About
Karen is dedicated to helping young people build fulfilling and rewarding careers, empowering them to become self-reliant, resilient, creative and brave. She is a mother of two young adult daughters and thus understands what it takes for parents to navigate the complex lifespan changes and challenges of children and adolescents.
Biography
Karen’s career spans management, recruitment, training and human resources development, counselling and career coaching. Karen’s qualifications include studies in Psychology and Sociology at undergraduate level and to Grade 6 in Career Development and Guidance.
Education and Qualifications
At the postgraduate level, Karen holds a Professional Certificate of Adolescent Counselling through the faculty of Education at Monash University, and a Graduate Certificate of Career Development, from Swinburne University.
As a professional member of the Career Development Institute (CDI) in the UK, Karen regularly participates in training and development in order to maintain her professional accreditation through (CICA). The service that Karen offers is unique, providing a progressive coaching and mentoring relationship from early career exploration for school age students, through to the often overwhelming transition to tertiary education, job seeking and professional profile development.
Karen’s specialist expertise includes the careful interpretation of Morrisby Online, MBTI, Unifrog< Strong Interest Inventory and other career assessments.
How Karen Can Help
Karen’s coaching services cover a wide range of areas including subject selection, identifying potential pathways, interview preparation, personal branding and career changes.
Karen also specialises in guiding young people who are exploring careers in the performing arts. This includes application and audition support for domestic and overseas courses and colleges, including specifics such as applying to universities through UCAS.
Karen is highly experienced in using the Morrisby Online Career Assessments, having been part of the trial and launch of the Victorian Department of Education’s project for all year 9 students in Victorian State Schools, in Australia. Karen then spent 2 years as a consultant on this program.
Other career assessments that Karen is proficient in using include Unifrog for students who are looking at higher education courses and the MBTI for job applicants.
During the Covid-19 pandemic Karen continued to consult, pivoting to online consultations. There is also the option of face-to-face career planning consultations in the West Sussex area, in England.
“Karen was such a great help! Her expert advice on preparing my resume and her approach to correct interview techniques landed me with three great part-time jobs! If you’re looking for a careers counsellor, look no further than Karen!”
— Imogen, gap year job seeker
“Karen’s genuine care and interest in directing me on the right career path was so comforting, making the daunting experience of changing careers a whole lot easier. Her ongoing commitment in helping me to achieve my goals was above and beyond what I ever expected. Karen was extremely generous with her time, often going out of her way to assist me in different areas of the job application process. Her knowledge, connections and expertise helped guide me into a job I now love and has given me much to think about for the future. I would not hesitate to recommend Karen to any of my friends and family.”
— Christiana T, mid-20s career transition client
“I came to Karen for advice for my daughter, Olivia. Karen was able to help her to update her resume to make it current and relevant to the workplace, as well as giving her excellent ideas on how to find job vacancies. I highly recommend her.”
— Kathy, mother of a job seeker
“Karen enabled my daughter to obtain employment and enrol in the course of her choice by providing her with the tools she needed to succeed. Karen’s knowledge is extensive and her ability to instil confidence is apparent in the outcome. Thank you.”
— Gill, mother of Laura
“Thank you so much Karen for your work with E, I almost want to cry. Finding your place within the workforce is sooooo important, I just want her to be somewhere that utilises her hard work, kindness and fun personality. We had a family chat at the dinner table last night and she said she feels much better and feels like she is now headed in the right direction and has some clarity of what she feels is going to best suit her. Thank you. I am very grateful for your help.”
— Tara, mother
“…both M & T are happy with their choices, but if they have any questions, I’ll reach out to you. I can say that your help was invaluable with them reaching their decisions, so I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to you. You did get them through that difficult time when the choices in life seem insurmountable. It’s such a big decision everyone expects of young people but you really did help to give them some idea of who they are and where their talents lie.”
Charmaine
