FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Career Coaching?: Career coaching is a professional service that provides individuals with guidance, strategies, and tools to help them navigate their career paths, make informed decisions, and achieve their career goals. It's a collaborative process between a career coach and an individual (the coachee) that's aimed at improving the coachee's professional life.

A career coach can assist with various aspects of a person's career, including but not limited to:

• Career Exploration and Decision-Making: This might involve helping the coachee explore different career options, understand their interests, skills, and values, and make informed decisions about their career direction.
• Career Transition: For individuals considering a career change, a career coach can help them understand the steps they need to take and provide support during the transition.
• Job Search Strategies: This can include providing guidance on effective job search strategies, reviewing and improving resumes and cover letters, preparing for job interviews, and negotiating job offers.
• Career Development and Advancement: For individuals already in a career, a coach can provide guidance on professional development and career advancement, such as improving specific job skills, enhancing leadership capabilities, and strategizing for promotions or job transitions within a field.
• Work-Life Balance: Career coaching can also address issues around managing stress, balancing work and personal life, and maintaining well-being in the workplace.

The specifics of career coaching often vary based on the individual's unique needs, goals, and circumstances. It's important to remember that career coaches do not make decisions for the coachee but instead provide them with the resources, support, and guidance needed to make their own informed decisions.

How is Personal Transformation Achieved in Career Coaching? Personal transformation refers to a significant change in an individual's professional identity, perspectives, skills, and behaviors that leads to a more fulfilling and successful career. Achieving this transformation is a structured and iterative process, facilitated by your career coach.

What Results Can You Expect from Career Coaching? Career coaching can lead to a wide range of results, depending on your individual goals, needs, and the duration of the coaching process. However, here are some common outcomes you can expect:

• Clearer Career Goals: Through career coaching, you will gain a better understanding of your professional aspirations and set clear, achievable career goals.
• Enhanced Self-Awareness: Career coaching can help increase your self-awareness, providing insights into your strengths, weaknesses, interests, values, and key skills, enabling you to make informed career decisions.
• Improved Job Search Skills: If you're seeking a job, career coaching can enhance your job-searching skills, including resume and cover letter writing, interviewing techniques, and networking strategies.
• Successful Career Transitions: If you're planning a career change, career coaching can guide you through the transition, helping you to identify transferable skills, explore potential new roles, and devise an effective transition plan.
• Career Advancement Strategies: If you're aiming to advance in your current career, coaching can provide strategies for seeking promotions, enhancing leadership skills, managing workplace relationships, and navigating organizational politics.
• Better Work-Life Balance: Career coaching can also assist you in managing stress and achieving a healthier work-life balance.
• Increased Confidence: By aligning your career with your strengths and values, career coaching can lead to increased confidence in your professional abilities and decisions.
• Greater Job Satisfaction: Ultimately, all of these benefits can contribute to greater job satisfaction, leading to improved performance, motivation, and overall well-being in your career.

Remember, while a career coach provides guidance and tools, the actual results depend on your active participation, commitment, and the actions you take based on the coaching.

How Does Coaching Work? Coaching is over six to nine months, so there is sufficient time for your transformation to occur. How long coaching is appropriate for you will depend on how prepared you are for the next stage in your career, and can be discussed during your initial consultation. All meetings are virtual through Zoom.

• For individual coaching, you book directly on Dr. Stine’s calendar so you can pick a day and time that suits your professional and personal needs, and change it if your schedule changes.
• For group coaching, everyone in the group will agree on a standard day and time. Adjustments can be made if all in the group agree to the change and there is availability on Dr. Stine’s calendar.
• In the event that you would like support on something that comes up in between our meetings, you can post an inquiry to the Client Log, and you can have "just in time" coaching via your Private Client Website.

What Outcomes Can You Expect Upon Completion of All Steps in the S&T Policy Academy Career Coaching Program?

• You gain clarity on your career and lifestyle goals in the field of science and technology policy and identify the policy arena where you want to have the most impact.
• You gain an understanding of the availability of S&T policy jobs of interest to you and the challenges involved in finding and applying for them.
• You enhance your resume to focus it appropriately for S&T policy positions and identify actions you can take to strengthen your S&T policy portfolio and digital profile so you are more competitive for open positions.
• You apply the knowledge and skills you've acquired throughout the process to actively search for and secure the right position for you in science and technology policy.

What is the Science & Technology Program Career Coaching Guarantee?

