Sound Advice for Careers From Elizabeth

Newcastle career coach Elizabeth Harding-Massey is drawing on almost four decades of experience to help young people and adults overcome barriers to employment, discover their strengths and find a career path that works for them.

Growing up in the shadow of Derwenthaugh Coke Works at Winlaton Mill, Elizabeth witnessed the closure of the industrial site and the loss of jobs that had a profound impact on the surrounding community. She saw how changes in the world of work could affect individuals, families and an entire village. It is an experience that has stayed with her throughout a career dedicated to helping people understand their options and make informed decisions about their futures.

Today, through her business, STC Careers, Elizabeth works as a career coach and career advice and guidance practitioner, supporting young people, adults and organisations with the challenges of education, employment and career development.

One of the most significant parts of her career has been working with young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), helping them explore their options and prepare for life beyond education.

Elizabeth began her careers journey in Kuwait, working for the British Council as a careers advice assistant. On returning to the UK, she decided to develop her experience into a professional career, gaining a degree in English before completing a postgraduate qualification in career guidance at Northumbria University.

She went on to work within the careers service and Connections, managing her own caseload of schools and supporting young people with a wide range of needs. This included those with moderate learning difficulties, severe and profound disabilities, as well as young offenders. That experience taught her the importance of recognising that everyone learns, processes information and makes decisions differently.

“When you’re working with young people with SEND, it’s about giving them the time to process the information you’re providing,” she explains.“You don’t want to overwhelm them with too much information. It’s about looking at their options, allowing them time to think about what’s been discussed and then revisiting it with them.

“It’s almost like a timeline. You give them the time they need to understand what’s available to them and help them work through the process.”

Rather than expecting every young person to follow the same route, Elizabeth believes career support must be tailored to the individual, taking account of their circumstances, abilities and aspirations. Her approach is about helping people see what might be possible while ensuring they have the time, information and support to make realistic decisions.

Her work now extends to adults who may be unhappy in their current jobs, considering a career change or simply wanting to understand what other opportunities are available to them. For some, the motivation is a growing sense of dread about going to work each day. For others, it is a desire for a fresh challenge or a better understanding of their own skills and potential.

Elizabeth distinguishes career coaching from traditional careers advice and guidance because coaching can explore the individual’s personal circumstances in greater depth, helping them identify issues that might influence their decisions.

She also believes employers should recognise the value of experience, particularly when recruiting people who may have spent decades in the workplace. While ageism can sometimes be a barrier, she says, older candidates can bring valuable experience of working with others, building relationships and navigating different workplace situations.

For Elizabeth, the journey from her early days in careers advice in Kuwait to running her own business has reinforced the importance of finding a direction that suits the individual.

“It’s a journey,” she says. “I always thought my own journey would find its own way, a bit like a river. And from my starting point to where I am now, it has.”