Fresh Perspective Coaching

Like many of my career coaching clients, “Jeannie” wanted to find more meaningful work. At the same time, she wanted to move closer to her boyfriend, about 50 miles away. And there was one other thing – she wanted to make these changes as quickly as possible. Jeannie’s current job was due for a few shake ups, and she wanted to land on her feet.

Any one of these goals – a career change, a move, or a careful-yet-quick exit from an existing job – has a lot of moving parts. Someone taking on all three could get stuck in overwhelm or act too quickly on a compromise and then feel disappointed later. Combining my client’s goals meant that we had to prioritize and keep key targets in mind throughout the process.

A World of Possibilities

We started by brainstorming Jeannie’s ideal job. What was she passionate about? What skills and experience did she want to use? What kind of contribution did she want to make? This information helped us narrow down a universe of jobs into a manageable list. In addition, talking about an ideal situation helped Jeannie feel encouraged rather than fearful of the impending change. She felt confident she would find a job that better suited her abilities and interests.

Next, we tailored Jeannie’s resume to highlight her top skills, which were also the skills she hoped to apply in her new job: communication, customer service, research, organization, training and finances. We completed her resume by demonstrating how her work experiences had called on each skill and how they transferred perfectly to the new line of work. Her focused resume illustrated where she’d been, where she wanted to go and exactly what she offered her new employer.

Finally, we brainstormed possible employers or industries in her new destination. Jeannie researched the possibilities online and through informational interviews to further prioritize her career plan. This way, she could devote her energy to applications with a select group of employers rather than trying to flood the job market with her resume.

Home Stretch

Each week, Jeannie could see progress being made. Steps that once seemed like obstacles were overcome. Instead of overwhelm, she had a manageable, targeted action plan.

Reporting her progress via e-mail kept Jeannie on track. She listed job prospects identified through her own research or Internet postings and noted the status of resumes sent and applications completed. Our next few coaching sessions prepared her for interviews so she could demonstrate, in person, how ideal she was for the job.

Within three months of our first meeting, Jeannie had a job offer. We discussed how to negotiate for desired benefits and extra time off to handle her move to the new city. Jeannie was eager to get on with this new chapter in her life, so we also navigated her resignation from her old job.

Focus and Priorities

Jeannie is now settled into her position and enjoying life closer to her boyfriend. Her ideal has become her reality thanks to setting priorities and taking focused action.

If you feel stuck or overwhelmed in your career change plans, let’s talk. Call me at 510.864.0249 or email me to schedule a complimentary consultation and sample coaching session.

Note: Written authorization to share this case study was received from the client. Certain details have been changed to preserve confidentiality.

About Merideth Mehlberg and Fresh Perspective Coaching

Merideth Mehlberg, founder of Fresh Perspective Coaching, helps her clients move towards new direction and meaning in their work, their businesses and their lives. She encourages her clients to dream big, and then she provides the compassion, insight, structure and support they need to transform their vision into reality.

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