The Gold Programme – winner of a National Career Award, 2007
Denise has created an award winning programme based on the systematic use of reputable assessments, in-depth coaching and practical advice. The Gold Career Programme was developed to offer a cost effective
service to help people to understand who they are and what they
want to do.
In November 2007 it was awarded a National Career Award,(winner of the working with adults category) from the Institute of Careers Guidance (sponsored by The Independent Newspaper).
This programme takes a systematic approach to help you to understand who you are and clarify where you want your future to take you. It is very popular, chosen by anyone who wants an in-depth understanding of themselves.
Denise is not a computer! She brings bring years of experience of not only the individual assessments but also of bringing together the results using her expert knowledge and strengths in interpretation. No one else does it like Denise!
It combines 3 assessments alongside prioritising your values, discussing skills, ideal working environment and other goals. You are then guided to find out more about career paths and to prepare for next steps.
It's not just assessments; it's a holistic approach so we also consider family, values and goals, passions and leisure interests and also possible constraints such as financial considerations.
Bringing together of all 3 assessments results in triangulation - you understand why jobs are being suggested, then follow the structured 22 page Next Steps booklet to guide you through what to do next. We then meet up for one last session to work together to create a plan for your career success.
Many of Denise's clients travel a considerable distance to work with Denise. Many travel from North West England and London and the South East.They visit Denise on one or two occasions, of 3 hours. There are cost effective means of doing this, for example prebook your rail ticket from Paddington and the rail fare is £9 each . Denise will collect you from the local railway station - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury.
Pre Work
Complete personal information form
The programme starts with you completing a personal information form to provide background about your personal situation and needs.Completing this in advance means we can get started quickly.
Discussion 1
We review your personal information and discuss your passions and interests, top skills, any thoughts you may have for careers, family pressures, what success means to you, life goals, personal objectives and the Ideas Bank.
1 hour approximately
Personal Work - Undertaking psychometric testing
Take 3 assessments in the privacy of your own home. We have clearly written instructions for how to take the tests. You will need about 4 hours in total, but you can split this over a few sessions.
Test 1: Highlands Ability Battery (HAB)
“Finding out your natural abilities is a fundamental step towards a satisfying and successful career.”
The Highlands Ability Battery is an objective assessment of your natural ability and consists of 18 different work samples. It is an objective measure of your relative ability to do specific things from solving problems to remembering what you read. It tells you what you'll find easy, what will be difficult and is the foundation to effective career choice. It’s extensive, taking around 3 hours (but you don’t need to complete it in one session) and the results will help you to really understand yourself.
Test 2: MBTI Step 2
The MBTI is a self-reporting personality inventory, designed to help you understand yourself, your natural preferences, motivations, and potential areas for growth. It aids in understanding others, particularly those with different types. Many people know about the MBTI through the regular version which provides details of personal style and gives you one of 16 four letter codes, such as INTP. The MBTI Step 2 will help you to understand the real depth of your MBTI results. The report also helps in personal development in four areas: communication, change management, decision making, and conflict management, and suggests ways of using that style more effectively.
Test 3: Strong Interest Inventory
The Strong Interest Inventory measures your interests using 291 different questions to explore your likes and dislikes with regard to careers, leisure activities, school subjects and other categories. The Strong is based on the idea that individuals with similar interests are often attracted to the same kind of work, feel comfortable with others who share their interests, and are likely to be successful in a work environment that reflects those interests. Your responses are compared to a representative sample of occupations followed by people who enjoy their work, have worked in that area for at least three years and who do typical work for the field. You will get a prioritised list of occupations which match your interests.
Discussion 2 & 3 Assessment Discussion
• Discussion of Highlands Ability Battery
• Discussion of MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory Assessments
A CD of the discussion is sent alongside comprehensive reports and supporting materials, all supplied in a ring binder.
