Alevtina Sedochenko

EXERCISES for CAREER COUNSELING Alevtina Sedochenko

Practical collection of fresh activities for consultants working in the career guidance and development realm, specialists, trainers, career advisers, and HR managers. 20+ exercises designed and selected (especially for use with MBTI and personality type practice), including get-to-know exercises, icebreakers, warm-ups, and sum-up exercises. The exercises are based on various techniques and methods, selected specifically for career and self-development, and tested during my trainings and group activities. Detailed descriptions of all the exercises, materials, task instructions, suggestions for adapting different audiences, as well as examples of exercise application from my own classes. These fresh exercises that will give depth and reflection to your career guidance sessions (both individual and in groups) and make them more interesting and relevant for your demanding clients. Example. Exercise "3 in 1". This exercise is especially fun for adolescents and students! Yet, it is well accepted by any participants. It not only allows for working out the functions in an exciting and creative way, but also for getting new ideas and insights for startups or business development. At the same time, it motivates the participants to practice finding new solutions at a junction of ordinary and seemingly simple things. Application: Teams of 3-5 people, split into Sensing (S) and Intuition (N). Time: 60-80 minutes. Materials: flipcharts, A1, A4 and A6 (card) paper sheets, pens and felt pens/markers. Description:1) each participant writes their hobby on the cards (1-3 options, 1 card = 1 hobby). Then, the trainer collects all the cards, shuffles and randomly puts them on the table, blank side up.2) each team of 3-5 people picks up 3 cards. The teams can replace one hobby during the first 7 minutes.3) in 30 minutes the teams have to come up with an idea for a business or a startup based on the chosen hobbies. Example: One of the teams from my sessions picked up the following hobbies - football, photography, and cooking. The participants came up with the idea of "Footbobar", which serves specially created "football"-dishes and drinks (it's about the cooking hobby). In the "Footbobar", you can also watch football and buy some football stuff (it's about the football hobby). The "Footbobar" will be promoted through Instagram (it's about the photography hobby). Also, the founders will encourage visitors to propose their ideas for "football" dishes and drinks and organize special events for these people and their friends, offering an exclusive menu with the dishes they've proposed. 4) each team presents its project. Usually ideas and presentations of the S-teams are more practical and solve specific problems. The N-team ideas are usually more creative and general. Discussion: - How different is the team's approach?- How can the different approach be manifested in real situations?- Are there interesting ideas for further development?