FAQs About Susan and Career Crossroads

Please take a moment to read this before hiring Susan.

How long have you been doing what you do and how did you become a Career Coach?

To answer this question, it's probably best to share with you a defining moment that changed the way I look at careers - mine and others. It was 1992 and I was working as a training manager of a national service-based company. I'd had a lengthy career in corporate sales in high-tech where downsizing, rightsizing, buyouts, and layoffs were commonplace. I'd moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area following a merger and thought I'd be pretty safe working in a traditional service industry. This "safe company" was experiencing major reorganization and my position was eliminated. I was devastated. I'd wake up sweating at 3 a.m. worrying about my bills, my next job, in essence, my future. It was during a lunch with a former boss who told me this was the time to take stock of what I "really, really" wanted in a career. "If you don't find what you're passionate about, you'll be forever taking 'getting by' jobs. You can't choose your next job by the size of the paycheck alone." Those words really struck a chord.

I made a commitment that day to figure out what I really wanted to be when I grew up. Although I'd been through layoffs, outplacement and resume-writing before, I'd never really pursued a job based on passion or excitement. Quite frankly, I didn't believe I could have such a career so I never looked! Simply taking vocational tests or resume-writing classes wasn't giving me the impetus I was looking for. I knew there had to be a better way to navigate through the career crossroads I was experiencing. With my new commitment, I immersed myself in career books, courses, job search services, counselors, you name it. I interviewed people about their jobs and why they chose their career paths. Throughout this process, I realized I'd always been happiest when coaching others to achieve their goals. That's when I decided to become a career coach and returned to graduate school.

I tell you this because I know what it's like to go through this painful and often confusing process. Over the past 12 years, I've worked with hundreds of folks who've been stuck, stalled or confused about their careers - they wanted change but didn’t know how to attain it. It has been my privilege to coach them  in finding fulfilling careers.

Who are your clients and how do you work with them?

I work with people just like you ... people who are talented, competent and capable. Yet, they find themselves at a career crossroads without a method to navigate the process. Oftentimes, they find themselves just searching for a job rather than getting the right fit. Here's a sample list of people I've helped ...

Every client is an individual and will get a specialized, individual program that is appropriate for them. Speaking of my clients, I don't work with students right out of school or others with no work experience.

My programs and workshops are designed to work with folks who are absolutely excited and motivated to finally achieve their career goals. They are willing to stop the procrastination, self-doubt, and anxiety that keeps us from moving toward our goals…. in other words, putting an end to the 3 a.m. sweats and the negative thinking that says "why can't I get my career on track!"

I work best with folks who are super ready to get going and just want to know the exact steps that will lead them to a real career fit. Consider our work together like enrolling in several college courses. Believe me, this process will challenge the way you are currently thinking. In exchange, you will be expected to take serious and consistent action. No excuses anymore, just a very different way of thinking and full support while you achieve your goals with more money in your pocket and a shortened search.

How do I know I'll be successful?

What I've experienced is there are 3 basic elements a client needs in order to effectively succeed:

1. Time - Have you given thought to where you'll find the time to devote to this program? Adding a new process and action steps to your schedule generally means you must replace a prior activity to make time for your career. Ask yourself if you currently have six or more hours per week (minimum) in order to work the process.
2. Energy - You will most likely have to engage in activities which will push you out of your habits or comfort zone. It's important to have a good support system in place (family, friends, organizations, etc) during this transition.
3. Resources - Have you put aside financial resources for career coaching assistance? Most of us don't. But think about it, your money to pay bills, vacation, etc. almost always comes from our earnings.

So, since we usually don't budget any money for career development, here are some resource areas to consider .....

• Take it from the future - You should feel confident the training you will receive in negotiating alone (a small part of the complete process) will pay for my services and then some.
• Look at investments currently not yielding a high rate of return Investments yielding a 1,5, or even 10% interest rate don't really compare to the rate of return and investment you'll receive by avoiding a misdirected career search which, frankly, robs you of a future with higher income (and years of lost income). It also saves you all the wasted time trying to figure it out!
• Help from Uncle Sam - Did you know that using a career coach can be a tax deduction! Uncle Sam returns 28% or so of the fee at tax time.
• Finding resources by shifting dollars - Often we find money by asking ourselves "Is there something I'm willing to give up for a short time in order to reach a goal that will enhance my career path for years to come?"

For those of you struggling with the idea of finding the time, energy, and/or resources, it's okay. Remember, I've been there before and I completely understand. So, do yourself a favor if you haven't already .... sign up for my career newsletter. If you wish to see previous issues, please let me know. I'll be happy to accommodate.

