From Eliminated Position to Illuminated Life - A Kaptivate Client Story
By Katy Zasada, Team Facilitator & Goal Executioner - Kaptivate Career Coaching Client
“I was feeling lost from a personal lack of concrete near-term goals for my family, and was determined to use the lay off as an opportunity for finding my next dream career AND dream lifestyle.”
This summer on any other normal day at work, I heard the most unexpected and shocking words uttered out of my boss and friend of 4.5 years’ mouth: “Unfortunately, we are eliminating the director of accounts position. You don’t have to stay until the end of the month if you don’t want to. I’m so sorry.” Um, what?!
After the hazy shock of this lay off somewhat cleared, and the initial anger, sadness, disappointment and fright about next steps simmered oh-so-slightly, I realized I could only look forward to my future with an open heart, open mind, and courage. I had been complacent and hadn’t pushed my boundaries or been out of my comfort zone in a while. So, it was time. But still, the thought of moving away from the comfortability and seeming stability prior to the lay off seemed to be too much: too much effort, too much time, too much soul searching, too much unknown. Well, now I had no choice but take the plunge!
Where to begin? I hadn’t necessarily been utilizing my public relations graduate degree or marketing skills to the fullest potential in years, and needed to redetermine my passions, interests, values, and skills, not to mention assess what type of industry and career I wanted to land. I wanted to take this time as an opportunity to truly suss out what would make me happy, fulfilled, and able to provide for my family.
Coach Kate was the answer to all of the above, and then some.
From the very first phone call to the introductory/prep email to the first in-person meeting, Kate is a radiating beacon of light, positivity, brilliance and calm confidence. I was excited, willing to dive in deep, a bit trepidatious for what we would uncover, and always confident I was in an amazing coach and friend’s hands.
The “Katy Discovers Career, Vision & Path Forward For A Flourishing Life” program outcomes were clearly defined from the get-go:
An arsenal of tools that are introspective, fun and actionable!*
Improved vision of yourself, capabilities and opportunities
Identified career direction(s) for research (or business models to investigate if you go down entrepreneurial path)
Updated professional presence, resume(s) and application/pitching/connectworking strategy
Clear vision of and milestones to your future, with confidence and motivation in your path forward
After several weeks of working together, I had determined my VALUES that not only drive my life but are necessary for my next career to exude, my top SKILLS and TALENTS, my STRENGTHS, and my summary statement. Pretty amazing after essentially starting from just above scratch, eh?! And, when I was ready, the first job I applied for emailed me back within a week for an interview!!!
My non-traditional, authentic Katy outreach to a company CEO after a networking event worked - not only getting a response that I was more than prepared to answer (yes, he cares about strengths and values!), but also eventually getting invited to a pancake breakfast to meet their whole team and talk opportunities.
Working with Coach Kate gave me the confidence and words to just “reach out” to pitch myself to a company I admired even when they don’t have jobs listed. Not only am I continuing to use this approach successfully to create dialogue and craft opportunities, but through it I’ve also learned how to analyze cultures and people for a true fit - while trusting my gut.
Interested in adding Katy to your team? Connect with her on LinkedIn!
Thanks to Kate and our exercises and “funwork,” I had an arsenal of materials: Worksheets with my authentic self outlined, a ginormous Job Tracker workbook, book recommendations, PDF guidebooks on negotiation and portfolio development, a shiny new badass resume and messaging, and most importantly -- Kate’s constant support. *
All the hands-on work we did to uncover my values, strengths, unique skills and talents came together in a messaging tab in the “Getting the Job Tracker”, making it fast and easy to customize resumes, cover letters and pitches and prepare for interviews and “connectworking,” as Kate calls it.*
The “Getting the Job Tracker” helps guide and keep tabs on every step of the process so that you stay aligned with yourself and vision - such as taking the time to build understanding of a company and culture as a whole, not just jumping at a role or salary.*
“The Katy I am now versus the lost Katy I was when I began Kate’s program is armed with new knowledge, new practices, new vision, new power, new confidence. ”
This all may sound a bit overwhelming, and indeed, when the negative or overwhelming inner thoughts would occasionally bubble up, Kate would always provide simple solutions to help overcome or manage my feelings of self-doubt and anxiety. And perhaps more importantly, would acknowledge that what I was feeling was OK and normal.
We’re still working together on my audacious goals milestones and roadmap, but the Katy I am now versus the lost Katy I was when I began Kate’s program is armed with new knowledge, new practices, new vision, new power, new CONFIDENCE.
And I have Coach Kate’s brilliant and patient self and career coaching program to thank a million times over!
Interested in adding Katy to your network?
*Some of the information contained herein is based on content derived by Inner Compass Coach, LLC. Reproduction of this material without express permission of ICC and Kaptivate, LLC is strictly prohibited.