Our career coaching guarantee is designed to ensure your satisfaction and success in your career transition journey. We guarantee that by following our coaching program, you will receive personalized guidance and support tailored to your specific needs and goals. If you fully engage in the coaching process, actively complete the assigned exercises and action steps, and attend all scheduled coaching sessions, we guarantee that you will achieve significant progress and improvement in your career development.

If, after completing the coaching program, you feel that you haven't made substantial progress or are not satisfied with the results, we offer a complimentary additional coaching session to address any remaining concerns or provide further guidance. We are committed to your success, and we stand by our coaching methods and expertise.

Please note that while we provide guidance, resources, and support throughout the process, the ultimate success and outcome of your career transition journey also depend on your own efforts, dedication, and commitment to implementing the strategies and recommendations provided.

We are here to support you every step of the way and ensure you have the tools and knowledge necessary to achieve your career goals.

SECURITY & CONFIDENTIALITY

Is this client center and my data secured and safe?

Yes! In fact, there are 3 levels of security: provided to keep your data safe and confidential:  

1. Username and password protected;
2. Verisign Security Certificate protects your data on this site; 
3. Secured pages (https://)

Is my information confidential?

Yes. This site is protected by a username/password system. You are the only one that has access to your information.

ACCESSING THE PRIVATE CLIENT AREA

What is the "Register Now" link and when would I use it?

If you are interested in becoming a client or beginning the coaching process, you can create your own account to access the private client area.  When you "register" I will be notified that your account has been created and will need to activate your account. This could take up to 24 hours.

How do I access your private client area and how do I log in?

Click on the Login link in the navigational menu of the website. Then enter the username and password that has been assigned to you. Don't have login information yet?  Contact me so we can get an account created for you.

I have a password that I use for most of my on-line accounts.  Can I change the password you assigned to me?

Yes. You will need to log in initially using the password I assigned to you. Once you log in, you can change your password at any time in your Client Profile page, that you find under the FORMS tab.

What if I forget or lose my password and login information?

If you simply forgot your password, you can still go to the Login page by clicking the Login link. Click on the blue link "forgot password" to the right of the "Login" button and, in the new "Forgot Password" window, enter your username and click on the "Continue" button. You will receive an email shortly with your password included.

If you misplaced both your username and password, contact me and I will forward you your information.

I’m trying to log in, but it will not accept my username or password, what do I do?

Remember that the login information is case-sensitive, so enter it exactly like it was given to you. Also, type in your login credentials and DO NOT copy/paste it, as this procedure can include empty spaces, which count in a password, thus rendering incorrect. Again, if you do not remember your login credentials, you can contact me via email and I'll forward them to you.

FORMS, DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE

What makes up a "Welcome Packet," and what do I do with this?

A welcome packet consists of some basic forms, documents and resources that will help to get us started in the coaching process. By completing the information in the welcome packet, you are providing me with some helpful information so that I know best how to support you, guide you and work together with you. It includes a "Client Profile" form, a "Goals" form and also a "Discovery" form.  You will also find our coaching agreement located in this packet. It is customary for you to complete these items prior to our initial coaching session together.

SCHEDULING/RESCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS

What if I need to reschedule my appointment?

It's easy. With at least a 24 hour notice, you can reschedule any appointment by using the online calendar system. Just complete the following steps:

1. Log into your Private Client Website Area.
2. Click on the Calendar Menu.
3. Locate and click on the desired block of “Available” time (or if you already have an existing appointment, click on the title of your existing appointment that you wish to reschedule)
4. Click on the "edit" button and change the details of the appointment to correspond with an "Available" block of time.
5. The calendar will update itself, you'll see your new appointment reflected, and I will receive an email notification letting me know of the change. 

PAYING FOR THE COACHING SERVICES

How do I easily make my payments for my coaching services?

Each month you'll receive an invoice from my practice letting you know the amount committed for that month. You can (1) mail a check to the remit to address located right on the invoice or (2) log in to the private client area, click on the Payments Menu, and you will see any outstanding balances due at that time.

What are the various methods of payment I can use to pay for my coaching services?

• To pay by Credit Card or Pay Pal: when you receive your monthly invoice, click on the link at the bottom of the invoice to log into the private client area and click on the Payments Menu. Here you can either enter your credit card number or Pay Pal information and my system will automatically (and securely) process your payment.
• To have your coach process your payments for you: Complete the "Credit Card Authorization" form found under the Documents section of the private client area. Once I have the authorization and billing information, I will automatically process your payments for you as outlined in the authorization form.