Regained Mojo and Created Personal Brand to Propel Consultancy Business
For a while I’d felt something was missing from my business model, and me. I allocated time to plan a new strategy but the work I was offered continued to be reactive to the varied demands of my network. I delivered great work, but it left me unfulfilled and often felt under-rewarded for the value I delivered.
I was disappointed with how I portrayed my expertise to others to put me in this position. Inside, I knew it was time to reshape or re-invent my proposition and a personal recommendation led me to contact you.
Our extended coffee conversation and your subsequent proposal showed you understood me and my situation. Most of all, you clearly knew how to help me recover my mojo, develop a new personal brand, and attract high-impact projects that better matched my core expertise.
You set me at ease from the get-go and I thoroughly enjoyed working with you. You challenged me, uncovered actionable insights, and gave me proven new self-confidence. The lessons I learned and the self presentation skills I gained are now embedded in my approach.
Working with you has brought a new focus to my business, given me a new purpose, and recovered my enjoyment of work. Now I only accept engagements that match my core expertise while providing significant impact and value for clients. I now say ‘No’ to opportunities that don’t fit my core expertise so I can say a bigger ‘Yes’ to those that do.
Such is the impact of working with you, I would like to engage you for quarterly reviews and accountability. Employers conduct such reviews as a norm, so it’s now a no-brainer for me to do the same for myself and my business of one.
I 100% recommend you, Ian. You know this as I have already referred you to others in my network and they engaged your services for the same reasons as me. I know you will make a big difference to their businesses too.
Roger Hiscott, Caerleon
Grew in Confidence to Achieve Professional Goals
Finding myself at a crossroad I sought out Ian’s support and through his inspiring, insightful and empathetic style I have grown in confidence, achieved my personal and professional goals. Absolutely an amazing experience with a genuine and professional coach and person.
Craig Milgate-Hewer, Newport
Secured Desired Role Following Career Break
Finding a new job without the structure and disciplines of a work environment can be disorientating. I was not making enough progress and looked for professional guidance to secure my next role. Ian’s free career strategy session helped me understand how his expertise would help me achieve my goal.
Ian’s coaching framework and methods encourage discipline, as does his role as an accountability partner. His gentle nudges, as he calls them, kept me on track without ever leaving me feeling under pressure.
Ian asked me challenging questions which helped distil the real value I deliver and took me through a process which enabled me to build a clearer picture of what a great role and employer looks like for me. This focused my CV and LinkedIn profile, and directed my interview approach for several target jobs.
From the start, Ian said that we would be working together to help me find the job I desired, not any job. That’s reassuring, because it can sometimes feel like you’re not in control of what positions you can go for. With the help of his coaching I stuck to my guns, didn’t settle for any compromises and did find the job I desired. Ian readily gave his time to make that happen. I have already introduced a friend to Ian and would unreservedly recommend him to anyone who is looking to make their next role a really good fit. Many thanks Ian!
Tom, Oxfordshire
Career Coaching to Focus Direction and Raise Aspirations
When I came to a point in my career where I needed some expert guidance, Ian was my go-to expert.
I’ve known Ian since we first met a few years ago at a networking group. He was always generous with his time and supportive of his network associates. He clearly cared about the success of others, which shone throughout his work with me.
His logical, structured coaching approach and wisdom has been massively insightful at this stage of my career journey. It’s challenged my thinking and I have been genuinely delighted by the outcomes.
He’s a top-notch career coach who has made a substantial impact on my career aspirations, and created a CV and the belief that will take me there.
Julia DeBattista, Caerphilly
From Redundancy to Dream Job
Working with you showed me how to present my skills so my age is irrelevant. I no longer needed to resign myself to the low income roles recruiters were offering me. Instead I now have an exciting role with a company that values my abilities and experience. Happy days!
I found you on LinkedIn when two months of fruitless job searching and recruiter negativity was getting to me. This all changed from day one on your programme as you increased my confidence in leaps and bounds. In particular, your career review process enabled me to recognise, value and take pride in my achievements.
Following your comprehensive preparation, several opportunities arose by using your methods. I accepted an offer from my new employer as the MD was keen to acquire my skills to increase profits. With a package and prospects to suit, I can now start thinking again about life’s extras and holidays.
I reached my goal because you delivered everything you promise throughout the entire programme. What I didn’t expect is that you would also uncover opportunities for me too.
I used similar service years ago but your programme is so much better. Your active, personal approach throughout kept me focused on the prize. I know this was a major factor in securing my target role.
Simon B, Magor
Creating CV and Building Confidence to Win Contract
Your coaching allowed me to reflect on a varied career and fully appreciate my achievements. I discovered how the value I deliver made a tangible difference past employers and clients, and my new CV articulates these achievements and strengths to clearly position me as an expert in my sector. This would not have happened without your expertise.
I won a major six-month contract using your approach. Your concise, punchy CV wording made it easy to convey my career highlights to stand out in the online application process and interviews.
Engaging you has increased my confidence in my abilities and services as, like many, I was my worst critic. Now the benefits from working from you stay with me everywhere I go.
Robert Chapman, Cardiff
Supported Return to Desired Position
Ian supported me for a short period of time, during which I attend a webinar and had a number of 1-2-1’s with him. The support and information that was shared was extremely valuable and a realisation to me. He supported me in getting back to where I wanted to be and I will certainly be recommending him to friends, colleagues and engaging with him in the future. #5starservice.
Andrew Morris, Chepstow
Re-Building Confidence & Career Change
“I was worried my CV pigeon-holed me when I was looking for a new career direction. This stopped me applying for a number of interesting jobs.
