Sherpani Partners

FAQ  

For your convenience, we are pleased to provide immediate answers to our most frequently asked questions. We encourage you to contact us for additional information at no obligation.

For High School Students

For College Students

For Adults

For High School Students

Why start career planning as a teen?
Now, more than ever before, the high financial and emotional costs of making mistakes make early career exploration critical. While the cost of a college education remains on the rise, the following statistics prevail:

  • 50% of college freshmen who declare a major change their minds two or three times.
  • 60% of college freshmen do not graduate in four years.
  • 60% of students return home to live for some period of time.

By exploring the various options now rather than later, you can pursue a track that will make your career more satisfying. The later that discovery comes, the harder it will be to take a break to assess your options or to change courses.

Some thoughtful consideration now can avoid costly mistakes later on.
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How can I figure out what I want to do as early as high school?
You can't. What you can do, and need to do, is to start learning more about who you are and who you want to become. You can begin to clarify your strengths and abilities, and then start to explore the possibilities. We all change and grow, but research shows that our patterns of interests generally remain the same. And, our natural abilities never change.
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I already know what I want to do. Will your services help me?
Having a strong sense of what you want to do is great, but we can still help you. Even if you show the promise of becoming a renowned concert pianist or a talented lawyer, you might not be aware of the many different environments or ways in which you can carry out those professions.
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How do we know which careers will be available in the years to come?
Questions about future careers are popular because no one wants to spend years preparing for an occupation that will become obsolete. Nevertheless, charting a path to success is becoming more difficult with evolving technology and changing demand. New career possibilities, in fact, are expanding daily while other positions are being phased out.

Mapping out your career path presents challenges of knowing who you are, what you have to offer, and understanding how to manage your own career (or careers!).
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For College Students

Will you help me select a college major and college?
Yes and no. We will help you define several college majors and careers to explore — a starting point. You will also develop a checklist of characteristics regarding college, career, work environment and leisure activities that are most important to you. This will help you decide what you want in an ideal college major and college but we do not direct you to a specific college major or college.
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Can assessments or tests truly reveal which career will be best for me?
We use assessments as only one tool in the process of gaining insight for exploring careers; they are not intended to define a specific career or job for you.

We will help you use the information, along with what you already know about yourself, as a reality check. The purpose is for you to discover your interests and strengths, which you'll use in exploring career possibilities. In the end, you'll be happier in a career that interests you and allows you to use your natural abilities.
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Why do I need a workshop or program when so much information is available online?
While you can search online for answers, the odds are that other demands on your time and energy will get in the way of your good intentions.

With our personal guidance and structure, you'll not only obtain critical information, but you'll gain additional insights in far less time than if you had performed your own research. Then, when you are ready to proceed with online exploration, you'll go about it with a clear sense of direction. By knowing what you want and what steps you need to take to get there, your efforts will be efficient and effective.
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Since Sherpani Partners is a nonprofit organization, why do we have to pay for the services?
Our nonprofit status allows us to take advantage of cost saving opportunities available to organizations established for the public good. We then pass along those savings to the participants and organizations with whom we work.

Like many nonprofit organizations, we offer services for fees as well as through schools or other nonprofits that support our programs. Support comes from in-kind donations (gifts or grants) or from community partners.

We operate with many volunteers from the business world who want to give back to young people. As a nonprofit, we deliver an extraordinary return on every dollar we receive in fees and in donations.
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For Adults

I have just graduated from college/graduate school-what do I do?
Today's work environment is both tough and exciting and thinking about your next step can be a complex issue. If you are finding limited opportunities in your field, what do you do? Or, if you are still not sure about your next step Sherpani Partners will guide you using assessments and career management tools. We will help you understand your strengths in today's marketplace and guide you to effectively explore your "best fit" options.
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I am ready to return to work after many years at home-what do I do?
Moving from nonpaid work or volunteerism to a paid position can be difficult. You may struggle to identify your personal strengths as well as the value of your life experiences. We will help you discover the talents you have to offer and how you can contribute to potential employers. We will also help you look at which career fields to investigate. You may have developed new interests or realized that your previous career wasn't a good fit. Our assessments and personal guidance will help you focus on who you are now and what you want to do next.
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How do I know when it is time to make a job change?
Whether to go or stay in a position is truly a dilemma. About 70% of the people surveyed say it is just an accident that they are doing the work they are doing. (Barbara Moses) When they assess their interests they discover that the work is more or less a good fit — at least in the theme of the career. Others find that they are operating on automatic pilot while their interests and/or career values have changed over time. It may be time for a reality check.

Some career experts adhere to the "Three Mondays" rule. If you have gotten up on Monday morning three weeks in a row and thought, "I can't stand this place" it is probably time to move on.
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What should I do to prepare myself for the "unexpected" in my career?
The key is to be prepared. Your career situation could change in a matter of days or minutes, especially in this economy. There are two kinds of job seekers, active and passive and at all stages of your career it is important to know yourself, your strengths, interests, and career values... even if you are not actively ready to make a move. Knowing the career development process can help you prepare for unexpected events.
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Can assessments or tests truly reveal which careers will be best for me?
You may have taken one or more assessments over the years and been skeptical about the results. We use assessments as only one tool in the process of gaining insight for exploring careers; they are not intended to define a specific career or job for you.

You invest countless hours of your time and years of your life in a career, so it makes sense to invest the time it takes to ensure a good career match. You need valid, objective information about yourself as well as your potential career options to make the best career decisions for you.
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