Coaching Through a Career Transition
Whether you’re transitioning from one career path to another, finding your first career, or getting back into the professional world after years of full time parenting, the coaching process is similar. The basic structure is to engage you in information gathering, from the inside/out and the outside/in. From the inside/out, is what we’ll do together through a variety of exercises, tools, visualizations, and pointed conversations, to reveal possible new paths. From the outside/in is what I’ll help you do on your own. You’ll gather information from your personal/professional network, from their connections, from people in industries you’d like to learn more about, from the Internet and other printed materials.
Through these two parallel processes comes clarity. Once a clear path or perhaps multiple paths emerge, we’ll start to create a plan for exploring them one at a time and I’ll create some structure of accountability so you can reach your ultimate goal.
Central to the work we’d do is to focus on work/life balance. My belief is that work needs to fit into your life, not the other way around. Ideally, what we call “work” incorporates our values, strengths, skills, and passions AND is part of a larger whole made up of our relationships, hobbies, avocational interests, etc. Each of the various dimensions of our life can either give us energy or drain it from us. One of the things we’ll do is pay attention to the ways you can invest in other areas of your life that will energize you as you focus on this new career transition.
“I started working with Judy at a critical transition in my career and am so grateful she has become part of my ‘crew.’ Her ability to pose thought-provoking, strategic questions from perspectives I never considered before has been invaluable in helping me redirect my career path and get clarity about who I want to be in this new chapter of my life. I feel more confident and grounded thanks to her, and highly encourage anyone in a similar situation to make her part of your team!”
“I came to Judy Elkin to reflect on my career and outside interests and to consider how to enhance my current work. I am so grateful for the time we spent working together. Judy creates a safe space to imagine the future, reflect on past experience and explore personal strengths. She’s an excellent listener and supportive cheerleader. I always left our sessions energized, encouraged and full of new possibilities.”
Getting Started: I ask career transition clients to complete this questionnaire before our first meeting. Looking at it now can give you a sense of the kind of work we’d be doing together.