After just the initial consultation with Jill I felt so seen and validated that I knew she could help me find my path. Jill created a safe space where I could release my doubts and fears and discover my innate abilities and strengths. She helped me to define my values and understand my personality type so that I could find a career that aligned well with both. She also helped me to figure out the logistics of pursuing a masters degree with two young children. The tools and resources I received in my sessions with Jill were invaluable and are still serving me today. I learned so much about myself and her guidance and deep understanding of the interplay between interests, personality types, and career goals gave me the confidence I needed to apply for the MLIS program at San Jose State. I just started the program and feel like I'm finally pursuing something that really matters. I know that I will be building a career where I can excel, find purpose, make a difference, and financially support my family. I tell everyone I meet who is unhappy with their current career or in between careers to work with Jill - even just an hour of her time is priceless! read more

Not only did my work with Jill help me hone in on what career paths might work for me moving forward, but it also gave me a deeper understanding of what qualities and skills I can offer, and who I authentically am in the world. As a creative INFP person who has had a challenging time finding the right fit with career and life-path, I appreciated that Jill took a really down-to-earth approach and tuned into my specific personality, temperament, and personal history. She's very easy to talk with and also gives practical advice on how to navigate career, education, and job opportunities. I gained a lot of insight into what feels authentic to me as I continue to explore my options. It was a great privilege to be able work with Jill and take time to explore career paths more in depth, something I don't take for granted! read more

In 2022, I came to Jill feeling burnt out and unsure of my next steps. Her thoughtful guidance helped me identify what was draining me and what could truly fulfill me. She introduced me to career paths I'd never considered--including becoming an Environmental Health Specialist. Two years later, after a layoff, I took the leap into that very role, and I absolutely love it. I feel valued, energized, and proud of my work. Jill's insight, encouragement, and compassion made all the difference. If you're feeling stuck or ready for change, I can't recommend her highly enough. read more

Jill is extremely intuitive and compassionate and helped me greatly with my direction and confidence! Highly recommend her services.

When I first came to Learning Pathways I had so many questions and was unclear on how to move forward. Jill was able to listen to my concerns and skillfully help me make sense of the chaos. By asking insightful questions she pinpointed what I needed help with and pointed me in the right direction with gentle structure and easy (and fun!) homework. Through working with Jill I gained the clarity and confidence I needed to move forward in this next chapter. Thanks Jill! read more

Jill has been nothing short of amazing! At first I was skeptical of this being a useful method of moving forward with my career. Little did I know that through Jills intelligent, honest, emapathic presence and warm, enthusiastic confidence, I was able to take actionable steps toward my dream job as a life coach! It is now a reality. I would recommend her Career Counseling to anyone! read more

My daughter was committed to jumping into a university as a freshman. We were determined to let the choice be hers, although we had concerns about cost and whether she had a firm direction. After talking to Jill, my daughter decided that a better route would be to invest time at the community college to further explore her interests and set a solid foundation for transfer.Jill created a space for her to consider the alternatives and their implications. This was something that we couldn't have provided for our daughter and are therefore extremely grateful. read more

I'm a therapist in private practice and have referred my clients to Jill for her specialized, targeted help with changing careers. Jill has outstanding counseling skills that allow her to help people deal with the emotional hurdles involved in finding a job or changing career focus--while giving them practical steps for tangible results in the real world. She has the know-how to competently assess someone in terms of his/her abilities and interests, as well as reframing their accomplishments to throw light on an array of future career paths. She validated and built upon my client's strengths while supporting her in taking the necessary risks to explore "what's out there." I've heard it said that your career is the intersection of your gifts with the world's needs. Allow Jill to guide you there! read more

Jill is passionate about what she does and it shows. Her dedication, patience and understanding makes Jill the best. She is skillful and thoughtful with the advice she provides and really helps her clients determine and achieve the path they are meant to take. Jill is an asset to this field. If you are looking for a career, or college counselor, look no further. read more

Jill Schontag was an absolute godsend in my life at a critical time. As a non-profit executive, I made the difficult decision to make a career transition. Initially, I was nervous about working with Jill because I was worried that I wouldn't gain any new knowledge about myself or related careers that I could transition into with relative ease. I couldn't have been more wrong in my preliminary assessment! My work with Jill was absolutely transformative. I learned invaluable information about myself, my work style, preferences, and careers that would best suit my current skill set and desires. I'm certain that I wouldn't have been able to develop a sound career plan without Jill's expertise. Based on my wonderful results, I wholeheartedly recommend Jill's services to executives, career transitioners, new college graduates, and high school students alike. No matter where you are in your career journey, Jill will patiently and supportively guide you exactly where you need to be. read more

Right before a recent layoff, I reached out to Jill to start looking deeper into what being satisfied with my career would look and feel like. She immediately made me feel comfortable and ready to tackle some serious questions about values and validation. Once the job hunt started, Jill was absolutely critical to both my success and sanity during one of the most difficult experiences. Her advice and coaching made every step easier, giving me the confidence to land an actual dream job. I recommend her highly, no matter what stage in your career you may be. read more

Jill Schontag, at Learning Pathways is very talented, compassionate and knowledgeable! I had applied for a job, but needed guidance about negotiating with a large corporation regarding compensation and benefits. Jill helped me figure out exactly what my goals were, including a range for salary, and then walked me through a sample negotiation conversation. She even sat in the room with me for moral support while I made the phone call! I couldn't recommend Jill more for career transitions. read more