What exactly is the Career Crossroads process?

Considering a job or career change begins with you ... understanding what motivates you, what you love doing and where that might be, then builds from there. Here's the process in a nutshell ...

Identify what motivates you and uncover your success patterns -
Where do you get energy throughout the day and why? We will evaluate how to separate those duties that energize you from those that drain you (even if you do them well). We'll look at what's important to you, those "career musts" that are pivotal for your future career. We'll draft the answer to the question "Why should I hire you?" without sounding like every other job searcher. Here you'll start to get focused on what's important.

During this step we'll examine your successes and develop clear and concise examples to insure you can support these statements during an interview. This unique tool will position you as a valuable contributor, not a beggar. No one wants to hire a person who wants "to get a foot in the door". Can you picture a business proposal where you're competing against other companies for the same business saying "We just want to get in the door!" If you can set yourself apart from the competition, you'll get the business!

Examine your personality and behavioral style -
Through the use of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and other assessment tools, we'll learn how you like to operate, for instance, how do you best learn or make decisions. We'll also be able to match company cultures to evaluate a best fit. This is a tremendously important component of any good career choice.

Develop written documents -
We'll develop documents that will help as you enter the marketing phase of the process. We will focus your resume (one of several documents) to describe your authentic value and accomplishments - not in resume jargon. We'll also develop a special report that often outperforms your resume and other supporting documents, as needed, to move you toward your target market.

Develop and establish an obtainable career path -
We will collaborate to help you narrow your career search if you don't have a clear direction. We will review your past decision-making patterns, examine what you bring to the party, and where your interests and motivations point. We will select several targets to begin that will set in motion a process which will yield valuable information and contacts!

Develop your own unique "value-added" profile (your own voice) -
If you're saying "oh yes, the elevator speech", think again. The value-added profile is used during all phases of interviewing to communicate about you in a unique way. This step helps tremendously during networking as you'll sound natural and engaging, not rehearsed or fake. We'll spend a good amount of time here making sure you're comfortable, confident, and effective!

Develop a personalized marketing strategy -
This is one of the most valuable phases as it will separate you from others who are looking for a job without a real actionable, measurable plan to reach their goals. Here's where many job seekers get stuck, and worse, spend months longer than necessary looking. I've heard individuals say "I'm looking to get out of sales and thinking maybe training would be a good fit"... or "Well, I know I'm good at lots of things. I was thinking of banking because I like numbers and people, and I worked as a teller in college. I'm also pretty creative and I make my own clothes. I've also considered becoming a graphic artist." You tell me, does this person sound focused? This can be prevented by developing a good marketing strategy and a plan for executing it. During the exploration phase we'll research options…without sounding like a beggar, examine if our options are a good fit in the validation phase, and execute the positioning phase without having to answer ads or chase job openings!

Learn how to win the interview -
This oftentimes can be the stumbling block for many a career seeker. You've probably read or experienced there's a newer approach to interviews now. If you know the five basic questions, you'll enter any interview feeling prepared and confident. Because you've now been used to describing yourself very naturally and confidently, the interview will be a true "let's get to know one another" event.

Learn how to negotiate -
This is where you and I put pedal to the metal! This step alone often pays for my services! Learning how to get what you're worth can be tricky especially when you really, really want the job and don't want to ask for anything. Knowing the five negotiating rules will enhance not just your salary but your career for years to come.

How quickly can I expect results?

This really depends on how long you've been career searching, how fast you're willing to work the process, and how often you and I meet to take the next steps. If you want to fast track this process, let me know and I'll be in the seat right next to you! I've had clients who've reached their goals within a few months. I can guarantee you'll make much faster progress than doing this on your own.

Will I recover the investment I put into this coaching program?

Yes, yes, yes! I'm confident that any of my clients with whom you talk to will tell you it was worth every penny! Some would even tell you I should charge more. Are you unemployed currently? If so, you're obviously concerned about your finances. Ask yourself, how much are you spending each month trying to stay afloat? If I can get you on your target just two months faster than you'd be on your own, how much would you save? In addition, when I coach you in negotiation skills, you'll increase your salary again, often by a considerable amount. I can assure you the money I can help you make will more than handily cover my charges! Since all your bonuses and salary increases will be based on your higher initial salary, the long-term money prospects are pretty compelling.

If your career search hasn't been yielding results or you're still not clear what you want and how to get it, then let's talk. I look forward to working with you soon!