Name: Carol Christen
Age: 61
Occupation/Job Title: Career strategist, author, small business owner, flower farmer
I help individuals (teens, young adults, adults) find work they can enjoy based on their strengths and interests; I research the best ways for teens and young adults to successfully transition from school to work and write blogs and articles based on my research; I am the author of one book and am working on three others; I give presentations to teens, young adults, parents and communities on the need for individual's who want to be successful to have a career plan--and use it!
My husband and I also are learning sustainable farming. We grow vegetables, fruit trees, flowers and colorful chickens (for eggs). In the present dicey economy, having multiple income streams is a good idea. So, we have also opened our huge cutting garden to the public (http://crflowers.wordpress.com) . I make flower bouquets to order.
It's been so interesting to "grow" another one of my loves, flowers, into my worklife. I feel so incredibly blessed. I get to earn money through doing two things I love, helping young people find jobs or careers they enjoy and that will earn them a decent living and work with flowers.
Education:
I have a bachelor's degree from UCLA in Cultural Anthropology, and a secondary teaching credential from the state of California. I've taught career planning at a State University and run employment programs, and coached private clieints. Strictly speaking, neither my degee nor teaching certificate qualify me for what I do! Now so many certificates or degrees for coaches and career counselors. I read all the letters after other career consultants names and wonder what they all mean.
There really wasn't much career planning to be had when I was an undergraduate. I knew I was going to do something with people and felt that Cultural Anthro would give me the broadest background. I do not recommend this vague sort of career or major selection. These days, one must be must more specific to achieve success.
When I came into the field of careers, there were no Master's Degree programs or Doctorates in careers. I found leaders in the field and studied with them: the late Sindey Fine (author of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles) and John Crystal; Dick Bolles, Daniel Porot, Brian McIvor, Beverly Kay, Barbara Sher and Rich Feller, to name a few.
History:
I began my career in careers at 25 years of age. I had trained as a secondary teacher but quickly realized my heart was not in teaching academic subjects. I realized that career planning and job search were skills youth could learn no matter how smart they were. In the business world, motivation, experience and enthusiam count much more than GPA. Because I had studied with Parachute's author, Dick Bolles, doing something I loved was not an option. But, the real challenge is finding something one loves and getting paid well for it too!
Obstacles:
On the farm, my physical limitations (farming at 60+) frustrate me. On the career side, most people don't think teens need career planning or that it will limit their options. Hah! It takes time to build a good first career pathway. Starting early doesn't limit young people, but not knowing how to develop a career or way to earn a living does. The recent financial meltdown and global unemployment, especially for teens and young adults, has made more people willing to hear my message.
Mentors:
My first mentors were family: Grandfather, Mom and Dad all loved their work. They were first classroom teachers and then school administrators. While education did not turn out to be my field, I'm still a teacher at heart. I just don't work at a school.
Advice:
Most important to remember: Success and doing work that interests you are closely tied together. If you choose work you enjoy, you are one hundred times more likely to be financially successful. The big adventure is to find work use your strengths, interest and skills and pay what you need to finance the lifestyle you want.
It takes lots of time to research and find the intersection of what you love, what the world needs, and what it will pay you to do. Most people, adults or youth, don't spend enough finding out all their options. When I taught at a university, we had 45 in class hours. Students who finished the class with jobs or were near to having job offers, reported that they spent another 45 to 60 hours researching, finding people doing the work they wanted to do for site visits or field research, meeting with employers, etc. There are no instant McCareers!
Start in your teens and by your early twenties, you'll be working in the field or industry that most fascinates you. As you learn which positions most interest you, you'll keep moving into jobs that more and more use your strengths and interests. Get going! The adventure of you life awaits you.
Note from Tim:
Carol's book is a must read for every teenager, the book is amazing, I wish I had it when I was in high school in Toledo Ohio.
I have a case of the books on board to distribute as I meet with teens around the world.
Please also check out Carol's Facebook page and other websites, they are loaded with career guidance for teens,
Website: http://www.parachute4teens.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Color-is-Your-parachute-FOR-TEENS-Defining-Your-Future/386987411662?ref=ts
Blogsite: http://www.parachute4teens.com/blog.html
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