We work for the benefit and satisfaction of our clients, the following stories and feedback sum up what we do:
Having served 22 Years in the British Army it was time for me to get a new career, I had no option about this, and I had been mindful of this career change for some years and had gained a good education including an MBA.
During my MBA studies I met a work colleague who was changing careers and moving on to be a management trainer, six thinking hats, mind mapping and so on. I like this stuff, got on with the guy and decided to get into this field.
I cracked on and completed my study and then turned to my new career, I was very sure of the direction I wanted to go in. At this point the career coaching network agreed to take me on as a client on their career coaching programme . I said 'Sure, it will reaffirm my current aspirations to start my own company as a trainer.'
As it turned out I couldn't have been more wrong, having spent many hours studying; I had decided my next career on a whim.
the career coaching network's programme really helped me to identify my true abilities and where they would be best put to use, I ended up going down the path of project management, something that seemed so obvious that I had virtually ignored it; where I go on that path and how far I get along it is up to me but at least I am on the right path. I believe working through the programme has helped me to avoid one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
Having been an established manager for over 22 years in various industries, I came to a cross roads in July 2008 where I took the opportunity of redundancy. I wanted to stop and rethink my career, what I had been doing, I wasn't sure if I was enjoying it anymore and wanted some time to think about other career options. Unfortunately I didn't know how to go about it. I also felt the pressure from myself and others that being in work, any work was better than no work. I took a job that ticked several boxes, right salary, only 50 minutes from home, could comfortably do the job.
6 months later I realised that I wasn't enjoying it, I wasn't using my strengths, I felt undervalued, I felt I was wasting my life and wasn't being myself but decided to make the most of it and stop moaning.
I embarked on the career coaching network programme a bit skeptical and unsure what to expect. I worried about what my coach would think, what if I could not do some things, I was not sure how to prepare for the sessions would he think me lazy or unprofessional. My niggley fears were groundless. The process felt comfortable, encouraging and realistic, I never felt silly or vulnerable. Over 4 sessions I felt I was really exploring me, what was really important to me, what made me feel good, what makes me tick. Towards the end of the process I felt very empowered and comfortable with the decisions I had made about my future. I have probably 18 years left in the work place why not do a job or have a business that I want to do?
I will set up my own business in estate management, a business playing to all my strengths in an environment that feels important to me where I can be completely myself. Barriers!! There aren't any, only things I don't know yet, the prospect is exciting and all doable.
I wish to thank the career coaching network for not only keeping the momentum going but allowing me to see the wood for the trees in my own way.
What some of our other clients have said about their experiences, our programme and our coaches ...
I would just like to say thank you to all of the coaching professionals who decided to offer this out to friends and family. It was my friend who made the suggestion to me and my coach was, of course, allocated to me as we did not know one another. Notwithstanding that, I have been and continue to be in complete awe of my coaches skills. It is as if she has known me all my life and I feel totally relaxed talking to her. I am absolutely sure that all of the candidates have enjoyed the experience and benefitted as much from it as I have and hopefully, will continue to do so!! Thank you!! GD
The face to face contact has been fantastic. Having a person listen and draw out information from the exercises has been very enlightening. It has given me time to reflect on my own career path, something I had never considered. I particularly got a lot from the autobiography. I was very honest and imparted a great deal of trust in my coach. AM
The specific exercises relating to job options, particularly the 'Ideal Working Day' exercise, were very useful, as it forced me to really think about what I would like to get out of a career, rather than just taking each day as it comes and trying to look on the bright side of whatever opportunities arise, which is currently my outlook on life! NH
How well has your original aim been met?... 10/10... AF
My coach is brilliant. Very thought provoking, a great listener. We have an excellent rapport. AF
Thank you for allowing me to undertake this opportunity. I would certainly recommend this to my colleagues and peers. JR
It has helped me focus on what I really want out of a career, and taught me that the way I've been thinking has not necessarily been helpful in the past, i.e. I need to be more discerning when thinking about what jobs to apply for, rather than casting my net too wide. RB
The exercises are allowing me to create balance and perspective in my life. Removed fear from my decision making. Empowered me to recognise my achievements and view any confidence issues in a positive manner. The structure of the exercises, draw out your true potential and allow you to focus on key strengths. KC
How useful was the programme in helping you to decide and act on a new career direction?... 10/10 ... AW
The coaching has really explored who I am and what I need to be happy and fulfilled and it has really highlighted my skills to enable me to properly address the career to which I would be best suited. More importantly for me, and definitely not what I thought I would get out of the coaching when I started it, is that it has shown me that I am ok and that I am valuable and worth the effort which is something I have struggled with all of my life. My coach has been an enormous help in this journey for me. I am enjoying the process as we work through the exercises and in particular, how more and more information about oneself is brought to the fore which I would never have thought or recognised on my own but which is there and always has been but remains relatively untouched. It is a fascinating process - very clever. AW
It makes me take time out of busy schedule. Helped me to identify and conceptualise things about myself. Helped me to focus and analyse situations and circumstances. My coach has a very easy manner and a sense of humour. She has a way of reflecting and capturing the essence of our conversations. RL
I was unsure how the telephone coaching would work in practise but it has been a complete success. I feel that my coach is in the room with me. MB
The career coaching has made me more aware of the skills I have and has shown me that I have other skills I didn't realise I have! It has helped me to focus on my current job and come up with ways in which I can improve it. It has given me the opportunity to reflect on my future career. SC
How helpful have you found it? ... 10/10 ... GD
