jody@beckercareercoaching.com

lead your career

change your job or industry

advance in your organization

navigate career headwinds

build your brand and get noticed

kickstart outreach and engagement

my career story

I’ve devoted my own career to serving and helping others. After completing my graduate degree in counseling psychology, I chose my first professional role in undergraduate career services, specifically to enable young adults who were just starting out to explore their interests and career options. I conducted countless coaching sessions with liberal arts majors and honed my skills listening, observing and distilling the essence of an individual’s preferences and motivators. A career coach is a valued sherpa.

When I made an industry transition from higher ed to corporate, I expanded my skills in adult learning and curriculum design, developing content, resources and tools to enable individual contributors and mid to senior level managers become more self aware and intentional about behaviors that boost career success or derail progress. In turn, this has provided me with strong coaching skills at the intersection of career, personal and leadership development. I use these skills daily to help individuals create a compelling career narrative and brand, navigate complex scenarios in a current role to position for advancement, land new jobs and start off strong in a brand new role.

After many years in corporate, followed by robust enterprise level engagements with clients as an external consultant, I chose to return to higher education career services. Working with MBAs, both as students and thriving alumni professionals at all levels, has been a joy as I’ve coached seekers and advancers during the creation and evolution of new roles and career pathways, such as product management and the explosion of early stage tech across industries, private equity and venture. Through robust markets and downturns, and shifting workplace norms and values, I’ve enabled countless individuals to flourish through change and positive movement.

My coaching practice thrives on my strong relationship and partnering skills, business acumen and experiences, career agility, and staying true to my core values. My coaching coaching commitments to you are outlined below.

My coaching commitments to you

A place to express and reflect on your ideas and concerns, gain expert perspective and a reality check.

A judgment free zone away from friends and family offering well-meaninged advice.

A confidential source for identifying and weighing the pros and cons of staying in your current role or making a change.

Tailored strategies and tactics to structure your activities and accelerate your progress.

Deft guidance on ‘sticky wicket’ scenarios, such as navigating internal politics and perceived barriers to advancement.

coaching scenarios

BCC tackles your career questions and concerns with precision, speed and empathy

sharpen my career focus

I can’t find any jobs that I am qualified for.
I can’t find any job titles that match what I am looking for. What should I do?
Should I apply to jobs I don’t have the stated qualifications for? Is it worth it?
Can I apply to more than one job at a company I am interested in? Isn’t that confusing?
Should I take a lower level role just to get experience?
I’ve never really had a dream job in mind. Is something wrong with me?
I have a dream company but there never seems to be any jobs open.
I feel stagnant in my career.
How do I know what careers are best for me? Aren’t there tests I can take?

improve my story and professional image

My resume and LinkedIn profile need a once over; I’m getting ignored by recruiters.
How can I shift to a new job function if I don’t have experience in it?
I left my last job under weird circumstances. How do I talk about why I left?
I don’t feel I have the right profile for the jobs I really want.
How do I break into a new industry that values experience, even if I have the skills?
I don’t feel I’m qualified for the jobs I really want.
How do I stand out from all the other qualified candidates out there?
How do I talk about why I left my last job?
I got laid off from my last job and I’ve been looking now for a long time. How do I explain my gap?

kickstart my networking and outreach

I’ve sent outreach emails and I never get a reply. What’s the point?
I have a meet up scheduled with a new contact but I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.
I hate networking. Do I have to?
Should I include my resume in an outreach email?
How much time do I ask for in an informational interview?
Should I message a recruiter I don’t know on LinkedIn?
What do I say in a cold outreach email?
Should I send a second outreach email if my first one was ignored?
Why would someone meet with me if they don’t have any jobs open?
How do I keep the relationship going after I already met with someone?
How do I remind people that I am still looking for a new job?
How do I reach out to someone I have not spoken to in years? Isn’t that awkward?

ace my job interviews

I’m having a second round interview, and it’s a group format. What should I expect?
I’ve had lots of interviews but I’m not getting any offers. What am I doing wrong?
What’s the best way to prepare for interviews? I feel like I freeze up and forget everything.
What do I do if I get asked a question during an interview that I don’t have an answer for?
All my interviews have been remote. I don’t feel like interviewers can really get to know me.
What are good questions I can ask at the end of an interview?
I have an interview with a senior manager and I’m not sure what different questions I will be asked.
What’s the best way to learn more about a company I am going to interview with?
How long should my “tell me about yourself” answer be?
If I interview with several people, do I have to send a thank you email to each one?

manage employer communications

I’ve applied to tons of jobs and I never hear back. What am I doing wrong?
How do I find someone in the company to reach out to?
How can I get a recruiter’s attention?
Who should I reach out to when I apply to a job - a recruiter or the hiring manager?
I had a great first interview but now I haven’t heard back from the recruiter; what should I do?
The recruiter said I would advance to the next round but it’s been a week since they said they would get back with me to schedule. What should I do?
My friend referred me to a hiring manager in the company but I haven’t heard anything; What should I do?
I don’t think my conversation with the recruiter went well. What do I do now?
If I need to reschedule a final interview, will it reflect poorly on me?
Do I really need to write a cover letter for every job I apply to?

steer my comp, offers and negotiations

What do I enter for salary expectations on a job application? I don’t want to get excluded.
How do I ask my manager for a raise?
I got an offer but the comp is lower than I expected. How do I negotiate?
Isn’t it better to name a salary expectation above what I really will accept?
Is having a competing job offer better to negotiate for more comp?
I’ve never negotiated a job offer. What should I be asking for?
Whom do I negotiate with - the recruiter or the hiring manager?
I asked for more comp and the recruiter said no. Now what?
Are there things I can negotiate for other than comp?
I just accepted a job offer as a “safety” but now I’ve changed my mind. How do I handle this?

advance in my current organization

I think my manager is keeping me from being promoted.
How do I have a conversation with my manager about my future? Isn’t that risky?
I am not sure how to navigate all the politics in my company. I don’t want to seem like I am complaining.
I’m being vetted by a senior manager in another area of my company and I am not sure how to handle it with my current manager.
How do I network within my company? Isn’t that awkward?
I really like my company but I am not sure there is any more growth potential here. What should I do?
I’m feeling stuck in my current job.
Should I disclose to my current manager that I am looking for a new job - she knows a lot of people?
I’m kind of bored with my current job but I really like the people. What should I do?
How do I keep my current company from learning that I am looking for a new job?

ratchet up my job search

How much time should I be spending on a job search?
How can I stay motivated?
How do I keep track of all of my activities?
How many jobs is it realistic to apply to?

Contact me for introductions: jody@beckercareercoaching.com or leave a voice message at 1-708-400-9039.

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