Melody’s Story
I’d been in my field for several years and felt that things weren’t going in the right direction. I wasn’t feeling passionate about my work. I wondered if I’d pigeonholed myself into a certain kind of company. And I had many doubts: was this the right job for me? If this were “it” … wouldn’t I feel more confident? Wouldn’t I be excelling? Was there something that I could be doing that I would enjoy more?
Looking for the Light at the End of the Tunnel
I was trying to figure out my next move but didn’t know what that was. I knew I didn’t have the motivation to continue going in my career. I knew that I felt as if I was at a dead-end but what was the light at the end of the tunnel? I didn’t know where to start.
At the time, I was thinking about enrolling in an MBA and was doing lots of online research (looking at career personality profiles, using online tools), reading books and generally thinking about my strengths and interests. I realized that I wasn’t coming to any conclusions by my self though and I wasn’t taking any steps to make changes.
I stumbled on CCC through some online reviews. Reading about how they help “get people unstuck” resonated with me because that’s how I was feeling. I wanted to explore the questions: “what drives me?” “What excites me?” “What career paths out there are aligned with the things I really enjoy doing?” For me, it was more than just a career move – it was a question about the kind of environment and lifestyle I wanted. And I was curious about what was available outside of the usual box.
Seeing the Options Available to Me
Career coaching was a game changer for me. It helped me to get out of my own head and to look beyond what was in my immediate purview. I started to think of career in a broader sense and to look at possibilities that I wouldn’t have otherwise thought about. Where I had previously seen only one path and one career trajectory, I now saw other branches I could take and other options that I didn’t previously think about.
Aside from opening my eyes, the coaching really boosted my confidence. I explored things that I’d either never thought of, or things that may have been in the back of my head but which I’d never put on the table as a full possibility.
It was great to be able to bounce ideas off someone else and get feedback. It also helped me make decisions. Coaching isn’t someone telling you what to do but is someone facilitating you making different decisions and helping you see your options. It also provided other ways to solve problems.
You can do a ton of career stuff by yourself (online or books) but without the personal connection you don’t get the reinforcement, feedback and the ear to lean on. For instance, during coaching I received a couple of job offers and I was able to talk through those with my coach. With career coaching, I got clarity and confidence as well as real time help and real time feedback. I’m so glad that I took the step.
Are you Seeing the Options Available to You?
