Candice N. McGowan
CPCC, CEMP
I'm here to support
disgruntled post-secondary academic advisors
and UBC COGS alums who feel at sea.
For post-secondary academic advisors who feel...
OVERWHELMED: Every week, you learn about responsibilities you didn't know were yours. You have no time to take vacation.
HURT: by the very people you serve. You feel slightly less alive after every advising appointment.
INFURIATED: by the institution that asks you to "self-care" your way out of a never-ending crushing workload.
The rage you feel is VALID, and you are NOT selfish for thinking you deserve better.
For UBC COGS Alums who feel...
INADEQUATE: After graduating with what seems like an esoteric degree, you aren't sure how to translate your experience in academia to skills that are useful to a prospective employer.
LOST: You have no idea what YOU want to do, and you don't know where to even start looking.
DISSATISFIED: with your current job, and you know that staying in your current position will take a toll on your health. But the idea of change and uncertainty petrifies you.
You are NOT alone, and you are NOT flawed. I will help you make that first step more manageable and less daunting.
Here's how I can support you
I can help you process your frustrations, explore new possibilities, and develop a personalized strategy for a fulfilling career transition.
About Me
"Candice is an attentive leader, a creative problem solver, and a wholistic advisor. I would recommend her to anyone who is looking for advice or a fresh perspective from a seasoned professional in the field." ~Hillary Hurst
Hi! My name is Candice, and I am an academic-advisor-turned-career coach. I am also a proud alum of the Cognitive Systems Program (COGS) at the University of British Columbia.
I loved the COGS program so much that I came back to academia to run the program 8 years after graduation.
Career coaching was the best part of my academic advising job, so I thought the best thing for me to do was to focus on career coaching and to become a resource for program alums.
As an academic advisor and program administrator, I witnessed pain amongst my colleagues in various departments. While I was working in university, I established a community of practice, i.e. a support network of undergraduate program advisors. Career coaching was a way for me to help from outside academia.
I received training and earned a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) credential and a Certified Empowerment and Motivational Professional (CEMP) credential from the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches.
Believe it or not - I call myself allergic to uncertainty (I don't thrive in uncertainty by any means), but I have learned how to take the fear out of it. I can show you how!
"Candice's emotional intelligence, empathy and guidance are exceptional ... Not only is she a sounding board for career ideas, directions, and whatever else that pops into mind, but her outlook on life and gentle (yet firm and realistic) guidance make her a great asset to any student or someone early in their career." ~Eleanor Hawkins
Free Resources
Career Mistakes to Avoid: I write monthly about many of the lessons I learned the hard way - from small oopsies to BIG OUCHIES - so that you can learn without the pain (and have fun instead). And if you also made the same mistakes as me, you're not alone. I hope you enjoy the read!