Q1. Who do you work with & what is your coaching style?
I work with international development, humanitarian aid, human rights, and peacekeeping professionals in different stages of their careers (young professionals, entry-level, mid/late-career, and retirement). Although each client is unique, I have a good understanding of some common challenges they may encounter.
Many of my clients have been working internationally. Their career transitions also affect their families (I also work with their accompanying spouses), so the coaching conversation often goes beyond their careers. Partnering with my clients, I take a holistic approach, focusing on their longer-term career/life satisfaction rather than just working on the technical side of the job search (CV writing, networking, interview, salary negotiation, etc., although I can also work on these). I usually start by helping clients identify their vision, values, strengths, passions, interests, and preferences. Slowing down to understand these will actually speed up the transition and contribute to their long-term life satisfaction and happiness.
Q2. What is your approach to helping clients?
Although each client's journey is unique, in many cases, I assist my client with:
- identifying career vision, values, passion, strengths, interests, and preferences (this will be achieved through the coaching sessions, but we may also use various tools between sessions). The coaching, combined with the right tools, can facilitate a reflection process to increase your self-awareness and provide better clarity,
- discovering career options aligned with the vision, values, passion, strengths, interests, and preferences identified,
- developing a realistic career strategy (networking, CV, interview, salary negotiation, etc., but also considering their long-term career goals beyond their next job) and helping the client stay focused on their career search efforts by streamlining the process,
- keeping the client motivated and accountable for taking necessary actions to land a job they love.
In addition to career transition coaching, I work with my clients on various personal/professional development topics, for example:
- Conflict management coaching (one-on-one coaching sessions to better manage workplace/personal conflicts)
- Cultivating resilience (bouncing forward)
- Overcoming imposter syndrome
- Finding a healthy work-life balance
- Creating own opportunities for racial/gender equity
- Thriving in the international development/humanitarian sector as an introvert
- Wellbeing coaching (lasting behaviour change)
- Navigating uncertainties
Q3. What do you think is the greatest challenge for career changers?
It is difficult to generalize as each person's challenges are different. For some people who go through international career transitions, their challenges might be how their move could affect the career of their partner/spouse. For some people, it might be a long career gap in their resume because they have been taking care of their families. For others, it might be a lack of suitable opportunities in their new location. But I think many people struggle to shift their focus from "What can I do?" to "What do I really want to do?". Focusing only on what is available publicly (open vacancy announcements) may lead to a sense of resentment in the long term.
The coaching can facilitate a reflection process to increase your self-awareness (your career/life vision, values, passion, strengths, interests, and preferences) and provide better clarity to find a career you love. A career coach can also help you design a realistic plan to achieve your goals so you can see a clear path to your goals. This will also contribute to your enjoyment and happiness in moving towards your goal.
Q4. How fast can I see the result? / I am very busy - Do you have any solutions for me?
How committed are you to making this change happen? Career (and any other) transition takes some time. That is why we made different packages. By investing in a package, you are making a commitment that you will put in the time and effort needed to set yourself up for success. We kept our package small enough so that you can complete the sessions within 12 months. Please note that our average client takes a minimum of 4-hour sessions to get clarity in their career journey. That is why most of our packages start with 4 hours.
How might you prioritize your already busy schedule and set aside the time required to make this change happen? A career coach can help you develop a realistic career strategy (including prioritization and time management!).
Q5. What if I land a job before completing the 4-hour package?
You can use the remaining hours for various topics to support your transition into a new role (navigating onboarding, preparing for your first performance review, conflict management in the workplace, etc.). Unused credits are refundable upon written request within twelve (12) months of the original purchase date. All refunds are subject to a twenty-five dollar (US$25) administration fee, and the time we have spent together will be converted to the regular session price. You will be notified of the remaining amount in your package to be refunded.
Q6. Why do you provide career transition coaching for people leaving the humanitarian aid and international development field?
For people who served in other functions (for example, the military), there may be some resources/support available (depending on the country they are from) if they transition into civilian life. Unfortunately, in many cases, there's no such support for people who served humanitarian causes if they decide to go back to their home country before their retirement. The coaching can facilitate a reflection process to increase your self-awareness (your career/life vision, values, passion, strengths, interests, and preferences) and better clarify your long-term vision and where you might fit in a new environment. This will benefit both you and your loved ones. A career coach can also help you design a realistic plan to achieve your goals.
Q7. Why do you provide trauma-informed coaching?
Many of my clients work in humanitarian, human rights, international development, peacekeeping and other impact sectors. I am conscious that these professionals often work in remote, insecure environments and are exposed to potentially traumatic events (what is considered a traumatic event for one individual may not be traumatic for another person), such as kidnapping, physical assaults, accidents, armed attacks, war, rapes, sexual abuse/assaults, torture, riots, mob violence, death of colleagues, etc. The other more common workplace trauma may include racism, bullying, intimidation, poor work-life boundaries, isolation, job insecurity, etc.. Some people may have also experienced trauma outside of their professional lives. If they work in the field, away from family, they may have a lot going on back home (separation, divorce, death of loved ones, etc.), too.
While in a helping profession (international development, humanitarian, human rights, peacekeeping professionals, etc.), we often forget about our own care. It is essential for people in helping professions to be able to seek support when needed. If the person leaves the sector, there's often no ongoing support for the individual, or people do not know where to turn to for support. That is why I also work with people who have left the field.
Q8. Can trauma-informed coaches treat trauma?
No - We do not treat trauma - But as a trauma-informed coach, I am aware of all the nuances of working with clients who have experienced trauma, mindful of potential triggers that may arise during coaching sessions. I prioritize creating a safe and trusting space for my clients.
"Trauma-informed coaching is the practice of understanding the presence of trauma in a coach-client relationship and how to use it as a guide for resilience and solution-forward resolution. The depth of information and skill to 'hold' a space for profound coaching work is what gives Trauma-informed coaching its nuance and strength. Trauma-informed coaches have training in client regulation, brain-body connection, behavioral reaction, different types of traumas, leading causes, and subsequent symptoms. They have learned the proper channels for referral and the growing relationship between clinical professionals, therapists, and coaches." - Brad Hardie, Moving the Human Spirit
Trauma can significantly impact an individual's life and career, including decision-making, action-taking, secure sense of identity, perceptions of safety and belonging, interactions with others, boundary-setting, etc. As a Trauma-Informed Certified Coach (TICC), I have an understanding of how trauma affects clients, can effectively support them as they pursue their goals, and also know when to refer a client to other professionals.
Q9. How can I redeem coaching sessions?
Once purchased, you will receive a link to schedule all your sessions.
- If you purchased a 1-hour coaching service: You can redeem 1 x 1-hour virtual coaching session or 2 x 30-minute virtual coaching sessions.
- If you purchased a 3-hour package: You can redeem a total of 180 minutes with any combination of 1-hour, 45-minute, or 30-minute virtual coaching sessions.
- If you purchased a 4-hour package: You can redeem a total of 240 minutes with any combination of 1-hour, 45-minute, or 30-minute virtual coaching sessions.
- Interview coaching and application documents review (CV/cover letter) will be counted as 2-hour sessions (one-hour virtual session + coach's review time).
Q10. How do I know if we are a good fit?
During the initial 60-minute introductory coaching, I will ask questions to learn about your needs - your career goals, challenges, and what you are looking for from coaching. I will also explain my coaching approach and answer any questions you may have so that you can see if we are a good fit and make informed decisions.
Q11. I am interested. How can I get started?
Please purchase and schedule a 60-minute virtual (Zoom) introductory coaching session so that we can discuss how we can work together.