Career guidance: from tests to the feedback session

Split a guidance programme into clear steps, each its own service: a first interview the client books online, a testing session, and a feedback session a week or two later, once you've analysed the results. Book the testing and feedback sessions together at the end of the first interview, so the client leaves with the whole path in their diary and you have the analysis time you need between the two.

A guidance programme mixes very different moments. The first interview is a conversation about the person's history, interests and doubts. The testing session is quiet, focused work: questionnaires on interests, values, aptitudes or personality. The feedback session is where you bring it together and open up options. They don't take the same time, and the feedback only makes sense once you've scored and read the results.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page, and each slot belongs to one service with its own start and end.

Lengths and prices are examples: set your own, and say in each description whether it can be taken on its own or only as part of the programme. If you sell the programme as a package, explain in the first-interview description how it's paid, since Book doesn't take payments.

A booked slot with one place is full and disappears from your public page. The client now has a clear path, and you have protected analysis time in between.

Tests need concentration. Put testing sessions at times when your office is calm, and don't book a talkative first interview in the room next door. If clients take online questionnaires at home instead, you can drop the testing slot and just book the feedback session, leaving them a deadline to finish the tests.

The public booking form asks for first name, last name, email and phone, and has an optional note. For the first interview, suggest a line on the situation: "final year of school, no idea", "ten years in accounting, want to change", "back to work after a long break". You get it in your new-booking email and can prepare the right questions. Ask for the CV by email rather than in the note, since the note also appears in the calendar file the client receives.

Adults changing career may only be free outside working hours. Keep some first interviews and feedback sessions in the early evening, on Saturday mornings, or by video. Create those slots on the weekdays you choose and repeat them each week until an end date. Book shows times in your time zone and displays its name, which helps with clients abroad.

Clients can't move bookings online: they contact you, and you move or cancel from your bookings list. Book doesn't email them about changes, so confirm new times yourself. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.