Gaining Insight Into Yourself as a Helper

Gaining Insight to Yourself as a Helper

Gaining Insight to Yourself as a Helper

by Katlyn Taylor -
Number of replies: 2
Within our overarching program, we have a special program called GAP that helps our graduates transition into the workforce. One student was trying to find a job after she had graduated throughout the year I was working with her. 


1. I wanted to help her find a job that she enjoyed - I knew she was friendly, personable, a good worker and very driven, and I wanted her to be successful. I also wanted her to find a job so that she could support her family. 

2. We did benefit from this relationship - we have certain outcome measurements we have to meet, and having her find a job that would support her family helped our numbers. 

3. My role was the facilitator for the GAP program, so I worked with her on resume, interview skills and job hunting. I believe I helped her come out of her shell a bit, be able to express herself better in an interview setting and get her resume up to date to showcase her talents in a good light. I wish I would've been able to help her find a job that paid more and that she enjoyed a bit more. She liked the job she was at, and elected to stay there because we were having trouble finding something else that worked with her schedule. I also wish I had been better able to help her identify her motivators. I feel like that was lacking in our relationship.  

4. She was afraid to look elsewhere for a job because she didn't think she had the skills. I didn't agree with her and kept reminding her of what she had accomplished and that she was skilled in a variety of areas. I also did not agree with the living situation she was choosing to be in, but remained supportive of her overall goals. 

5. Yes, it was a situation where I knew she could be successful if she applied herself, but she was only willing to do so much. It reiterated the fact that I could not make the decisions/do the work for her, she had to be motivated to do it herself. 

In reply to Katlyn Taylor

Re: Gaining Insight to Yourself as a Helper

by Twyla Rownak -

In reading your pose, I am reminded that one of the hardest parts in a helping profession is accepting that we can only do our parts, and they have to do the rest. I notice myself also feeling the desire to overcome her self doubts. 

In reply to Katlyn Taylor

Re: Gaining Insight to Yourself as a Helper

by Charise Wilson -

Hi Katlyn,

Great post and information. This is such a typical scene and one career practitioners contend with all of the time. As career advisors, we sometimes have more enthusiasm and maybe even more confidence in our clients and students than they have in themselves. This coming week Chapter 1 discussed a lot about this topic and reminds us to create action plans with our clients that can help them to achieve manageable goals within their timeframes. It sounds like you already experienced and witnessed this first hand! Great job! I hope that your student continues to gain experience and moves forward to bigger and better. I look forward to finding out what kind of goals you have too!