Client Success Stories
CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES
I have been fortunate to help hundreds of job seekers find jobs that are personally and professionally fulfilling. Here are a few of my favorite stories (please note names and photos have been changed to protect privacy):
ANNE
When I met Anne, she told me that she had been laid off from her long-term finance job and then had to take a few years off to be a caretaker for an ailing relative. She was now ready to get back to work but struggled with the job search. She was worried about the gap in her resume, ageism, her “outdated” skills, and her ability to appeal to hiring managers.
Anne and I worked together to figure out her personal brand - how can she tell her story and how can she present it to the world? We updated her resume and LinkedIn. Within two days of updating her LinkedIn, she was contacted by several recruiters. (Read more of Anne's story below.)
I recently heard from Anne: “I wanted to check in and let you know that things are going well … The culture is teamwork. Before we leave for the day everyone checks in with each other. It's been three weeks and I'm enjoying the work … I feel I'm in the right place at a salary I'm happy with. I continue to be impressed with the company.” Now THAT’S what I like to hear! Congratulations, Anne!
HELEN
Helen came to me focused and ready to work. She was working in education and wanted to leave her job, but she stayed to get her school through the worst of the pandemic, then took a bit of time off to decompress and care for her family.
Eventually, she took a part-time job at a small local company. The work was fine, but it was only part-time and not something she was passionate about.
Helen was now ready to go back to work full-time, and she knew it wasn’t going to be in education and administration. She was instead drawn to HR (Human Resources) and thought her skills would transfer easily enough.
During our discovery session, she told me that she was applying to roles in HR and working her network but she wasn’t “getting anywhere with it.” As Helen put it: “I’m not honed in for what I’m aiming for. I have no sense of how my experience looks to others. I keep getting recommended for roles and they’re too junior - I think I should be making more than that. I want to maximize my earning potential.” (Read more of Helen's story below.)
Helen and I worked together to hone her brand and her story - how to explain her transferable skills, how to overcome her resume gap, and how to justify her search for director roles (and the salary that comes with it) in a new industry. We updated her resume and LinkedIn, she did a little upskilling, and she was selective about the types of jobs she applied for.
Helen’s dream job included: “Flexibility in work arrangements (i.e. hybrid), 20+ days of PTO, salary of ~120K, and the time/access to continued career growth.” And I’m happy to report she got it all! She’s working for a well-known organization that is minutes away from her home, with a hybrid schedule, a boss who is training her to take over the department, AND a higher salary than she was expecting.
Here’s what she had to say about the role when she was offered the job: “The hiring manager said he felt like it should be a higher level role for me, and since it's a new role, they were able to bump it up to Director and offer me a salary 10.5K above what had been the high end of the range in the job description. I can't explain to you how amazing that felt!”
Let’s take that in for a minute - Helen came to me because she was being considered for “too junior” roles with low salaries. She wanted to be a Director and get a higher salary. We worked on her brand, her story, and how to sell her skills. And we were so effective at this that she was promoted before she even started the job. Boom! That’s how it’s done!
Helen recently sent me a 3-month check-in and here’s what she had to say: “As I returned to work after vacation I was really grateful to feel how much I appreciate and truly enjoy the work … I'm doing work I enjoy, building relationships, using nearly the full range of my skills, learning a ton, and doing so in a context where I feel like the work matters. It's great!”
And here’s what she had to say about our coaching sessions together: “Thanks, Emily!! I really, truly could not have done it without you!!! I have learned SO MUCH from our sessions and your resources, and your insightful, supportive coaching was a game-changer for me. It helped me go from feeling like I needed to apologize and explain where I was coming from to walking (figuratively) into video calls feeling confident about what I had to offer and knowing that what I needed to learn didn't need to be a dealbreaker.” Woohoo! I am so proud of you, Helen!
ETHAN
Ethan came to me as a recent graduate who was not finding luck in the job search. He had graduated the year before and was having a tough time finding his first “real job” out of college. He had gotten a few contract gigs, but nothing panned out after the contracts were over. He was still living at home, and both he and his parents were eager for him to find a job and move out on his own.
I had recently helped Ethan’s dad get a new job, so he thought I’d be able to help his son too. Ethan and I worked together for three months, during which time we crafted his story, updated his personal brand, made changes to his resume, and totally revamped his LinkedIn profile.
Within three days of updating his LinkedIn profile, Ethan had five recruiters reach out to him. Now he was getting traction! (Read more of Ethan's story below.)
Yes! That’s how you do it! And boy, did the recruiters deliver.
After exploring a few leads from recruiters, Ethan found a company and role that interested him. He sailed through two rounds of interviews and was offered a job at a company he likes, doing work that interests him, at a salary he is happy with. As Ethan says, “I enjoy this job quite a bit!” He has since moved out on his own and both he and his parents are thrilled. Congratulations on your first “real” job, Ethan!
