A Real Client Story
Last week, I had a conversation that perfectly illustrates why generic career advice is actually doing more harm than good. Let me tell you about Pallavi (name changed for privacy), and how her story might sound familiar to many of you.
The All-Too-Common Starting Point
Pallavi reached out to us feeling stuck. Four years in customer service, doing backend work, and watching the days blur into months. Sound familiar? Her exact words were: "I feel stuck in a job since 4 years, and I want to learn a new skill to advance my career."
So what did she do? The same thing most of us do when we feel professionally trapped – she Googled "best courses to take" and started researching AI and PowerBI courses because, well, they're popular right now.
But here's where it gets interesting.
The Real Story Behind the "Stuck" Feeling
As we dug deeper into our conversation, the real picture emerged. Pallavi wasn't just randomly interested in tech courses. She had an incomplete MBA and BBA in HR. More importantly, she said something that hit me: "I always loved HR but I being as I told you I was stuck. So I want to start it again because I've never actually worked in what I wanted to."
There it was. The real issue wasn't that she needed to learn AI or PowerBI. The real issue was that she'd never actually pursued what she was passionate about in the first place.
Her current company even had HR opportunities available, but she felt she was "lacking in something basic skills" and wanted to gain an advantage over her colleagues.
Why Most Career Advice Falls Short
Here's what happens in 99% of career guidance scenarios:
Client: "I want to learn a new skill. Should I take an AI course?"
Typical Advisor: "Sure! AI is hot right now. Here's our AI course package."
And that's it. Transaction complete.
But think about it – would you go to a doctor and say "I think I need surgery" and expect them to immediately book you for an operation? Of course not. A good doctor would ask questions, run diagnostics, understand your symptoms, and then recommend treatment.
Career guidance should work the same way.
A Different Approach: The Diagnostic Deep-Dive
When Pallavi initially asked for "general advice" on courses, I had to tell her something that might sound counterintuitive: we don't give general advice.
Why? Because general advice is basically targeted advice for someone else's problems, not yours.
Instead, we start with what I call a diagnostic session. It's a 45-minute conversation where we dig into:
- What you really want (not what you think you should want)
- Your current strengths and blind spots
- Your life situation (because your career doesn't exist in a vacuum)
- What's actually blocking your progress
For Pallavi, this revealed that her path forward wasn't about learning a completely new skill – it was about strategically positioning her existing experience and education to transition into the HR role she'd always wanted.
The Real Services People Need (But Don't Know to Ask For)
Through thousands of these conversations, I've learned that most people don't actually need more courses. They need:
1. Career Pathfinding
Many people know they want to earn more or gain more respect at work, but they have no idea which specific positions to target or how to get there.
2. Resume Repurposing
This is huge. Most people think their resume disqualifies them from their dream role. But with the right positioning, your customer service background can be reframed as client relationship management. Your project coordination can become program management experience.
3. Industry Switching Strategy
Moving from customer service to HR isn't just about having HR knowledge – it's about creating a bridge story that makes sense to hiring managers.
4. Interview Gap Analysis
Often, people are getting interviews but not offers. The issue isn't their qualifications – it's specific gaps in how they're presenting themselves.
Pallavi's Reaction Says It All
At the end of our conversation, Pallavi said something that perfectly captures why this approach works:
"Now I understood what is the exact thing that you're offering... This is very different. So even I didn't know they offer something like this."
She realized that what she needed wasn't another course to add to her collection. She needed a strategic partner to help her navigate from where she was to where she wanted to be.
The Real Cost of Generic Advice
Here's what happens when you follow generic career advice:
- You spend money on courses that don't actually solve your core problem
- You waste time learning skills that might not be relevant to your specific situation
- You stay stuck in the same place, just with more certificates
The alternative? Start with understanding. Get clear on what you actually want, what's really blocking you, and what the most direct path forward looks like for your specific situation.
Your Next Step
If Pallavi's story resonates with you, here's my challenge: Before you sign up for another course or workshop, ask yourself these three questions:
- What do I actually want my work life to look like in 2 years? (Be specific – not just "better" or "more money")
- What's the real reason I feel stuck? (Hint: it's usually not lack of skills)
- If I could wave a magic wand and be in my ideal role tomorrow, what would that role be?
Your answers might surprise you. And they'll definitely give you better direction than any generic career advice ever could.
Ready to stop taking random courses and start building a strategic career path? Our diagnostic sessions help you get clear on exactly what you need to move forward. No generic advice, no course-pushing – just honest, personalized guidance based on your specific situation and goals.