Although I knew I needed help, all I expected from engaging you was some clever tweaks to my existing CV. So your thought-provoking questions surprised me. They made me realise I have far more to offer my next employer than I imagined. Your approach picked out my transferrable skills, many of which I hadn’t valued or realised I possessed.
My new CV bears no relation to my old one. At first glance it was like reading someone else’s CV. I was shocked to realise what I had achieved without appreciating it, and the value I delivered for my past and current employers. The way you describe my profile, experience and achievements makes me very proud of my record. This has boosted my confidence no end.
Within a day or two of submitting my CV to online portals, the quality of job enquiries I started receiving jumped. Instead of chasing jobs and recruiters, they were contacting me. I even got calls from headhunters, much to my surprise.
I feel truly fulfilled for the first time in a long time even though I have chosen not to move for the time-being for personal reasons. With the confidence boost you delivered through your coaching and creation of my new CV, my job satisfaction has dramatically increased as have the results I am achieving for my employer. When I do decide to move on, I now know my true value and have a CV proven to get my phone ringing.”
Update 18 months later . . .
“With my new found confidence I took a leap of faith six months after working with you and haven’t looked back since.
My first year being self-employed has just ended and I’m looking forward to Year 2. I cannot believe how much I am enjoying myself and reaping the rewards from my success.
I had no idea of my own capabilities until you gave me the confidence to rely on them. The way you helped me to take stock of my career and your subsequent advice has had a huge knock on effect on my life, my projects and my wellbeing. THANK YOU – that’s a big thank you! :)”
Rose Bell, Flintshire
Career Jump from Self-Employment to Employment Abroad
“Friends who had taken the same path said it would take at least 6-8 months to get a job in Australia. I targeted 3-4 months, and yet your system got me my ideal role in just 4 weeks!
My plans were rapidly drifting off course when I got in touch with you again. The CV you had previously written had helped me win better consulting contracts and boosted my LinkedIn presence. But these alone were not making it happen for me in my goal to move from self-employment to join a large agency.
You taught me strategies to make connections with target companies and influencers, which are beneficial to them and more natural for me. This framework uncovered job opportunities and delivered almost immediate results. Online interviews and face-to-face UK interviews quickly followed, and your coaching ahead of each interaction was invaluable in obtaining a successful outcome.
Within four weeks of using your methods and following your guidance, I secured my ideal job with the ideal company. Far quicker than others had said is possible and on a package significantly higher than I anticipated achievable. As an extra, I have also quickly developed a strong network I can continue to engage with when I arrive in Australia. I could not be happier with your service or my new role.”
Russell Britton, Bridgwater (now Sydney, Australia)
From Redundancy to Dream Job
Just over 9 weeks ago I would never have believed I would now be in my dream job. Yet my joy now is far different from how I felt before I started your programme. My unexpected redundancy had dropped my confidence to an all time low.
My job searching found few jobs that seemed to fit my skills and my applications got me nowhere. I was scared of what my future held and did not know how to turn things around.
From our first meeting, my confidence and self-esteem jumped when you helped me realise my transferable skills and career achievements. Your insightful questions found them all and then used them to create a brilliant CV and LinkedIn profile.
By following your methods and systematic approach, I started to uncover opportunities and help that I never expected. The language, wording and structure you provided made it easy to follow and achieved results. At each stage my confidence grew, greatly helped by your gentle cajoling and accountability skills.
Everything came together when your strategy and tactics connected me to this opportunity. I emailed my new CV and got an interview within 15 minutes. Wow! Your interview coaching showed me how to stand out from another candidate and get my dream job.
I haven’t felt this excited to go to work for over 20 years. That’s all down to you, Ian. Without your coaching and advice I would still be in the same position as when I engaged your services. Now I am happy in my work and life could not be better.
Helen Hare, Cardiff
Achieving a New Role After Redundancy
“Following unexpected redundancy I knew I needed a stand out CV to promote my skills and experience. As I wanted to get my CV in front of recruiters before going on holiday, Ian arranged to quickly meet with me out of hours to discuss how he could help. He openly described his service options and let me decide which would best suit me. I found this approach helpful and very engaging. I made my choice and we agreed an intense programme of events in order to complete the work within my 10-day deadline.
From working with Ian it is evident he has a wide range of experience in relation to this field and provided helpful advice throughout. His excellent questioning and coaching skills challenged me to reflect on my career to date. This uncovered key achievements and strengths for my new CV, which immediately connects with recruiters and employers when I am applying for new roles.
I found Ian’s style to be very supportive and he worked extremely hard to complete the work within the tight deadline, including some work above and beyond my expectation. That’s why I will engage him again for future work in this field and will recommend him to others who would benefit from his services.”
Roger Powell, Newport
Moving from Self-Employment to Employment
“Moving from self-employment to employment was more difficult than I expected. I was unaware how the quality of my CV affected my ability to secure an interview. I thought my successful work history would easily sell me to prospective employers but my old CV got no feedback at all. Not even a single call.
I looked at a number of CV writers but felt their approach would do no more than tinker with a CV that did not work, leaving me out of pocket and no further towards my goal. My brother put me in contact with you and I quickly found out that you know exactly how to make my experience and skills attractive to potential employers. A couple of days after getting my new CV, I applied for a great job and received a phone call the same afternoon. I quickly secured this role for a project that really interested me.
When applying for new job in another country a year later, I realised how easily and succinctly I was able to answer their online questionnaire and test. This was down to the coaching you provided as part of your CV creation process. You won’t be surprised to learn that I got this job too.
When I came to you for a new CV that is exactly what I expected to receive. You delivered a CV that produced results far quicker than I could have dreamt. You also gave me the skills to communicate with future employers in a way that readily connects with them and places me as an ideal person to help them achieve their goals. Thank you for all your help.”
Colin Wilson, Northern Ireland (though currently working in India)