Career Consulting with Nancy

Greetings!  I am delighted that you’ve taken time out of your busy schedule to learn more about my career consulting option (available either by telephone or in person). 

Below are some FAQ’s about me and my services, but first I’d like to share a little bit about how I ended up doing what I’m doing.  

How did you get to be the “Jobs and Moms Pro?”

When I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Psychology (fondly referred to as ‘Unemployment 101”) I didn’t have the foggiest notion what I wanted to do with my life.  But knowing my parents were not going to keep me on the family payroll forever, I decided I better go out and just find a job.   

I spent the first few years of my career as a management trainee with AT&T, followed by a job as the Assistant HR Director for Saks Fifth Avenue.  The position was fun, but as anyone who has ever been in retail knows, the pay left a lot to be desired, so I moved into a corporate environment as the Director of Human Resources for an international air freight company.  I stayed there for seven years until I got pregnant with my first daughter.  At that point, I decided to go into business for myself and opened a small boutique employment agency which I ran for four years.  

So somehow, despite my initial lack of direction, I found myself building an expertise within the employment arena; first as a management trainee for a large corporation, then getting involved with hiring, training and employee relations issues as a HR Director and ultimately learning about running a business as the owner of my employment agency.  

I really enjoyed being involved with the world of employment and found my work interesting and challenging.  But, once our second daughter was born, I felt like I was juggling more than I could handle.  I had a newborn, a three-year old and a husband who was on the road more than he was at home.  As much as I enjoyed my work something needed to give...

So, after many sleepless nights, I decided to give up the business and stay home for a few years. 

And you know what?  

It was one of the smartest career decisions I made. 

The time away from the workplace gave me an opportunity to recharge my batteries and do some serious thinking about what I wanted to do next.  I made a lot of lists, took a lot of walks, read a lot of books and talked about my dilemma endlessly with my husband.  (He has to be one of the all time “Good Guys” but even he finally hit the point when he said to me, “Honey, I love you.  But, I can’t keep listening to you going around in circles on this one.”)  So, knowing I could either continue to drive myself (and everyone around me) nuts or I could get some coaching and speed up the process … I went to see a career counselor.  

With creativity and hard work on both our parts, I quickly began to shape a “re-entry” plan around my skills within the employment arena, my desire to work from home, and my interest in helping other moms find better ways to balance work and family.  That same year I went back to graduate school, and (after 45 credit hours, working at internship sites and cooking more Annie’s macaroni & cheese than I care to remember) earned my masters degree in career development. 

Initially, I worked on a very part-time basis.  My first offering was a workshop titled “Part Time Careers for Full Time Mothers.”  I ran the workshops out of my home and enjoyed having a very small private practice.  But then, Working Mother magazine ran an article about my business and I began to get calls from Moms around the country asking if I could work with them by telephone.   I agreed to give the telephone consulting a try, and thanks to the emerging technology of e-mail and fax, discovered the process worked as well long-distance as it did in person.  

Over time my practice grew.  In addition to providing career counseling to individuals, I began to write and speak about “Jobs and Moms.”  For several years, I wrote columns and answered message boards as the online “Career Transitions Expert” and the “Jobs and Moms Pro” for the Oxygen Media Network (yes, the same Oxygen you hear about on Oprah).  I was invited to speak to women’s groups ranging from the local Junior League to the California Governor’s Conference on Women.   I have been interviewed by dozens of media outlets about this subject – including The Wall Street Journal, Better Homes and Garden, Ladies Home Journal and Fortune, among others.   

For a Mom who didn’t have a clue what she wanted to be “when I grow up” it’s been (and continues to be) a wonderful journey.  I get to work with amazing women, my hours are flexible and I’ve been able to grow the business at a rate that’s worked for both me and my family.  Better still, I have been able to help hundreds of other women develop their own best work-life mix. 

Now, I’d be honored to help you embark on your own journey. 

 Let’s talk.

Who are your clients?

My clients are high-achieving women who are serious about their long-term career plans.  Currently, my caseload is fairly evenly split between women who are looking to re-enter the workplace (or start their own business) and women who are currently working but are looking for more satisfying career or entrepreneurial options.  I also work with women who need assistance with developing, marketing and growing their home-based businesses.  

Do you only work with Moms?

NO!  I also work with women who are not Moms. I’ve helped women successfully navigate a wide variety of career transition challenges.

What do you mean by “high-achieving”?

The vast majority of my clients hold advanced-level degrees (i.e., MBA, JD, etc.) or have been in positions of significant responsibility in their professional or volunteer lives. They have invested time, energy and money in their careers and are willing to devote those same resources towards planning for their future.  

What types of issues do you help clients with?

I help women to:

·         Understand who they are, what they want and how to get there.

·         Explore careers/entrepreneurial options that are a better “fit” for their interests, values and personal goals.

·         Gain greater control over their work-life balance through re-crafting their careers.

·         Learn how to successfully grow their home-based businesses.  

Create the tools and strategies for making a successful re-entry back to the workplace or into a new job.

·         Develop a realistic timetable for success

Most important, I help people get focused, motivated and organized!

What type of personality do you work best with and what is expected of me?

The consulting works best for women who are serious about moving forward.  I will provide you with tools, support and resources, but you must be prepared to do the “heavy lifting” in order to see fast results.  After every session, you will have a “to-do” list, so it’s important to schedule this work during a time period when you have some available free time. I really love my clients and over the years I’ve grown selective in who I work with.  I only want us to work together if you are going to succeed.  

What type of programs do you offer?

My approach is customized to my client’s needs.  Every individual situation is different, with the process ranging from 3 -12 sessions, depending upon goals and objectives.  In general, most clients require a minimum of 4-6 sessions to make significant progress.

What if I just need one session?

I do offer a one-session option at $250 for a ninety-minute consultation.  The one-session option is best used for specific questions (i.e., “How do I speak to my boss about creating a telecommuting situation?”) that can be realistically addressed in a very limited time period.  

What are your fees?

My fees are very competitive with other experienced career counselors in private practice.  If you're serious about making a commitment to change, I'd be happy to e-mail you my fee schedule.  Please send an e-mail to me at NCollamer@aol.com, with "Fee Schedule" in the subject line, and I will forward that on to you.

Sounds great.  What should I do next?

After you’ve had a chance to review the fee schedule, let’s talk.  We can see if there is a fit between your needs and my services.  If you decide not to use me, that’s absolutely fine.   I only want us to work together if you feel comfortable and are ready to commit to change.  Career counseling is a priceless investment in your future.  

Best time to reach me by phone is typically in the early afternoon hours, EST.  My telephone number is 203-698-3160.  I look forward to working with you soon!