About VPCE
About VPCE
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Request a FREE 25+ Page Career Services Resource Guide
Vicky Payne, MS, CRC
Vicky Payne, MS, CRC
A little about me and how VP Career Exploration began.
With years of diverse professional experience and a true passion for teaching, I’ve dedicated myself to helping others navigate their career journeys. Since earning my master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation in 2008, I’ve loved working in career counseling and, in 2020, began teaching at a local community college as an Adjunct Professor in the College Success Department. I teach courses that focus on guiding students through the college experience and empowering them to make informed decisions about their education and career paths.
Like many people, I’m often asked, “What do you do for work?” When I share the work I do and the classes I teach, people frequently tell me they wish they had someone like me to guide them when they were choosing their own career path. Many also ask, “Could you help me or someone I know?”
It’s honestly shocking to me that so many people are unaware of how or where to access reliable and quality career guidance. With so many resources available, it’s surprising how many still feel lost when it comes to knowing where to begin and how to navigating their career path.
I created VP Career Exploration to empower individuals at every stage of their career journey by providing accessible, affordable, and easy-to-understand guidance and resources. My mission is to make career exploration straightforward and achievable for everyone, helping you uncover your potential as you explore and navigate your career options.
VP Career Exploration provides an adaptable approach for those seeking career guidance, including two career assessment options, a book, a workbook, multiple free resource guides, and engaging online courses—all designed to provide valuable insights and support as you explore your options. I’ve worked hard to make it as easy as possible for everyone to find a method that fits their needs (and budget!). With these flexible resources, you can work at your own pace, from anywhere, to gain clarity and confidence in making educated and informed decisions about your future.
I’m excited to help you explore your career possibilities!
Credentials, Education & Experience
Credentials, Education & Experience
Counseling Credential
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
Education
Vocational Rehabilitation
Master of Science
University of Wisconsin-Stout - Menominee, Wisconsin
Cognitive Science, emphasis in Psychology
Bachelor of Art
Occidental College - Los Angeles, California
Teaching Experience
Adjunct Professor, College Success Department
Johnson County Community College - Overland Park, Kansas
2024 Nominee for the Lieberman Teaching Excellence Award
VP Career Exploration Mission
VP Career Exploration Mission
What services do we provide?
What services do we provide?
1. Career Resources: Books & Guides
Career Compass: A Guide to Career Exploration - Paperback, E-Book, Audiobook
Embarking on a career journey can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Career Compass: A Guide To Career Exploration offers a clear, strategic, and active approach to navigating the complex world of career exploration. Whether you’re a high school graduate, a college student at a crossroads, or an adult seeking a career change, this book is your roadmap to making a fulfilling career decision that aligns with your strengths, interests, values, and goals.
Through a practical four-part process, you’ll gain clarity and insight into you and how to select a career that is a good fit for who you are and your personal circumstances. From self-reflection to career research and planning, Career Compass guides you through every step to make a well informed and educated career choice. It’s not just about finding a job—it’s about understanding who you truly are, exploring career options that resonate with you, and creating a plan that puts your goals into action.
With exercises and tools for self-discovery, this book empowers you to take control of your career decisions and pursue a path that is uniquely yours. Career exploration is a journey, and with the right guidance, it can be the most rewarding one you ever take.
Career Compass Workbook - Paper, PDF
The Career Compass Workbook is a practical, interactive companion designed to accompany the Career Compass: A Guide to Career Exploration. This workbook serves as a dynamic tool to help individuals navigate their career journeys by providing a structured approach to self-reflection, career exploration, and decision-making.
Through a series of engaging activities, exercises, and reflection prompts, the workbook encourages users to assess their strengths, values, interests, and skills. Each section is designed to guide users through the process of identifying potential career paths that align with their personal and professional aspirations.
Free Resource Guides:
Career Services Resource Guide
2. Online Courses
Maximizing Free Career Assessments is a self-paced virtual course designed to help anyone get the most out of free online career assessments. During its two modules, you'll learn how to effectively utilize two different free career assessments, similar to the MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory. Since career assessments can often be cost-prohibitive during the career exploration process, this course demonstrates how, with a little education and understanding, you can access high-quality, free assessments that provide valuable insights into potential career matches. With practical tips, real-world examples, and step-by-step guidance, participants will gain skills and knowledge to use these free resources to make informed, meaningful career decisions.
Career Compass MasterClass works through a series of modules that correspond with each chapter of Career Compass: A Guide to Career Exploration and the Career Compass Workbook. It is designed to help students/clients gain valuable insights, practical tools, and real-world examples to navigate the principles, resources, and exercises discussed in the book and workbook. This virtual course offers flexible, self-paced guided practice with examples and demonstrations to help learners explore and advance on their career journey. Actively participate in navigating your future!
Coming Fall 2025
The MBTI® assessment is designed to provide self-awareness of your personality and preferences and is often used to help people in various avenues of personal development. It can also be used to match your MBTI results to occupations that best fit your personality type. The MBTI® assessment has existed for more than 70 years and consistently proves to have valid and reliable results. Clients will take the authentic MBTI® assessment and receive a custom MBTI® Career Report. This report contains 10 pages of information about your personality and career exploration suggestions.
The Strong Interest Inventory® is designed to evaluate work personalities, which can be used to identify careers, jobs, and activities that closely align with personal interests. It offers different perspectives on career direction, from general areas of interest to lists of specific occupations. It provides reliable data about a person’s interests and work preferences. Clients will take the Strong Interest Inventory® High School, College, or general Edition and receive a personalized 9-13 page report (depending on which edition).
MBTI® and Strong Interest Inventory®,when used together, provide the ultimate career exploration experience—combining insights about your personality, preferences, and interests to help you make more informed, confident decisions about your future. Together, these tools offer a comprehensive understanding of who you are and how that aligns with potential career paths, empowering you to pursue opportunities that truly fit you.
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