How can you identify the career goals of a client using MI?

1 What are career goals?

Career goals are the desired outcomes or achievements that a person wishes to accomplish in their work life. These goals can range from getting a promotion or raise, switching to a different career field or sector, learning a new skill or obtaining a certification, starting or expanding a business, or retiring and transitioning to a different work-life balance. Career goals are important as they provide direction, motivation, and satisfaction for a person's professional development. However, it's not always easy to achieve these goals. People may face barriers, challenges, or conflicts that prevent them from reaching their ambitions. This is where MI can help.

2 How does MI help with career goals?

MI is based on the assumption that people have the capacity and the responsibility to make their own decisions about their behavior and goals. MI does not impose or prescribe any specific goals or actions for the client. Instead, MI helps the client to explore their own values, interests, strengths, and preferences, and to identify the gaps or discrepancies between their current situation and their desired future. MI also helps the client to overcome their ambivalence or resistance to change, and to increase their confidence and readiness to take action.

MI uses four core skills to facilitate this process: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries. These skills are also known as OARS. By using OARS, the counselor can create a collaborative and supportive relationship with the client, and elicit their own reasons and arguments for change. The counselor can also use other MI techniques, such as agenda setting, decisional balance, scaling questions, and change talk, to guide the client through the stages of change and help them develop a realistic and achievable action plan.

3 How to use open-ended questions?

Open-ended questions are a great way to initiate a conversation, build rapport, and stimulate the client's interest and curiosity. They are also useful for helping the client to clarify their goals, values, and motivations, and to identify their strengths and resources. For example, you could ask the client what they enjoy or value about their work, what challenges or difficulties they face in their work, and what changes they would like to make. Additionally, you could ask them how they see themselves in five or ten years from now and what skills or qualifications they would like to learn or improve.

4 How to use affirmations?

Affirmations are statements that recognize and acknowledge the client's positive qualities, efforts, or achievements. They serve as expressions of appreciation, respect, or support for the client, helping to build self-esteem, confidence, and motivation. Affirmations can also assist in overcoming doubts, fears, or insecurities, and in reinforcing commitment and progress towards career goals. For instance, the client may be told that they have a lot of experience and expertise in their field, have shown courage and resilience in facing challenges, have a clear vision and strong passion for their work, have made important steps and decisions towards their goals, and possess potential and opportunities to grow and succeed.

5 How to use reflections?

Reflections are statements that restate, rephrase, or paraphrase what the client has said. They demonstrate that the counselor is listening, understanding, and empathizing with the client, while also helping to check accuracy, clarify meaning, and confirm agreement. Reflections can also be used to deepen the client's insight, explore their ambivalence, and resolve their discrepancy. For example, when discussing career goals, reflections such as "So you are feeling frustrated and dissatisfied with your current work situation," "You are wondering if you have the skills and the qualifications to pursue a different career path," "You are excited and curious about the new opportunities that you have discovered," "You are concerned about the risks and the consequences of making a change in your work," or "You are motivated and ready to take action towards your goals" can be useful.

6 How to use summaries?

Summaries are statements that recapitulate or synthesize what the client has said. They can be used to transition, conclude, or emphasize a message, and they can help the client review their goals, motivations, and plans. Summaries can also be useful for career goals. For example, we can summarize that the client is unhappy with their current work environment and is looking for a more fulfilling and rewarding career. We can also highlight the successes and challenges that they have experienced in their work, as well as the skills and qualities they have developed. Additionally, we can discuss the hopes and fears they have about their future, as well as the strategies and supports they need to achieve their goals. To conclude our session, we can summarize that the client is passionate and committed to their work, has potential and ambition to advance in their field, recognizes areas to improve or learn in, and has set realistic goals with a feasible action plan.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?