Ali was very helpful and the services are a great value for the price! I learned a lot of tricks and tips for job hunting and how to navigate the changes to the hiring process. I am much better prepared with understanding the skills and experience I have and how to job hunt. read more

Wow! This is exactly what I needed. I was ready to reenter the workforce after a decade long break focusing on my kids and running my own small business. I was overwhelmed by the changes in the professional landscape that had occurred during my absence and Alison helped me get clear, focused, confident and ready to be successful. I am so thankful! From resume review to interview practice, my time with Alison has been incredibly valuable. I just got my first job offer and it's exactly what I was hoping for! read more

After floundering on my job search (2 phone & 1 in-person interview out of 20+ applications is a bad average even in baseball), I reached out to Compass Career Counseling for a quote through Yelp and the connection to Marcia was immediate. Her response clearly showed she had read my request. Another respondent addressed me by the wrong name. Marcia's method was logical yet warm and down-to-earth. She listened to my needs and laid out a plan. The skills assessment and personality tests alone were worth the fee. We then updated my resume and LinkedIn profile. She also reached out to recruiters. I have an appointment scheduled with one and another in process. Marcia was the much needed boost and I highly recommend her. Quoting a favorite 80s song, "The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades". read more

I could not have asked for more! I found Compass Career Counseling originally through Yelp. I messaged them on a Saturday and they immediately got back to me within 20 minutes. Marcia and I had a phone conversation where I told her a little about my background (a teacher wanting to leave the teaching profession). She asked me to send more information about my skills and my interests and had me take some online assessments. We met in person a few days later to go over the results and talked about possible new career options which I was very excited about! We met a couple more times to look through job postings and she helped me learn how to craft a resume based on the job description. Marica is great at getting to know you quickly and getting you information that is helpful and relevant. She is extremely knowledgable about all facets of looking for a job or new career. I learned so much from her and am grateful for all her help and support! Highly recommend! read more

I decided to go back to a previous career (counseling/therapy) after being in the corporate world for over 10 years. Because of the big gap in employment, I enlisted some assistance with my cover letter and resume and found Compass via Yelp. I was connected with Marcia and she was amazing! She is quite the grammar wizard and not only did she give me some really great suggestions to revise my resume, but she also gave me a very good cover letter template. One of the jobs I applied for (and ultimately accepted their offer!) specifically asked for a well written cover letter. While I did personalize her template a bit, the hiring manager told me that it stood out. In addition to the support with my documents, Marcia (I think probably unknowingly) also gave me a confidence boost by helping me highlight my accomplishments and reminding me that I do have the skills to return to this career. Marcia was extremely professional, knowledgeable and responsive. It was well worth the money. I paid for 2, 1 hr sessions for $175 total. They have lots of different options, but this was perfect for me. Also, I didn't really need to use this, but they give you access to an awesome tool that helps scan your resume and compare it to the job description your are interested in. If you are looking for some resume/employment help, Compass/Marcia is the way to go! read more

Great experience with Compass Career Counseling and it really helped me to get my current job.

I had a great experience here. I came with very little direction as to what I wanted in my next job and she helped me narrow down some options and apply. I would recommend her to anyone looking to make a change in careers. read more

Coming here was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was lucky enough to work with Marcia who helped and mentored me as I applied to graduate school. I had tried for years to make into grad school and got multiple interviews but was rejected each time..... That is until Marcia helped me. She helped me to prepare my resume, my personal statement, and improve upon my interview skills. She helped me to gain confidence during my interviews and worked with me on how to deliver my answers. She really took the time to help me, going above and beyond and it paid off. Because of her help and support I was recently accepted into graduate school. I am definitely glad that I found this place and had the opportunity to work with Marcia. I can not say enough about her and I would 100% recommend her to anyone looking for career counseling. read more

I recently started a new full time marketing content writing job here in San Diego at a time when many people are losing their employment. Alison Lobus of Compass Career Counseling was a big part of helping me get the gig. I highly recommend her services. Contact her if you need guidance during this difficult time. She knows exactly how to craft your resume for different job applications and knows lots of ways to make Linked In work to your advantage. I can't thank her enough. read more

Ali was very helping in my career transition. I felt very lost and unsure what career change I wanted to make. She made the process simple and organized helping me feel less chaotic about so many factors to consider. She was a great help in connecting me with people who had careers I was interested in. It was very eye opening and really influenced my decisions. Ali helped me when I was lost and helped filter all the stuff I didn't want in a career. I highly recommend the career counseling here :) read more