2 sessions each lasting 90 minutes approximately
Discussion 4 Values
We discuss your Values. Utilising a card sort exercise we will discover the values that are most important to you at work and later you will consider career options against your values. This is a very important aspect of the programme. We will also discuss your ideal working environment.
90 minutes approximately
Discussion 5 Bring it together
A really fun session! The results from all assessments, other exercises and discussions are brought together and we create a shortlist of jobs for you to explore. You leave this session with a comprehensive plan to explore these careers, with the Next Steps Booklet guiding you through what to do.
90 minutes approximately
Personal work
You will receive by email your personalised version of the Next Steps Booklet. This 22 page document summarises the results from all the work we have done, details your list of jobs to explore, and guides you through how to explore. You spend the next few weeks doing personal research using the recommended web links and exercises. You will be given your own copy of How to Get a Job in a Recession and the eBooks on Networking and Informational Interviews are available on request.
Ongoing support
If your research phase takes time, rest easy. You can contact Denise by email for up to 3 months from the 'Bring it together; session till the 'action planning' session to discuss ideas and ensure you make progress.
You can choose to book a 1-hour action planning session or shorter keeping on track phone calls. Choice is yours. Denise will check on progress, but you need to request the help you want. Some people want more support. Rather than include it in the programme, when 70% of people don't need it, extra sessions are available at a reduced rate.
Discussion 6 Action Planning - The last session of the programme
In this session we will review your research and clarify a plan of action. This will include informational interviewing. Everything you need to do this effectively will be found in the Informational Interviews Booklet.
Note - This can be taken as a one hour session or divided into shorter phone sessions to keep you on track in your research. People differ, so choose what works for you.
1 hour approximately
Personal work
You now can follow your plan to find out more about your ideal job and be ready for the Job Search phase. You will be given a complimentary copy of the Create a CV eBook (£10 value). You may benefit from ongoing support - you get a 10% discount off any further support over the next 12 months.
The programme costs £852.50, including VAT, to include all 3 assessments, with around 7 hours of personal contact time. You also get email support in between and for 3 months from the 'Bring it together' session to enable you to reach a decision on your chosen career path.
When the programme is paid by the employer the fee is £1,000 plus VAT.
Completion of The Gold Programme gives you a 10% discount off any job search support programme or coaching.
Note: Sessions are usually a combination of face to face meetings and phone conversations. We can also communicate using Skype. I have successfully completed this programme on a virtual basis with Daniela in Switzerland, Kate in Australia, Martin in Portugal, Frankie in the Netherlands, Robert in Thailand, Des in Dublin, Anu in Berkshire who was unable to travel due to family commitments and more, so it still works even if we don’t meet.
To go ahead and book or for any questions
Call Denise on 01684 772 888
Visit on the web: www.amazingpeople.co.uk
Click here to email Denise Taylor
Download the
Client Comments
“Thanks for helping me over the past few months to understand myself better and helping me realise what type of career would suit my abilities, interests and values. The Gold Programme has also helped me understand certain aspects of myself that I can develop in future, both in my personal life and professional career. Making a career change in ones mid thirties can be a daunting task, but the path ahead seems far less daunting, thanks largely to your professional and caring advice." Gethin – Structural Engineer to Landscape Designer
"First may I say I was impressed with your relaxed and informal, yet very thorough approach. I felt that you always gave me your full attention during these meetings. The second thing I thought very good about your service was the comprehensive testing you undertook at the start of The Gold Programme, especially the Highlands Ability Test which I felt gave me a valuable insight into the kind of person I am". Andy Richards
"Choosing The Gold Programme with you has been one of the best decisions I’ve made and some of the best money I’ve ever spent. I also want to thank you for providing such a personal service and for advice on job applications and interviews that provided invaluable. I only wish I'd come to see you years ago." Lewis – Frustrated Buyer to University Researcher
To go ahead and book or for any questions
Call Denise on 01684 772 888
Visit on the web: www.amazingpeople.co.uk
Email: denise@amazingpeople.co.uk