The best/most helpful part was the amount of introspection that was built into the exercises and the inter-linkage between one's personal constitution (values, desires etc) and professional goals. It rendered clear the importance of this inter-linkage - a fact that I had previously not considered. More than that, exercises to test one's skills set/ability was also useful, especially given the educational 'heaviness' and experience 'lightness' of my curriculum vitae. It allowed me to view the transferability of these skills more broadly than previously conceived. The assistance rendered by my coach on how to proceed and make the transition from higher education in my case, to the world of work was invaluable. I found the scenario-planning exercises in which I had to sketch out how to proceed in obtaining my career goals extremely useful. RR
I think there were times when I questioned the utility of some of the exercises of the course - I thought there may have been too much emphasis on the 'personal' - but when reflecting on the course in its entirety, I was better able to understand its appropriateness for the overall aims of the programme. PM
How would you rate the coach you worked with?... 10/10 ... AP
My coach was excellent all round and displayed great deal of professionalism in our sessions. Importantly, this allowed her to obtain my trust very early into the programme which, to my mind was imperative. Her professionalism was also evidenced in her ability to recall what had been said in previous sessions and to understand me as a 'whole' and this allowed for a significant degree of continuity in the programme. For me, the sessions were more about talking things through with a friend/confidante than with a coach, which made the programme a success for me. There was a great deal of flexibility that I really appreciated. She was a repository of excellent ideas and information, and her ability to make sense of my unconstructed thoughts and ideas helped me in clarifying issues/ideas that I struggled with. Her advice too was excellent, measured and 'of the real world'. She encouraged to me to pursue ideas/goals that I thought may be fanciful, and was able to imbue a sense of confidence in me. All round, I think she is a fantastic career coach and is a tremendous asset to CCN! AP
I think the programme overall was excellent. DB
I have never spent any time at all on myself in such a positive, constructive manner. I really enjoy the detail which emerges each session, giving me more and more insight into how I tick and what would be best for me - I have never looked at anything I have done in that way - it has always been what is there at the time and what I have felt able to do - never really out of my comfort zone. Now I see I have other skills I should have used, but more importantly didn't have the confidence to use years ago. DR
It was a pleasure to undertake this programme and I think the benefits garnered from it are immeasurable! I firmly believe that what I learned throughout the course will have an enduring impact on the way I approach my working life. FI
How much have you enjoyed the programme? ... 10/10... MF
Undertaking the exercises on a weekly basis allowed me to maintain the momentum and most importantly, I had to be consistent in what I saw were my aims. Being able to talk freely with my coach was a critical part of getting my mind clear. I had already done much of the preparatory work but speaking with my coach allowed me to join these elements together, it was all enjoyable and helpful. MF
Each week we recapped things and then built on them. The sessions were never rushed and the time flew by. There was never any 'clock watching' and I enjoyed my coaches flexibility to allow us to conclude things at a natural break point. AF
I would certainly recommend my coach. Her openness, encouragement and positivity were fundamental to my time with the course. It allowed me to coagulate many things about my working life and has left me feeling satisfied. CP
After 25 years in the Royal Navy and 20 months in my current role, I was ready to conduct this 'working life audit'. It came at the right time and more importantly I was ready mentally for the commitment and the outcome. For me, the CCN programme was very enlightening. AB
It has helped solidify many issues and given me a clearer focus. DB
My coach was very good, she facilitated each session in such a manner that I could focus on things that were important to me on both a personal and professional level. Having approached the programme with an open mind and optimism, I feel as though I have 'defragmented' myself. HR
Career coaching through CCN provided excellent counsel on my transition from higher education to the world of work. Detailed, personalised coaching offered in a highly professional manner clarified critical issues in the development of my career path and goals. Coaching is an invaluable experience and is highly recommended for people wanting to make a transition in their working lives. The programme avoids a generic career counselling paradigm, instead placing emphasis on what it is we as individuals deem as important and aim to aspire to. This is an investment not only in career coaching, but an investment in life! MM
I have completed the course with clearer objectives and a strong feeling of self satisfaction and achievement. I would recommend CCN and my coach in particular, to anyone who is seeking to refresh their thinking about their future life plans. SR
How much have you enjoyed the programme? ... 10/10 ... HA
I have learnt so much about myself over the past few months. I have thoroughly enjoyed actively thinking about my values, interest and passions and recognising my strengths. The CCN offer is an amazing deal for what you get. HA
I understand myself better now than before. I had never spent much time on really identifying key aspects of my personality. Just being able to put down ideas and concepts that summarise me and my Ideal Life and Work has been useful. This has helped me change my attitude to my work in a positive way. HB
My coach was great to talk with. I really think we worked well together and that he had a good sense of who I was. MH
The structure of the course is great - its very flexible and helps you understand that you can use your strengths to do things you love and not just focus on weaknesses that need improving. MM
The final few sessions where we got down to specifics in terms of which career paths are best suited to my goals, personality and outlook on life. These were helpful because I've never really thought of matching up a career with these aspects of my personality before, such as my values and what I want out of life as a whole. It made me realise it was worth narrowing down my options to compliment other aspects of my lifestyle. NH
How would you rate the coach you worked with ... 10/10 ... GR
My coach made me feel incredibly at ease, and was always listening to everything that I said very carefully. I was nervous about starting the programme because I was worried that some of the things I was going to say may sound a bit stupid, but at no point did she make me feel that way. She also challenged some of the things I said and made me question myself, which was good as I was forced to look at things from a different point of view. GR
I can't really think of anything that needs improving. MS
The Career Coaching programme was an interesting and enjoyable one, and helped me find out a lot about how my goals and values could be complimented by a wide variety of career choices. My coach was helpful and friendly, and made me feel totally at ease talking to a stranger about some fairly personal things in some cases. I think this is a programme to go on if you're a little vague about what you want to achieve and how to achieve it, but you need to have the direction to follow through with the Action Plan at the end of it. PD
It has met my expectations and more. GH