It is no wonder that 5 star reviews abound for Ali. I never actually met her in person she was flexible and did everything via phone/email for me. I WAS a stay at home out of work for over 6 years and was feeling pretty intimated by the competition here in San Diego. Ali helped me to realize my goals and gave my resume a wonderful fresh look. I even had some deadlines were I needed fast responses and she was as quick as I needed. I just received a job offer and couldn't be more excited. Worth the small investment to secure the job you really want. read more

I met with Ali and found her to be extremely helpful in finding a new career path. I completed online tests and met with her to review my responses, very insightful! She also helped me with my resume which in resulted in my securing employment. I highly recommend her services. read more

Two months into my job hunt (when finances were getting tight and we were beginning to burn through savings) my fiance pressed me to contact Ali at Compass Career Counseling. Although I was nervous and somewhat apprehensive thinking I didn't need any "Counseling" I contacted her. Up to this point I had landed several in person interviews and not been chosen for the position(s). Not only was she able to meet me on short notice, but after meeting with Ali my confidence was stronger than ever. She doesn't just provide assistance on the technical stuff, for me she went beyond that by helping me shape my experience and background into a concise message that would easily transfer to an interview. I thought I had been doing just fine in previous interviews, but after meeting with Ali I changed my message, my demeanor and the points I outlined in an interview. Less than a week later and after two interviews and two sessions with Ali, I was hired to a position that will be a perfect fit. You may think you have it all figured out, or that anything you need to know about job searching and interviewing is available online (I did!)- but trust me, it isn't. I hope I never find myself jobless again, but if I do, I am calling Compass immediately. read more

I recently met with Ali at Compass Career Counseling and am so grateful that I was referred to her! She helped me come up with a refreshed strategy on re-branding my company and gave me concrete tools to use that have definitely increased my company's visibility. I have already referred other people to Ali and will continue to do so. She's up to date on what needs to happen to make a person or business viable in the current market and her down to earth sensibility makes it easy to understand her directives, support and new ideas. I'm so glad I partnered with Ali! read more

Ali is amazing! I had not had a job interview in several years and was crushed at a recent job interview that was difficult and challenging. IMO, the interview game has changed over the years and some of the behavioral/personality questions were tough, felt like I was put on the spot with no response. I wanted to be prepared for my next interview without any hesitation. Ali helped me design responses to tough interview questions which helped me highlight my skills and strengths. Interview questions now are a breeze and I never feel "stuck", and I always have an answer. Thank you Ali! read more

I highly recommend Alison. I was in the middle of a re-org at my work and I hadn't updated my resume in 12 years!! Alison guided me thru the process of re working my resume so that I was able to highlight my assets and skills. She also assisted me in writing a fantastic cover letter! Alison's enthusiasm and guidance's certainly helped me reduce my all ready high stress level, so that I could focus on my current situation. Yes, I go the job too!!!! read more

Ali is incredibly helpful. She has been insightful and encouraging. Her guidance in everything from my resume and cover letters to what to wear, what to say, and what not to say during an interview is invaluable. Her suggestions help bring out a more assertive aspect in my career goals and needs without becoming audacious. Most importantly she shares a belief in me that translates into realistic confidence. I highly recommend the service. read more

I used the positive yelp reviews to make my decision to hire Marcia for a 2 hour consultation and was not impressed, nor did I get much out of the session. I expected more for $175 and felt let down. Marcia is a nice enough person and her skills as a career counselor would have been more effective had the session been more properly set up. Below is an excerpt from the email I sent to Marcia after our session to give her my feedback. "1. Meeting place: The coffee shop we met was crowded, noisy and we didn't have a proper table to put our laptops on and work. We sat in 2 lounge chairs. It was not an ideal environment to have a meeting. I would've preferred to be in an environment more quiet with a proper work table so we can focus on my documents better. Does your career counseling office not have a workspace to invite clients? I would have preferred an office setting or a quiet coffee shop with a work table. 2. Hands-on guided help: I expected that you'd spend the time before our meeting going over my cover letter and resume and have specific feedback marked on my documents to give me at the very start of our meeting. I also expected that you'd be the one to sit and work on my resume and cover letter on your laptop with me, and then email it directly to me at the end. Instead, I had the impression you were looking at my cover letter and resume in depth for the first time when we were sitting at the coffee shop, and you were giving me feedback verbally and I was expected to take notes and apply all the changes after the meeting. If I'm paying $175 for 2 hours for someone's expertise, I expected a bit more in terms of what you'd actually do for me. When I had one on one meetings with students in the past, I'd write up a summary of our meeting with action points we discussed so they could follow through in case they missed any of those in their own notes. I expected the same from our meeting as a minimum." At the end of our meeting, Marcia did share some resume and cover letter samples but honestly, I could have found the same stuff with a simple google search. Had I read a review like mine on Yelp, i would have second guessed paying for this 2 hour session and just gotten some feedback on my materials from trusted friends or looked elsewhere for career counseling advice. read more

