SELECT SERVICE:
Available for online advising (US and internationally), and for in-person meetings in the D.C. Metro Area.
LAUNCHING YOUR CAREER
You have (or soon will have) your undergraduate or graduate degree. Now what?
I help you hone your resume into a true marketing tool, train you to interview with confidence, and negotiate the salary that you deserve.
Once you land that job, we can continue to work together on any challenges that arise. It takes time to understand workplace “politics” —I will help you keep that job you worked so hard to get!
Book Consult
BURNOUT
Are you feeling deeply exhausted and ready to leave your job? Do you love your work but feel stressed at your current organization?
If you enjoy your work, it can be hard to set boundaries. Leaving your current position may not always be the answer to fixing your career burnout either: if you already struggle with creating work-life harmony, you may end up taking that with you to your next position.
We will figure out if you are dealing with a corporate culture problem, a disconnect with your industry or a job role problem. We work to determine whether it’s best to stay or leave, and come up with a concrete practical plan to get you where you want to be.
Book Consult
LAYOFFS
With changing economies, lay offs are becoming more and more common but they are never easy. I have experience in navigating the many phases of handling an unforeseen job change. I will help you set up for a successful new chapter while you pick up the pieces from the past job.
If you already have a job in mind, I can help you leverage your connections to get you there. If you know what you want, but don't know where to look, I can help you find it.
Book Consult
CAREER GAPS / TIME OFF
Have you decided to step back from work to enjoy different experiences such as traveling the world, starting a family, or even helping a family member in need? Perhaps you’re simply taking a break after a layoff.
Taking a career break is more common than you may think, but there may come a time when you decide to climb back onto the career ladder. Best of all: now that you’ve had a chance to stand back and assess where you want to be and where you want to go, you will re-enter the job search with renewed vigor and perspective.
Instead of seeing your break as a handicap, I work with you to ensure that this time away is viewed as positive, differentiating you from other candidates. Don’t hide your break — it usually results in benefits that can make you even more hireable.
Book Consult
CAREER CHANGES
Need a change of pace? Tired of your current job? Sometimes a career change can re-energize you. We will work together to take the skills you’ve already built and reorient them towards new opportunities.
We build on your experiences to take you to another venue where those experiences will serve you well. If you need connections, I have an extensive network of people I can reach out to, netting you interviews, offers, and more.
Sometimes a career change means a change of work culture; I support you in the first few months of a new job so you can thrive in your new environment.
Book Consult
ACHIEVING MULTICULTURAL SUCCESS
You were a top student in your home country and so you were accepted to an American school. Suddenly, things changed - your grades dropped, you’re having trouble acclimating, and you don’t know why. Your story is fairly common - many students find it hard to adjust to the American school system. Don’t be discouraged - adapt and succeed instead.
I have years of experience with international education, so I know all of the pitfalls and quirks of the system. Let’s return you to the academic achievement that you deserve!
Book Consult
RETIREMENT: NOW WHAT?
If you are facing retirement within five to ten years, or if you’re already retired but don’t know where to put your energies, I can help you figure out a practical and realistic plan.
We will discuss your personal and professional goals. For example, if you still need to earn money, how can you address workplace ageism? If you want to try something completely different, how can you ramp up your skills quickly to enter that new field you’ve always dreamed about? What do you need to know to work more effectively with your born-digital future supervisors? How can you balance your time and energy so you have the space to make choices? These are challenges that we can dread or welcome, and my goal is to say together “bring it on!”
Book Consult
HOW TO ACE YOUR ZOOM MEETINGS
Coming across well in a video meeting is not as easy as it seems. One little mistake in your background (a family photo? an open drawer?) will impact the way you are perceived on the other side.
I’ve been preparing clients for video interactions for over ten years, primarily for those working internationally across multiple time zones. I will provide you with suggestions on looking fully professional, including best lighting and sound practices, composure, and more.
Book Consult
PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW
Phone interviews are among the most challenging to handle since there is no opportunity for the kind of “chemistry” that can happen in face-to-face meetings, and answering a series of pre-programmed questions leaves no room for relaxed interaction. Most preliminary interviews are also rarely done by the hiring manager.
Many of my clients have asked to work on preparing for a phone-only interview so they can establish a presence despite the impersonal nature of the call. I will show you the techniques I have developed to establish a sense of connection, providing you with a boost towards landing your new job.
Book Consult
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING
If you have fears and doubts about your presentation skills, you are in good company. Over 25% of public speakers have had to face their fears head on—whether it be for a small meeting of half a dozen colleagues or an international forum of thousands. I myself have had to face my own fears, giving presentations to groups of over a thousand!
We’ll work together to overcome your presentations reservations and practice your new skills until you feel fully confident and comfortable. You can do this!
Book Consult
JOB SEARCHING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Job searching was hard enough before the pandemic, but now you may think it’s impossible. Gone are the in-person networking events, meet-ups and other ways of talking to people in your field. Even meeting for coffee or a glass of wine after work with an old buddy is out of the question. Although the pandemic will not last forever, it will most likely leave a lasting effect on our ways of meeting new people and gathering for events.
Although it’s easy to be discouraged by the avalanche of reports on the economy, there are still jobs available. We’ll explore creative ways to keep your networking skills fresh and to make the appropriate connections in your field, especially since 80% of all jobs are still found through people you know.
Book Consult
MY PROCESS
I tailor my counseling to your needs.We start with a free consultation. Usually, this first contact will be a brief phone conversation where we establish your goals, set your expectations, and discover how we can work together. Think of it as a free trial for counseling.
Then we map out a step-by-step plan to help you reach your goals. I work with you throughout the entire process. Weekly check-ins ensure that you’re staying on track. Sometimes life happens, and plans change. Not a problem - I’ll adjust to your evolving needs to make sure you’re getting the most out of our time together.
CLIENT REVIEWS
“Judith employs a variety of skills to help people advance in their careers or change to new ones. She is creative, detail oriented, and pleasant to work with, but she is not afraid to challenge you to do the hard work of examining your own skills and interests.” —Danny
“Dr. Klavans helped me find new direction in my stalled career. She was an empathic listener to my goals, and quickly came up with a plan tailored to precisely my needs. I can’t thank her enough!” —Jared R.
“I got my degree from a top University, but I never thought it would take so long to get a good job. After waiting tables for nearly two years, I found Dr. Klavans, and she helped me find a good entry-level position in record time. That was four years ago, and I haven’t looked back!” —Arlene K.
