving by using the brain games on the Internet site that I sent him. He said that he was using these games to improve his concentration skills, and that he felt they were improving. I also mentioned to him that he should look into the Lumosity website it is a more structured learning site to improve his concentration and brain skills. He said that he would look into it as long as it did not have an associated cost. - I also asked him if he had ever been diagnosed with ADD and he said no. He said that he did not have concentration issues in primary school, but they only started in high school. I suggested that he look into taking a free online test to see if he had any signs of ADD, and he agreed to do so. I told him that if he did indeed have ADD, that there are medications such as Concerta that he could take to help him improve his focus and concentration, especially as he prepares to go to University. He said that unless he diagnosed with ADD for certain, he preferred not to become dependent on medication but to improve his concentration through the online brain games. - Alex shared with me that he got accepted to two Universities in Florida with partial scholarships, namely, Florida Institute of Technology as well as University of South Florida (USF). In both Universities he got accepted for the program in Mechanical Engineering, which I highly commended him for. He is still waiting for a response from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. - I asked Alex how his interviews went with the various professionals, and he said that:

He interviewed an Aircraft Mechanic so far. He said that the person told him that the job was interesting and challenging, and there were always new problems to work on, which interested Alex. He said that there was a certain degree of stress associated with this career because if a mistake is made in fixing an aircraft, it could result in a plane crash and the loss of life. He also said that the career meshes OK with his family life, but he did not sound very convincing when he said that. As a result of the interview, Alex will keep his rating of Aircraft Mechanic at 8.5/10.
He is waiting for his father to return from a trip before he interviews the Airline Pilot. He will keep the rating on this career at a 7/10, but his friend the Aircraft Mechanic lives next to a Pilot and he said that the job is fairly boring and the Pilot spends a lot of time away from his family. This made Alex less interested in this career, but he will await the results of the interview.
Alex wanted to remove Marketing manager from the shortlist of careers because it is so different from all the other professions which have to do with some type of mechanics.
Alex still has to interview his cousin who is a Mechanical Engineer, and he will do this in the coming week or two. I also point out to Alex to ask his cousin what the outlook is for Mechanical Engineers in Trinidad over the next 5 to 10 years.
Alex said that he needed a contact name to interview for Diesel Mechanic. I said that I would try to find him one.

- In summary, Alex said that he would lean toward becoming a Mechanical Engineer with a four-year Bachelors degree, and after working for a few years in this field, he could possibly look into additional training to become an Aircraft Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, or ROV Pilot if he was not enjoying working as a Mechanical Engineer. He said that at least in this way he would have learned the theory behind how machines work in general, which would help him in these other careers. - Alex's current career shortlist with his passion-level ratings is nbow as follows:

Mechanical Engineer (9/10)
Aircraft Mechanic (8.5/10)
Diesel Mechanic (8.5/10)
ROV Pilot (7/10)
Airline Pilot (7/10)

- I asked Alex if funding was going to be an issue because of the fact that the Universities that he got accepted to so far in Florida are only providing him with a partial scholarship. He said that it is putting a damper on things, and so I suggested that he call Scotiabank in Trinidad and inquire about their student loans, and to also ask his parents if they would be willing to assist him with an interest-free loan, which he agreed to do. Acknowledgements from Session #4: - I commended Alex for getting accepted to both Florida Institute of Technology and University of South Florida for the Mechanical Engineering program. Takeaways from Session #4: - Alex is feeling good about the fact that he sees a plan ahead of him for his career with most probably pursuing Mechanical Engineering with a four-year Bachelors degree, and after working for a few years in this field, he could possibly look into additional training to become an Aircraft Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, or ROV Pilot if he was not enjoying working as a Mechanical Engineer. Action Plan from Session #4: - Alex is planning on interviewing the following professionals:

His cousin who is a Mechanical Engineer
His father's friend who is an Airline Pilot
A Diesel Mechanic if I can provide him with a contact name.

- Alex is also going to research the career of ROV Pilot to see if this interests him. A good site for him to look at is The Underwater Centre in Fort William in Scotland, UK and the website is: www.theunderwatercentre.co.uk - The next session was scheduled for Tuesday March 19, 2013 at 12:00 PM.

Career Coaching Session #5: Tuesday April 2, 2013

- Alex shared that he has decided not to go to FIT (Florida Institute of Technology) because of cost. - He also decided to strike Villanova University from his list because they have him on a waiting list. - Alex is also not sure if he will actually attend USF in September 2013, mainly because of the cost which is estimated at about $45,000 US per year. So far, here are the pros and cons of USF: Pros for USF

There aren't that many Trinidadians at USF making it a more enriching experience for Alex.
Alex has already been accepted to the Mechanical Engineering program at USF with a partial scholarship.
Alex would be able to start at USF earlier than at FIU, which would be September 2013.

Cons for USF

The fees are approximately $45,000 US per year which is quite expensive.

- His friend mentioned to him that he has a contact at FIU (Florida International University) who can get Alex discounted rates for tuition. This really appeals to Alex, and he would like to research the option of attending FIU starting in January 2014. So far, here are the pros and cons of FIU: Pros for FIU

The fees may be substantially less than $45,000 US per year if his friend's contact FIU can help Alex with the fees.

Cons for FIU

There are a lot of Trinidadians at USF making it not much better than attending UWI for example.
Alex has not applied as yet to the Mechanical Engineering program at FIU, and when he does, he is not sure if he will get accepted into the program, and if he will be given a partial scholarship.
Alex would have to start at FIU later than at USF, which would be January 2014.