Ali is kind, patient and understanding. She helped me with my resume and interviewing strategies during a very challenging job search. I would not have made it through the entire process without her help and support. I highly recommend Compass Career Counseling. read more

I assure you I was a difficult client - retired early having a midlife crisis still not sure what I wanted to do. But Ali's skill and immense knowledge helped me focus on career paths I hadn't ever thought about. She custom tailored a strategy for me and created highly professional resumes and cover letters. And now I'm employed, thanks to her amazing patience and guidance. I simply can't recommend her enough! read more

Ali is a kind soul. Still reeling from a job loss after ten years and rather disoriented and dismayed with the seemingly random questions and skill sets of interview panels Ali was able to help me steady my nerves. I recommend her without reservation. read more

I am one of those people with a slightly odd resume, having worked a variety of jobs in different fields, with gaps for travel and illness. When I contacted Compass Career Counseling I didn't have a clear sense of direction, or know how to apply my various skills. Marcia helped me identify key fields and positions that would suit not only my experience, but my personality and lifestyle. After working with her, I got a job that I never would have even thought to apply for! I could not recommend her enough. She is extremely knowledgable, kind, and will meet you where you're at, not matter what stage of the process you are in. read more

My experience with Ali and Compass Career Counseling was great! She was proactive and thoughtful, providing great insight into ways to upgrade my resume and also gave me solid leads on new jobs that she felt would be a good fit for me. She was easy to work with, unpretentious and knew exactly how to best help me, which was so valuable me. I would highly recommend Compass Career Counseling to anyone at any stage of their career. read more

Marcia was extremely helpful right from the beginning of my job search. She responded immediately throughout all of our contact and drew on her years of experience to help me find a career that was a good fit. Marcia is professional and a wealth of knowledge yet was able to create a relaxed and comfortable environment during our meetings. This allowed me to get all my questions answered and be totally honest with what I was looking for. Extremely grateful for her help! read more

I recently used Compass Career Counseling to prepare my resume for selecting a practicum site. Ali provided timely, thoughtful, and excellent support that I felt was really individualized to my specific career goals. She listened diligently to what I was seeking and held me to that when self doubt crept in and I began to wane. She is truly a gifted professional who understands a multitude of career cultures and what each is looking for in employees. I highly recommend Ali for resume structuring. I have not used her for cover letters (yet) but I understand that she also helps in that area as well. I found her from a satisfied client who did use Ali's cover letter expertise and I'm told it's wonderful. read more

I'll start by saying that not long after, and having utilized the coaching that I received from Ali, I received an offer letter for a new career at a VERY solid company. I had been at the same job for 10 years - totally burned out and miserable, with no hope in sight. I had been trying to make kind of a diagonal career change, in to a somewhat different industry, with no luck. The Ali's guidance helped restore my confidence and gave me the positive attitude that I needed to move forward. Ali is a consummate professional, and very reliable. read more

Last year around this time I was working on my APA internship Application, and was frustrated, hopeless, and helpless! It's a very intense and time-consuming process! I was looking for someone who could help me throughout that process, and it's almost impossible to find! But Thank God one of my friend referred me to Jacquie! Without a doubt, she is a game changer! She is positive, reliable, patient, confident, and knowledgable. Without her instructions, my essays, CV, and cover letters won't look professional for the most competitive sites, and I wouldn't get as many as interviews as I got. She even helped me with selecting the internship sites. She prepared me for my interviews in a way that I finished every single interview confidently and proudly! Without her help and support I would not be able to get my internship. I can't be grateful enough!!! read more

I recently used Compass Career Counseling to update my resume and cover letter after 7 years at the same job. Alison helped me highlight my best attributes and gave me some specific suggestions that would make my resume and cover letter really stand out. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone. read more

I was applying to jobs like crazy and noticed all of my classmates were getting calls but not me. Since we have the same experience, it had to be my resume. I asked Ali to revamp it and make it readable. She did an amazing job! And she's really easy to work with. Definitely recommend her to amp up your resume and interview skills! read more

