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John's Story
My Situation (before coaching)
I was 57 and unemployed. In the previous ten years I have had an unwanted divorce, serious illness and seen two companies fold underneath me. Moreover my area of expertise, IT for the National Health Service (NHS), was overshadowed by a large and poorly-run government initiative. I had expected to find another job fairly quickly, but it seemed that age and length of unemployment were stacking up against me
The Challenges I Faced
At a practical level, I was spending several hours a day reviewing job boards and applying for at least one job. This approach wasn't working: I had to find an alternative.
At a financial level, despite a tax refund, I was running out of money. I knew that I was good at what I did but I was not being effective at selling myself. I was loosing confidence. As each month passed, I worried that I was a little less employable.
I was concerned about the impact on my son if I had to sell the house and take a job at B&Q. I had accepted that I would only get short-term jobs which didn't use the skills that I had.
Why or How Did You Think Coaching Would Help You?
At the time that I engaged Francis, I was aware of four options:- Continue applying for jobs (via agencies and job boards);
- Start-up my own services business;
- Use the services of a large commercial career counselling agency;
- Engage a coach (like Francis).
The first was palpably not working. I had what I thought I was a satisfactory CV. Agencies were ringing me. I had few interviews but little enthusiasm for many of the jobs on offer.
I considered self-employment (building applications for small to medium sized enterprises). I also prepared a proposition for a medical system for a large computer services company. My concern was that I lacked the selling or marketing skills to make a success of either of these.
The third option was an expensive unknown. The career counselling agency wanted several thousands of pounds, paid up-front, for a year's career counselling support. It felt like a gamble.
This got me thinking about coaching. I could buy the support I needed, when I needed it.
What Actually Happened and How Did This Help?
Francis coached me for five months. Just starting the process was a huge boost for me. I knew that Francis couldn't wave a magic wand to get me a job, but it felt good to develop an alternative approach to the problem. Besides, I liked and trusted Francis.
I quickly discovered that Francis had a deep interest in helping me find the right job: the right career path for me. I started to think about what I enjoyed and where I could add value. This was a huge shift in my thinking.
It had two effects. One was to make me look for a win-win: a partnership with benefits for me and for a potential employer. The second was to free me from the oppressive thought that my career was degenerating into an unsatisfying scramble to keep afloat financially.
I did have to think about how to pay for coaching and mentoring, but there were no real problems:
I was only paying for the support I needed;
These commitments were less than with a career counselling agency; and
A great deal less than the cost of being unemployed.
What Were the Results? (for you and for your organisation)
I began to see myself as a potential asset for the right employer.
Francis and I worked on my CV. This greatly increased my hit rate with the agencies. More than that, I knew what I was looking for; what was a good fit for my skills and values and I found it.
When I was invited for an interview with an ideal organisation, Francis coached me on how to prepare. I went into that interview as well prepared as I have ever been and believing that I could add value. I was the only one asked back and a job offer followed shortly thereafter.
It seems simplistic to say that it felt good, but it did. Having a job was of course an enormous relief, but it went much further than that. I feel that I am in a place where I have the opportunity to thrive personally and professionally: I can use my skills and experience and acquire new ones.
Without Francis input on my CV, I might not had the opportunity. Without our work on my goals, skills and values; I might not have recognised it as a good opportunity. Without his input, I might not have presented effectively the match between my skills and their needs - I could make a great contribution to their business! In short, without his coaching, I might have dropped the ball.
What Was Francis Like to Work With?
Yes I would recommend him absolutely. The main reasons are:- Integrity I felt that I could trust Francis completely.
- Ability Francis has worked at senior levels himself and is an excellent coach and mentor.
- Motivation I arrived with no direction and came away with both a rudder and a compass.
- Insight those ah-ha moments which gave me a whole, new perspective on the situation.
- Results - the process worked for me and gave me far more than I expected.
I came looking for help to find the next paycheque. I embarked on an exciting adventure of discovery about myself.
Copyright 2009 Francis Christie ©
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