- I encouraged Alex to continue writing out the pros and cons for USF and FIU using the above lists, which he agreed to do. - I then asked Alex that given all the factors he now knows about Mechanical Engineering, such as the costs, how he would rate his passion level. He said that he rate it at 8.7/10 which is down slightly from 9/10. - I mentioned to Alex that he should look into the Scotiabank Student loan, which he agreed to do. Information for this can be found at: http://www.scotiabank.com/tt/en/0,,439,00.html. Here is a summary of this loan:

With a Scotiabank Student Loan, full-time undergraduates can borrow up to a maximum of $450,000 (approximately $70,000 US) to cover for tuition, accommodation, books and other expenses. As a student, you will receive each year's loan advance either at the beginning of the school year or at the start of each semester, depending on the academic institution's requirements. You must be a national of Trinidad and Tobago and registered to complete a Certificate, Undergraduate, Diploma, Postgraduate, or Professional course on a full-time/part-time basis, at the University of the West Indies, or any recognized university or junior college in North America or Europe.

- I also asked Alex about how his online games for improving his concentration abilities were going. He said that he had not done much in the past month because of the Easter season. I encouraged his to use the Lumosity website (www.lumosity.com/app/v4/dashboard) since it sends out reminder E-mails about upcoming lessons, as well as providing before and after scores for various brain functions. Alex agreed to switch to using Lumosity and to try to complete his lessons by the end of this summer in time for University. - I asked Alex to prioritize on his MEIQ assessment from 1 to 5 the limitations that he would like to work on over the next year, with 1 being his highest priority. Here was his list: 1. He seems to struggle to act independently

Be honest with yourself. Everyone feels things, and it's nothing to hide or be nervous about. Emotions are important signals that we need to listen to in order to feel more fulfilled in life
Get to know yourself better. For example, make a list of your strengths and limitations. The more in touch you are with who you are, the better you will be able to understand and handle your emotions.

2. He is not in the habit of setting goals

Try to write out your short-term, medium-term, and long-terms goals. Keep this list handy so that you can refer to it and track your progress.

3. He doesn't make it a point to act in accordance with his values

Consider the implications of not acting in accordance with your values. A lack of self-respect, pent up feelings of guilt, health problems, etc.
Get to know yourself better. For example, make a list of your values and what they mean to you. The more in touch you are with who you are, the better you will be able to act in accordance with your values.

4. Improvement is required in the area of Emotional Facilitation of Thought

Practice distinguishing between what you are thinking and what you are feeling. They are not always one and the same, and we need to recognize this in order to clearly express and understand where our feelings are coming from.
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.
Refuse to be a victim. Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, renowned author and noted expert on positive psychology, states that the feeling of being a victim leads to learned helplessness. If you blame your problems on other people or circumstances, you will avoid taking personal responsibility for your life. While it may be true that there are things beyond your control, the majority of what happens in your life is up to YOU. Life may throw you many curve-balls, but it is you who decides how you'll react to them.
Don't brush aside your gut instinct or intuition. Gut instinct is that voice in your head, that warning bell, that's trying to tell you that something isn't right. Some refer to it as a sixth sense. Whatever the label, it can offer us valuable information if we take a moment to listen. Those who ignore this inner voice can often end up regretting it. This doesn't mean that logic has no benefits. The perfect balance, in fact, would be to think a situation through, and then going with what feels right.
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. He has difficulty adapting his social skills to the circumstances around him

Don't try to avoid confrontation at all costs. This results in a buildup of unresolved anger and frustration for both people. Sulking and denial do not accomplish anything either. Besides, bottled up frustration finds its way out, one way or another.
Take a time out. "When angry count to ten; when very angry count to 100." It's not always easy to maintain your composure when you feel like your "buttons" are being pushed, but it is essential that you make an effort to do so. It's important to cool down emotionally when a situation makes you upset or stressed. As time passes, you will be able to be more objective about the issues and to sort out the situation more clearly. Count for as long as it takes for you to reach a state of mind conducive to the cool, rational consideration of possible consequences of your actions. This counting technique can be used no matter what the intense feeling is.

- In closing, I mentioned the technique of visualization to Alex where he can sit in a quiet room and visualize himself going through the Mechanical Engineering program at University for four years, then returning to Trinidad and looking fora job for two months, and then finally working at a company as a Mechanical Engineer for a good salary, and possibly paying back a bank load over a period of five to ten years. He should then gauge his level of comfort with this entire situation and even give it a rating from 1 to 10. Then do a similar visualization exercise with him staying in Trinidad and simply working at a company from the ground level up, and again give it a rating from 1 to 10. Alex agreed to do this exercise. Acknowledgements from Session #5: - I acknowledged Alex for coming to the five sessions and for making good progress toward deciding on his final career path choice. - I also acknowledged him for wanting to improve on some key areas of his emotional development. - I also commended him on applying to a getting into USF for Mechanical Engineering. Takeaways from Session #5: - Alex said that he found the five sessions to be very helpful and they helped to clarify things for him around his career path choice. Action Plan from Session #5: - Alex agreed to continue researching USF and FIU and to complete the list of pros and cons for each University, which was started in this blog above. - He also agreed to contact Scotiabank in Trinidad to inquire about the Student Loan program - He agreed to sign up for the Lumosity brain game program to improve his mental skills in general, and especially his concentration skills. - He agreed to work on his five top EIQ limitations using the advice given in the MEIQ report, which are summarized in this blog. - Finally, he agreed to do the visualization exercise to decide on pursuing Mechanical Engineering as a career or not.

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