What your career might look like
It’s an exciting time when a client whom I have been working with reaches their goal. Such was the case yesterday when Mary (not her real name) had her final coaching meeting with me.
During our initial meetings Mary, an educator, told me she was so unhappy with her job, particularly lesson planning, that she frequently woke during the night feeling worried and anxious. Her goal was to make a career change that would value her dual experience as a teacher and psychotherapist. She made it clear that after earning two masters degrees, she would not go back for additional training.
Despite having a good sense of herself, Mary no longer knew what she enjoyed doing, a feeling that is common amongst people who have had the same employer for many years.
To regain contact with her authentic self our meetings focused on her strengths, interests, strengths, values and the types of people she wanted to work with. she said the meetings helped her overcome the erroneous belief that she had to be great at lesson planning.
Once she was clear on what she wanted to use in professional tool chest, I administered the Myers Briggs assessment. Yesterday, she shared the “insight process” (her description of the career exploration phase) was one of the most beneficial things we addressed.
With a stronger understanding of her career direction, Mary explored opportunities as a family / parent educator. We created a powerful resume. She embraced networking, built a strong support network and career advisory team. During our weekly meetings she enthusiastically shared what she accomplished between coaching.
Within a month of using several of the job search strategies I recommended she landed an interview. In the weeks that folllowed she one of two candidates that were being considered. While she did not got an offer, she later acknowledged that the population the position served was not the best fit for her.
As Mary navigated her way through interviews, one-on-one networking meetings, and other activities news of Bernard Madoff ‘s ponzie scheme broke. Overnight opportunities dried up and Mary decided to refocus her efforts on her existing position.
Fortunately for Mary, her supervisor left the organization and a consultant who she got along with, took her place. The new director recognized Mary’s strengths and was anxious to help her develop her talents.
Nearly 18 months after Mary engaged me she is still working for the same organization as a teacher. However, her job is no longer the same. Using a combination of insights gained during the coaching process and the support of her new supervisor Mary recreated her postion. Currently Mary is pursuing training in several practices that compliment her psychotherapy background.
At the end of our last coaching meeting she said she had grown both professionally and personally. She no longer worries about the future instead she embraces each day confident in the knowledge she is exactly where she needs to be.
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