Think Forward

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A couple of years ago, my friend finished a job she had been in for years. She was burned out, in need of a break, and wanted a new challenge. She sought out a Career Coach (Penny) to help her revisit her skills and preferences for work, and it resulted in a job she really enjoyed. It was also a job she would never have applied for without these sessions. 

Her story has stayed with me, and I contacted Penny for an initial session last year. She gave me some good things to think about, helping me to think about shaping my current role to be a better fit, and to think about kind of job I would like to get in the future. And a few months ago, I signed up to do a series of sessions. 

The first tasks involved an online questionnaire, and completing a number of tasks to help me understand how I prefer to work. The questionnaire resulted in a Personality Profile, most of which rang completely true. Reading it helped to unlock some realisations around where my abilities lie, where the pitfalls may be, and how to focus on my best skills. It also helped me understand why recent job roles have not felt satisfying, because they have not mirrored the circumstances that fit me well. 

Since then she has helped to re-write my CV using all of the information gleaned from the tasks I completed, and she is helping me approach companies and apply for job. But what has been the real eye-opener for me has been rediscovering some qualities and preferences which have been hidden and forgotten. It has felt like a really big and positive development, impacting my work life but also others areas of life. It has reminded me of passions I have and given me hope that I can once again utilise my time and personality to do good work.

2019 was the beginning of a lot of change... a lot of which felt like loss! But now, in 2024, it feels like some of the pieces are coming back together. So thank you, Penny, and thank you, God, for being the original Giver of every good gift. 




Some highlights from the Personality Profile:
  • I am a natural team leader, needing to understand who is doing what, by when, and what I need to do. Sometimes too much! I have to literally button my lip if there is no clear leader. 
  • I am cautious of new ideas - I like to be convinced, and given time to think through a new concept. I would prefer to stick to tried-and-tested methods... with a tweak here and there. My scores for spontaneity, imagination and creativity were super-low... 
  • I hate jargon and lofty concepts - my feet are firmly on the ground, and I am interested in facts and reality. So it takes time to see things from another angle.
  • I love people - empathetic conversations, emotional engagement, and socialising. 

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