UWGB aims to help individuals discover their strengths, explore career interests in an evolving marketplace.
GREEN BAY – As a higher education institution, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is known for educating and guiding its students.
However, when a student graduates, access to those career coaching resources end.
That was until now.
Jess Lambrecht, executive officer of the division for Continuing Education and Community Engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, said the university is now offering career coaching and other services to the broader community of professionals in Northeast Wisconsin – with the goal of helping individuals discover their strengths and explore their career interests in an evolving marketplace.
Recognizing an individual’s career journey evolves over a lifetime, Lambrecht said the university’s coaching services will help adults navigate career-life changes to ensure a rewarding future.
“What often happens in an adult space is they… are one, not certain what they want to do and so then when they connect with an institution, I don’t care if it’s here or anywhere else, they often are talking to an enrollment advisor who is trying to say like, ‘oh, this is the program,” she said. “And while we are careful to never push… I think there is an opportunity for community members to talk to someone who is much more, I’m gonna say unbiased.”
Lambrecht said in her positions in higher education career services, she would often get asked why the services weren’t available to the public.
“In my prior role, and coming here, we frequently get asked, ‘Do you have such a thing?’” she said. “I could do it, but you’re not a student, so technically, I can’t serve you in that way.”
Lambrecht said these conversations prompted her and her team to look at the possibility of offering these types of career coaching opportunities to the greater UWGB community.
“(The coaching is) intentional, focused on helping them navigate (things) – because it’s a complicated web and career professional world we live in and you need someone to help assess and analyze that,” she said.
Lambrecht said sometimes, working professionals can be confused by their circumstances and be unsure what exactly it is they need.
“Maybe it’s a bad environment I’m working in?” she said. “Maybe I have a bad boss. Do I need a new training program? Do I need a certificate? Do I need to simply enhance the skills I have and do a short-term program? Do I need a full-on degree program or a master’s program?”
Lambrecht said a career coach can help guide an individual’s career path and build self-awareness and confidence while ensuring they make thoughtful decisions that will positively impact their future.
She said career coaching services can help individuals figure out where they are “in that space.”
A menu of options
In collaboration with career coach Kristin Odell, UW-Green Bay is offering a menu of career coaching services, including:
- 1:1 Career coaching – a 60-minute one-on-one career-life consultant.
- Career coaching and assessment – a 60-minute consultation with a review of a Top 5 Strengths assessment.
- Coaching and in-depth assessment – two 60-minute consultations and an in-depth review of 34 CliftonStrengths results.
- Resume review and support – a 60-minute resume review and interviewing support.
- Goal setting – a 60-minute consultation to develop personal and professional goals.
- 1:1 career coaching sessions – three 60-minute one-on-one career-life consultations.
“I think what will be of most interest to individuals is an individual career coaching and assessment,” Lambrecht said. “I think having individuals have a stronger understanding of their own strengths in a one-on-one setting will be of most interest.”
Lambrecht said the university will monitor the program’s offerings and see if changes need to be made down the line.
“We know it’s a challenging time for community members, people in the workforce – they’re pulled in multiple directions,” she said. “And I think it’s important that as a higher education institution, we recognize that and figure out where we align best and where we can support that.”
Source: New career coaching program to support area professionals