Jill has helped me greatly in my quest for a new career! Through just a few meetings, she helped me reevaluate myself totally, to gain some much-needed perspective on what my strengths are, what kinds of jobs are out there that I would actually enjoy, and she helped me outline a plan on achieving my new goals too. She makes great use of time during the appointments, always comes prepared, and perhaps most importantly in my case, she kept me from being discouraged throughout the process. Thanks to her, I now have a direction and I'm ready to make some changes. Highly recommended. read more

I had the most positive experience working with Jill. I reached out feeling pretty desperate and frustrated with my inability to figure out my next steps. Her methodical process was very reassuring and made me feel I was in good hands. She also saved me a bunch of money by gently providing guidance around some expensive things I was considering. She helped me recognize my true passion and develop a logical course of actions. Her suggestions seemed so sensible in hindsight but I was unable to see them for myself. Will recommend her and this process to everyone I know and will definitely reach out again during times of transition. read more

The task of looking for a new job can be overwhelming, especially when it has been a while since you had to find the last one. I went into my new job search plagued with self-doubt and confusion about how to go about it. The job market has changed quite a bit over the years. Say goodbye to sending in a resume, following up, and hoping for the best. After contacting Jill Schontag of Learning Pathways, I knew I'd made the right move. Talk about having the perfect person in your corner, just when you need it most! Through counseling and testing, Jill helped me to understand the importance of not just finding a job, but finding one I really wanted, and that would sustain me spiritually. And when you have found that job type, Jill shows you exactly how to go about getting it, even when you don't have all the skills listed in the job description. Finally, when it comes time for an interview, Jill is there to review possible questions, and make suggestions on how to frame your responses so they present the best possible picture of who you are. Most importantly, Jill is just a great person -truly kind, warm, understanding, and smart. Every meeting with her would give me the confidence boost and job search savvy I needed to continue the path toward not just any job, but the right job for me. She absolutely goes the extra mile to help you realize your goals. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for employment help. When it comes to finding a job in this fast-changing market, Jill has your back! read more

Jill was remarkable. I told her what I was struggling with when it came to my career and he met me with compassion, understanding, and a whole lot of analysis. Her guidance helped me to explore my strengths, aiding me in pursuing endeavors that spoke to me on a more meaningful level. I would recommend Jill to anyone struggling with their direction. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE! I am so grateful to have found Jill on Yelp! She really motivated me in a way that I had been searching for, for quite a few years. I needed help choosing my career path after years and countless failed attempts. I worked with her over the course of a few sessions and she guided me towards exactly what I had been searching for. I really enjoyed the work together and the tools she utilizes. I really truly have nothing but positive things to say about the experience of working with Jill! She is great! read more

I sent 2 of my kids to Jill who were having problems making career choices. One of them had been battling at college for 2 years trying to find something that worked for him With Jill's help they both found what they wanted to do. Then, at 52, I decided I needed a change an Jill was incredibly helpful. I kept thinking, I;m sure I could do this myself." but I realized how important it is to bounce your own ideas off an experienced counselor. I'm good to go now! read more

I had the wonderful pleasure of working with Jill Schontag as my coach in 2013-2014. She helped me navigate a big life transition to create my dream job: creating art and teaching workshops designed to help professionals recover from secondary traumatic stress. Jill is incredibly talented, intelligent, warm and supportive. She guided me through those tough spots where I was doubting myself and celebrated with me as the pieces beautifully fell into place. I highly recommend her as a career coach. read more

First and foremost, Jill is a good listener. She is always professional, attentive, and she asks questions in a way that is both empathic and motivating! I first contacted Jill to get help with a specific job application, however, after meeting with her only once, I quickly became inspired to more fully consider what I want out of my career. Jill helped me realize and BELIEVE that I can get where I want to go professionally (even in a down economy)! Through my work with her, I have developed a better awareness of where my strengths lie, what I need to work on, and I've clarified where I want to go! Jill is now actively helping me take the steps I need to make my career vision a reality! She provides me with friendly encouragement, and helpful, practical advice as I pave my own personal career path. Jill is approachable and reliable with feedback and assistance. She helps me prioritize my actions and checks in with me so I am held accountable to my intentions. Jill has helped me with everything from the nitty-gritty resume and job application questions, to the broader, more philosophical questions, like "what kind of a career is my personality suited for?" Jill is a smart, thoughtful, and effective counselor. I especially appeciate that she checks in to make sure that her services match with what I need/want. I would recommend Jill highly and without reservation! -Millie read more

Jill Schontag with Learning Pathways is an expert in her field. She guided me through a process of self-discovery with emotional intelligence, keen insight and strategic tools. I had been in a job that was not a good fit and my self esteem was pretty low. Jill helped me understand and learn to appreciate what my particular skills and interests are and how to integrate that knowledge into my job search. As a result of working with Jill, I was offered a job that is a much better fit for me. She was "by my side" every step of the way. I felt like I had a good friend on my side; a friend who just happened to have amazing skills in career counseling! read more

I so appreciated Jill's guidance on my own needs in a career. I thought I knew what I needed but was surprised by some of the exercises we did that allowed me to look at my history and the happiness associated with each choice. Great job, Jill. Thank you so much. read more