Career Changes (and an Update) with Colleen Gray
Today’s episode is almost a two-in-one episode. Shannon is talking to Financial Gym client and Career Coach, Colleen, about ways that you can think about shifting your career in 2022 if you’re feeling like you want to be a part of the Great Resignation or you’re just starting out your career. But before we get into Colleen’s professional guidance, we get to check in on where she is personally as Colleen is a former guest on the show and a guest on what I consider one of my most memorable episodes; which was about life after bankruptcy. So I hope you enjoy seeing where Colleen’s life has gone since that fateful decision as well as enjoy her sound advice regarding career transitions.
What are we drinking?
Colleen - Cheap Aldi Wine - Winking Owl Merlot
Shannon - Nighthawk Bota Box Red Wine
Podcast Notes
AN UPDATE FROM COLLEEN
Colleen first appeared on Martinis and Your Money in October 2018 where she talked about her experience declaring bankruptcy. She first joined The Gym when things weren’t great financially, and Joy presented bankruptcy as an option.
Shannon remembers this episode very clearly. It is one that resonates with listeners and is vivid in her memory. She recalls the stories Colleen shared about having to share the news of bankruptcy with the people in her life, including her boyfriend at the time, who is now her husband.
There is a lot of stigma around bankruptcy, but there shouldn’t be. It is a great option and gives the opportunity for a fresh start.
Before working with The Gym and filing for bankruptcy, Colleen was carrying around a lot of stress and anxiety. It was a real burden. Shannon reminds us that everything we do is financially fixable. This work is some of the most important work that happens at The Gym. Colleen talks about how when she shared her details with Joy, she never flinched at ‘the mess’ she’d created.
Colleen is on the warm-up call team and loves talking with potential clients about her story. Reassuring them that it can get better and The Gym is a place that can help you, wherever you are.
There has yet to be a situation that scared The Gym. They’ve worked with over 10,000 clients at this point and have seen great transformations.
It might be a lot of work, but there is always a way forward.
COLLEEN’S PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
For years, Colleen worked in higher education as a career services advisor.
Before that, she was in school for her master’s degree, taking HR classes and found she really enjoyed them. Being in her 30’s she was worried it was too late for a career switch.
After she graduated, she put in the work to find a new job. The whole job search process came very naturally to her. That’s when she landed the job in career services. While she was working this job, she realized that while applying for jobs came naturally to her, that wasn’t the case for everyone.
She regularly helped friends and family with their resumes and interview prep. Joy recommended she turn it into a side business. That’s when Colleen Grey Careers was started! She’s worked with a number of clients through word of mouth from family and also The Financial Gym.
A few months ago, Colleen lost her job because the college where she was working closed. She now works as a recruiter for a healthcare company, which gives her an opportunity to learn new skills to bring to her coaching business as well.
Colleen loves helping folks advance in their company, find their dream jobs, and navigate career changes. Getting to really know people is a rewarding part of the job.
APPLYING FOR A NEW JOB
It can be done, but it is a lot of work.
The great resignation is happening and people are all leaving and searching for different things. With so many opportunities out there and ways to apply, where does someone even start? How do you sift through the noise and fine tune how to think about the next chapter in life?
Take 30 minutes for yourself with no distractions. Sit down and think about what you are passionate about or what will make you happy. If you could have anything in the world as a job, what would it be? You may have talents in certain areas that would make you a great candidate for a job you’ve never considered before.
From there, start researching. There are so many remote opportunities available, it’s a great time to see what’s out there. From there, look up the salary potential and make sure it will work with your needs. Some great places to do so are salary.com, GlassDoor, and PayScale
Don’t worry if you feel like you don’t have enough specific experience. Anything you’ve done in the past comes with transferable skills. Part of the application process is figuring out what those are and highlighting them in your application materials.
Have an open mind. You never know what could be a great fit. Before Colleen started her current job, recruiting wasn’t even on her radar. The interview process was energizing and made her excited about the role!
The more information you have, the better. Find people to connect with on LinkedIn and send them a message.
WHAT THE HECK ABOUT RESUMES
Avoid sending out exact copies of your resume to a number of companies.
Companies use applicant tracking systems, so using the words from the job description on your resume is important. Tailor your resume for each job you are applying for.
Find your strengths and highlight them using keywords from the job description.
To get started, open a word document and write down the core information you need: education, certification, combo of soft skills and technical skills, etc. Once you have the information, you can choose a format. The formats are functional, chronological, or a combination of both. You can get creative with it or go more classic.
Your resume is the foot in the door and the interview is where you get to sell yourself.
Know what is on your resume and be comfortable talking about all aspects of it. You never know what will stand out to an employer. Be passionate and enthusiastic about what they ask.
Your confidence level and ability to story tell when you talk about your past experiences is valuable during an interview.
WHAT ABOUT COVER LETTERS
The cover letter is an art that very few people want to believe in.
Now that Shannon is on the hiring side, she finds cover letters to be incredibly valuable.
This is where you can really get creative or go above and beyond. Sprinkle in some humor. These are more flexible than resumes and can help you stand out.
If you are really interested in the job, express those feelings in the cover letter.
PREPPING FOR THE INTERVIEW
Research the company! Know about their core values, the mission, and history.
Do a mock interview. You can do it with a friend, or a career coach like Colleen.
Be confident and tell a story. Hiring teams don’t want to hear Googled answers. They want someone who has done the work and tells the stories.
If you aren’t in the position to pay for professional help, utilize some of the incredible free resources out there. Colleen recommends The Muse and Career Contessa.
Believe in yourself and know your worth. You can do it. Put the work in and the end result will come.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is that if you feel like a career shift is for you but maybe you’re not quite sure what that looks like, hiring a coach can be a great investment for you.
Listen to Colleen talk about Bankruptcy from October 2018 here
Listen to Colleen’s Financially Naked episode with Joy Here
Random Three Questions
Tell me a positive result of the last 20 months?
Where is someplace you’d like to go if money was no object?
If you were hosting a podcast, which guest would you like to have on dead or alive?
Connect with Colleen
Email: colleengraycareers@gmail.com
Instagram: @colleengraycareers
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group, and let me know what you want to hear.
We’re in a new year and the Financial Gym has so many ways that you can work with us this year. If you’re looking for a career shift, maybe you want to become certified as a Financial Trainer and start one of the greatest careers ever, in my opinion. Or maybe you need one on one training to help with your finances, or maybe you just want to check in with a trainer every so often, or maybe you want to do online courses to brush up on some personal finance topics, OR maybe you’re in the market for a new credit card or high yield savings account and you’re wondering what’s the best choice for you.
If you fit into any of those categories or you have friends that do, you need to head over to financialgym.com and find out more. And remember that Martinis and Your Money listeners get 15% off of one-on-one financial training. We’re here to meet you wherever you are on your financial health journey and I hope we’ll see you in 2022.