What the Press Says / Comments

The Roger W. Birkman Research Award Feature, March 2007

Anthony D. Broadhead – Winner 2nd place

"Anthony Broadhead’s thesis, “The Paddy Sparrow Story: A Case Study in Career Guidance” is intuitive, courageous and useful. The Birkman Method® has long been used in career guidance and this account demonstrates how a consultant’s own inspiration can be combined with Birkman’s quantitative information to
make a real difference to a client, and the client’s family. The prose powerfully illustrates The Birkman Method® and features the qualitative side of the instrument."

Dr Roger W. Birkman Ph.D. Houston, Tx – Founder and Life President, Birkman International Inc.

Extract from – “Gifted square pegs can expect a revelation” by Richard Donkin in the FT

"....the first part of the process is a psychometric assessment called the Birkman Method®.

Having put myself through nearly all the most widely used personality tests over the years and having undertaken various forms of psychological profiling, I was intrigued to find out how well this process would work. The test here is being used not for recruitment but in personal profiling, so there is every incentive to answer the questions honestly.

The results in my case were just about spot on according to those who know me well. Not only does it record preferences between the arts and the sciences – and most of us ought to know that anyway - but it also reads how we adjust our personality when we are under stress. It registered what it called my "undue sensitivity" and "over-directness", both traits I have been slow to acknowledge.

So while it was prepared to describe me as "sociable, communicative and at ease in groups" for most of the time, it detected that when stressed I can become unsociable.

This is a feature of personality revelations. You read something such as "likes to be flexible", which seems quite complimentary until you realise that this very flexibility, in extremis, can lead to "resistance to routine" and "neglect of system and order".

It is as if every positive attribute has its possible negative side. So "thoughtful" and "reflective" – both reasonable traits, you would think – can be manifested as "indecision" in a crisis.

This makes a lot of sense and demonstrates how certain behavioural traits can be either attractive or potentially disastrous depending on the circumstances. In an emergency, the last thing you want of a colleague is for him to tell you he needs time to think.

Roger Birkman, the developer of this assessment, who is still actively promoting his Birkman Method at the age of 84, appears to have created something genuinely revelatory for those who feel they need to understand what it is that makes them tick. The report even matches ideal jobs against its findings!"

Extract from an article by Richard Donkin in the Financial Times
Published: Jan 22, 2004

"Thank you Anthony. The best money I have spent since Magaluf!"

– School leaver who opted not to go to university (21)

"I visited Careerfoundations™ knowing (deep inside) that my well paid job in the City job wasn't right. I was half hoping they would tell me I was wrong. Needless to say they didn't! I had two sessions with Anthony. The first of them lasted for over 3 hours. We talked about me, my past and aspirations. Then he took me through my Birkman psychometric profile. Amazing! Not just illuminating but surprisingly therapeutic. It really got me thinking. I saw Anthony for four sessions in all, the whole course took about a month, and I have made my decision. I can see the road ahead clearly now.

The depth and accuracy of their analysis is stunning. I was very impressed with Anthony's direct, positive and sympathetic approach."

– Graduate with three years' experience in investment banking (28)

"My daughter has benefited tremendously from your work.

There's no doubt she'd got herself into a bit of a muddle. She is now set on a career as a barrister and showing all the signs of enthusiasm and excitement. Reminding her about the importance of music in her life seems to have been a very positive and therapeutic thing for her. All in all, she is more relaxed, happy and obviously fulfilled.

You seem to have to affirmed her in what she's good at and given her just the right encouragement she needed at what, with hindsight, was really quite a trying time."

– Parent re daughter (26)

"Coming to Careerfoundations™ and doing the "Birkman" with Anthony confirmed a lot of what I had been thinking. It also gave me a few good ideas that hadn't previously occurred to me. In fact, the result has been extraordinary in several ways; having agonised for ages, Anthony and the Birkman process gave me whatever it took to finally make my mind up. It was was like unblocking a drain! Once the first move had been made, everything flowed. Working with Anthony has taken a big weight off my mind."

– Independent business person, formerly an International Marketing Director (48)

"At a time of being really very muddled indeed about my career (and having been so for several years if I am honest), the experience with Anthony Broadhead at Careerfoundations™ this summer has been revelatory. Birkman really helped to align my thinking with my heart in terms of career choice and life direction."

Post script:

"I have resigned as a management consultant and two exciting years lie ahead of me. I have a couple of projects to choose from in the immediate future and will be starting a Masters, probably in Development Finance, in October next year.

Thanks Anthony, for all your help and support throughout this summer. You spelled out some harsh truths as well as helping me explore my inner self. You have undoubtedly brought career into focus for me."

– Ex management consultant (32)

"I tumbled into Roger's office at Careerfoundations, a lost and drifting dreamer, full of potential ideas but unable to get a handle on where to go next in developing a fulfilling and challenging career. After just three intensive sessions, I walked out liberated. Not only was I confident in the career and future that Roger had helped me to select and envision, I was also popping with excitement to finally be able to move forward and grab that right dream.

How did he achieve this? Roger himself has been through the turmoil of uncertainty: knowing that one has a potential for great fulfillment and success, but not knowing how or where to channel the energy in order to attain this. He understands exactly how your scrambled self is feeling which helps him all the more in showing you the right path. His balance in scientific academic training and a naturally empathetic and sensitive personality allows him to accurately analyse the data, all the while keeping in mind the true person sitting in front of him. This mix of substance and intuition lets him quietly show you the way, until you are finally completely convinced and ready to get out and get started.

Finding your ideal career is one of the essential ingredients in the creation of a happy life and Roger has the gift of uncovering this powerful secret for his clients and enabling them to taste the pleasures of a challenging and full existence.

- Karina, financial services manager (26)

 The Birkman profile and Roger’s guidance helped me clarify my deeper aptitudes and interests, and to distinguish well-suited career areas from numerous fickle ideas. I now have an exciting idea for a line of work which makes a lot of sense to me, right outside the constraints I had previously assumed.

 - John, mechanical engineer (32)

Birkman helped me review my career options by confirming that my preferred job suited me very much according to my personality and behaviour. I was very surprised by how accurate it was and it helped me understand why i act in the way I do, in many situations. This was helpful both on a professional and personal level. Roger took me through all the different areas of the test, explaining each one very clearly. We discussed at length the meaning of each part and he helped me relate the results to my everyday life. I would recommend Birkman, not only to people looking for a career change, but to anyone interested in learning more about themselves and their behaviour patterns. 

 - Florence, teacher (25)

Birkman is a remarkable tool to help you understand yourself in the moment of making a tough decision. What is key in the Birkman experience is not the test itself, a good consultant is what makes the difference. I signed up because my job did not fully satisfy me, and after having gone through my results with Roger I realized that something I had been doing as a hobby could become a serious career option.  Roger understood what my needs were and responded to them by providing me with a number of options, explaining each one of them carefully and making sure I was able to relate them to my experience and possible future plans. A year on, I have followed one of the career paths that Roger and I had discussed. I can honestly say that not only am I satisfied with the outcome, I am also grateful to Roger for having helped me find it.

 - Javier, writer (24)