NADINE
Nadine contacted me for advice about changing careers. She had been working as a contractor for a company she enjoyed, but after she returned from maternity leave, she found new leadership at the company had completely changed the company’s mission, values, and culture. She felt it was time to leave the company, but when is the right time? What should she do next? What kind of company did she want to work for next?
Nadine is highly valued in her field, so finding a new job wouldn’t be a problem, but she wanted to make sure she was moving into the right kind of company doing the right kind of work. She didn’t want to be a contract employee anymore either, she was looking for a full-time job and a bump in pay. (Read more of Nadine's story below.)
I’m happy to report Nadine landed a new job at a company that suits her, and they value her input too. She was happy with the job offer, but I encouraged her to ask for more money. In the end, she doubled the salary she made at her contract job (which was already a good salary to begin with) and she’s working on a product she’s excited about. "This feels good, I'm in the right spot," she said. Onwards and upwards, Nadine!
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What others are saying:
"I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!! Your coaching was tremendous. Honestly, Emily, I NEVER would have gone into that interview with the confidence I had if you hadn't been such a HUGE support." - Caroline L.
"Emily, you are AMAZING. I can’t thank you enough. Because of you, I’m in a new job that I love and I doubled my salary! I am so grateful for your advice and support, it was truly life-changing." - Helena M.
"Thank you, Emily, thank you. YOU are a life-changer! You helped ease almost all of my career and networking worries, and because of you, I'm inspired to believe that anything is possible ... Throughout our meetings, I have felt how much you care about me and my future success. You've made such an impact on me with your support and guidance, and I am eternally grateful to you." - Mavis M.
“In a word, Emily’s work is life-changing. I always knew what I wanted to do, but the tools she gave me will allow me to bring my career to the next level. She is knowledgeable, engaging, and meets you at your level. I truly can’t recommend her enough.” - Caroline M.
"Thank you for always providing such an uplifting and high-energy environment in our meetings -- I am learning so many skills that I know I will carry with me for years and years to come." - Katherine S.
"Talking with you gave me new confidence, pulled me up, and re-motivated me when I was feeling stuck and confused. You were more helpful than you will ever know. I want to thank you for your enthusiasm." - Maria M.
"Working with Emily was without a doubt the best investment I've ever made in my career! I have been raving about working with her to anyone who will listen! As an under-employed, mid-career mom, I was struggling with the confidence and skills to make a pivot. Emily provided invaluable resources and supportive coaching that enabled me to set ambitious goals for myself and market my skills and experience with assurance. There were points in the process where I doubted it was going to work for me, but I stuck with it and ended up landing a job that not only meets my short-term goals, but leaves me well-positioned for future career growth. There is no doubt in my mind that Emily's coaching made all the difference for me. I learned ways of thinking from her that helped me bridge the gap from where I was to where I wanted to be." - Sarah S.
“I've been really intimidated by career development in the past but you have made it so motivating and enjoyable. I genuinely feel like a new person. Thank you so so much for all of your continued support and guidance.” - Ken Y.
"I learned so much and feel more prepared than ever before to begin my career post-grad. I really appreciate your support, guidance, and enthusiasm throughout our time together." - Emily H.
"The raise I asked for was approved! Thank you so much for all your guidance on that front. Honestly, I almost certainly would not have asked for a raise if it weren't for you holding me accountable. Plus your guidance on how to craft the pitch and anticipate responses not only worked but made the whole experience far less stressful. I also noted a couple of times during the conversation with my boss where I was actively using specific tips you gave me ... I'm enormously grateful to you for all of this." - Dan R.
"I strongly believe that every single working mom should be required to meet with Emily! As a SAHM who is in the process of figuring out career paths, Emily has equipped me with the right tools I need to plan and explore my future career. Through our meetings, she has eased almost all of my career and networking worries and has made me believe in my own limitless future ... Emily pushes her clients in the right direction and inspires them to take their careers into their own hands. The care and empathy that she gives are unmatched; she takes the time to get to know her clients to tailor her expert advice to their career needs. Emily is a valuable asset for anyone who’s ready to get serious about their career!" - Molly M.
"Looking back, I will greatly miss Emily's ability to make me feel seen and heard, and as though she had all the time in the world for me. There wasn't a meeting that went by that I did not feel that Emily was wholly invested in my current situation or problem that needed fixing. In more ways than one, she has always expressed her deepest desire to help me in whatever way I needed. This I believe is a testament to who Emily is as a person: an empathetic, deeply intuitive problem-solver with a world of creativity under her belt." - Anna P.
"Emily, you provided a critical combination of practical tools and emotional encouragement that helped me see myself and my experience through a different, more confident lens. I came into the coaching process worried about the skills and experience I didn't have and was unclear about my goals. Your process helped me hone in on my goals, my strengths, and gave me the language and confidence to position myself strategically as a viable candidate for roles I knew I could do, without caveats or apologies. Thank you!" - Sarah S.
