The Opportunity
Three Clients: Steve Metzger, a seasoned, but frustrated creative professional wants to transition to a more stable career in corporate finance. Darlene May, a talented, but furloughed IT veteran who keeps getting the interviews- but not the offer. Hunter Goyne, an esteemed academic with an entrepreneurial spirit who wants to break into the private sector with an emerging startup. How did we help?
The Challenge
Unlike a lot of coaching companies, at VIM we don’t subscribe to formulaic, one-size-fits-all approaches to career transition. Everyone is unique, and each brings a unique toolbox and blend of experiences and approaches that great organizations need and want on their teams. Recognizing our most valuable gifts, skills, and talents—including the ones we haven’t used in a while or very often—starts with taking a step back and revisiting where we came from, unpacking what we learned along the way, and examining how we were successful and why.
Despite challenging job markets, talented people with unique perspectives and the right attitude are always in high demand. What often stops such individuals from finding and landing their next career opportunity isn’t on the outside, but on the inside: how they see themselves and, thus, how potential employers will see them.
It’s essentially a function of our self-worth which isn’t always accurate, especially when we are barraged by a constant flow of negative thoughts and feelings under stress: from within our own minds, from negative messaging in the media, from well-meaning if uninformed friends and family members, and whenever we experience any sort of rejection or unfavorable outcome which we tend to mis-attribute or over-attribute to our own mistakes.
The Process
Our three new clients all possessed an abundance of talent and a wide range of experiences in many roles and when faced with significant, complex challenges. They also clearly demonstrated a high level of intelligence and integrity and a strong desire to succeed and produce quality work that makes a difference. With these basic ingredients and a willingness to get to know themselves and to grow, we knew we could help these clients achieve their career objectives and to see results relatively quickly.
We immediately began engaging VIM’s foundational exercises which encourage self-reflection, build self-worth and self-confidence, and temper the debilitating forces of self-doubt and fear. We also walked with the clients as they each navigated the exciting and at times daunting and discouraging career identification, job search, interview, and compensation negotiation process. We helped them unpack their own experiences, maintain their positive attitude and resilience, and stay committed along the way.
The Transformation
From our very first sessions together, these remarkable and accomplished individuals began to remember the best of who they authentically are, all that they bring to the table in their business and personal relationships, and the factors that sometimes caused them to forget those gifts, skills, talents, and qualities that got them where they are and that will continue to drive their success. These clients noticed significant gains in their self-worth, self-confidence, and performance under stress, and they become more comfortable and collaborative navigating conflict. Those results extended to their personal relationships due to the holistic nature of our work.
What Changed Everything
When these clients began to explore themselves more deeply and honestly, they came to appreciate their shining gifts and talents and the transferability and applicability of those tools in every business and organizational setting. They also came to see when and how they acquired their best habits and behaviors, as well as the ones that didn’t serve them anymore. They further developed a more compassionate, accepting, and supportive relationship with themselves which naturally expanded their understanding, appreciation, and compassion for others whom they collaborate and connect with in business and in life. Their patience and tolerance increased, and a renewed excitement to explore, engage, and create took hold, building momentum and expanding and transmitting a very contagious energy that employers, colleagues, clients, loved ones and friends naturally want to be around.
The Results
All three of our clients achieved their goals and secured the next opportunities they were looking for. Steve navigated a multi-tiered interviewing process and was offered a growth position at a successful oil and gas company despite no specific prior experience. The company appreciated Steve’s maturity, experience leading and working with people with varying levels of experience, and managing budgets and bottom lines. Darlene was rehired by the same national healthcare company that had previously employed her. The company, now under new leadership and with a fresh direction, very much appreciated that Darlene keenly understood and had weathered the company culture during a turbulent period of change and compartmentalization, and felt that she could be counted on to interface with various units within the company through its transition and would support its integration. Hunter landed an executive role that included an equity interest in an emerging technologies startup that is leveraging Hunter’s strong academic knowledge with his ability to simplify and convey complex concepts to the company’s business stakeholders, investors, and customers. These successes were achieved by all of these clients within the space of less than one year, and two of these clients are still working with us as their responsibilities and career opportunities continue to expand.
“I really appreciate all of the experience, insight, and dimension of wisdom that you bring as a coach given your own varied and successful careers and transitions. Everything shifted for me and so many opportunities happened once I began to trust the process and trust myself again.”
—Hunter Goyne | Technology Executive—Shareholder