I am transitioning back into the teaching profession and was finding my job search frustrating and fruitless. I initially searched online for a resume writing company, but after further research I stumbled upon Compass Career Counseling. I submitted an inquiry, and received a timely response. After a free phone consultation with Marcia, I felt confident that hiring Compass was the right decision. Marcia is very personable and professional. Her background in education proved to be very valuable. She was able to revamp my resume and cover letter, and helped me become more focused with my job search. Marcia sent me links for job opportunities and still follows up with me after interviews even though I am no longer a Client. I am very thankful for her help and would highly recommend Compass and Marcia! read more

I pride myself in being well educated and ready for whatever may come. I keep abreast of trends in my career and areas of potential growth. When I started to search for a new job, I thought I should have a professional look over my resume and cover letter. Ali at Compass Career Counseling answered my phone call and helped me beef up my resume and cover letter. Not only did I get the job, but I have a resource that will help me grow and get the next job. Compass career counseling is the truth! read more

I am working with Jacquie on getting back into a field I have not worked in for a number of years. She has written well thought out cover letters and targeted resumes. She also met with me to do a mock interview which really helped me when I went in for the real thing. She also has found job possibilities I had not found on my own. This service is so worth it as a job seeker. read more

They're SO fast!! I got help reworking my resume and cover letter from Jacquie for a new job search I'm starting, and she had them both fixed up and emailed back to me in MINUTES! read more

Ali was a huge help to my daughter both in finding a career choice and in starting the job search process. She has a broad knowledge of the job market, good instincts, and is thorough and kind. Seeing her was one of the best decisions we could have made. read more

Without doubt the best move you can make to further your career, change jobs or have any tricky employment questions answered is to contact Marcia at Compass Career Counseling. I contacted a number of career services when i was looking to move jobs and chose Marcia due to her real warmth and genuine interest in my story. Marcia had time and enthusiasm for my questions, had great follow up- always reaching out and keeping the conversation flowing and made me feel like I had goals to work towards. The results were fast! I can't wait to send her a picture of me in my new office! read more

Working with Dr. Corvan was truly one of the best decisions I made during the internship application process. Although we differ in terms of our career trajectories and experiences, she has knowledge of the many different subfields of psychology, which was tremendously helpful when it came to applying at different APA-accredited internship sites (both VA's and academic medical centers). Jacquie provided me excellent feedback that aided me in revisions, which made my essays and cover letters stand out. For me, the most helpful aspect of working with Jacquie was the sense of accountability that I felt during the process. I felt that Jacquelyn was invested in my success, and she not only provided excellent feedback and editing suggestions, she also encouraged me when I felt overwhelmed during the process. A testament to her skills and expert knowledge, I received 13 invitations to interview (12 VA, 1 rehabilitation hospital), and I'm thrilled to say I placed during Match I to one of my top choices! I am so thankful for Jacquie's guidance and expertise, and I highly recommend her to anyone applying for internship! read more

Ali helped me with a resume and admissions essays for a grad application. She was so sweet to fit me in at the last minute and gave great feedback on all my materials. She gave wonderful suggestions, constructive comments, and put me at ease as she answered all my nervous questions about professional materials beyond graduate school. Her kind demeanor and positive attitude made a potentially nerve-wracking experience into a pleasant one. I highly recommend her for all of your career counseling needs. read more

Dr. Corvan is amazing! Applying for APA internships was incredibly stressful and Dr. Corvan made me feel confident throughout the process. I felt like my essays, CV, and cover letters were excellent after she gave me lots of quality feedback. I get terribly anxious during interviews, but after doing mock interviews with Dr. Corvan, I went into each interview feeling great. Most of the sites I interviewed with asked the questions we practiced together verbatim. I also ended up getting many more interviews than I expected and even matched during the first round to my first choice internship! Dr. Corvan's services are entirely worth it!! This whole process was very overwhelming and she does a great job at simplifying things while alleviating your anxiety. I would highly recommend her services!!! read more

Alison is an awesome resource for anything "career" related. Whether it be resume updating to interview coaching. During my career search, she made several recommendations to my resume that improved it tremendously and she assisted with my entire interview process which made everything about the job process seem "simple." Besides my charming personality (clearly), I totally credit her with landing my current position. Needless to say, I highly recommend Alison's services. read more

Ali's advice, direction, and ideas are priceless when looking for a job. Being current with how employers are hiring is something Ali clearly prides herself on. Her professional and possitive attitude is very refreshing and encouraging, especially when you are in the trenches looking for work. I would, and have, recommend Ali's services to anyone looking for that dream position. Good luck! read more