Working with an executive or career coach can help you design the changes you need to propel your career in the direction you desire. I had the pleasure of interviewing Joanne Yawitz who has over 30 years of experience as an executive recruiter, executive coach, and career coach. In this interview, we explored everything you need to know about working with a coach for your career growth.
Introduction
As a professional working in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, you know that the job is not always straightforward. You are constantly juggling multiple priorities and deadlines. Maybe you are often working on difficult issues that require careful consideration. You might also need to influence others to make the right decisions. All of this can be exhausting—that’s even before integrating other aspects of your life such as family, friends, hobbies, or exercise!
Working with an executive or career coach might be just the thing you need to help you figure out whether you’re on the right path to living your best professional and personal life.
First things first - Who is Joanne Yawitz?
Joanne Yawitz studied at the University of Rochester to become a city planner. In fact, she worked as a professional city planner in Boston and even got a Masters degree for city planning from Harvard. Several housing and community development projects later, she decided to pursue her MBA at Simmons College, an all-women’s business school.
Business school was a turning point for Joanne, as she transitioned from city planning to banking. However, after becoming a lending officer at a bank, Joanne realized that it wasn’t a good fit. Her next career pivot was to join an executive recruitment firm that specialized in the financial industry. She quickly learned that she had all the skills to be a successful recruiter, including building a good rapport with people and making great matches between employers and job candidates.
In the mid-1980’s, Joanne began executive recruiting in the biotechnology sector. She moved from Boston to San Francisco and eventually started her own search firm dedicated to life sciences. For almost 30 years, Joanne and her firm were exclusively retained by companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural industries. She specialized in helping young and emerging companies hire the right talent.
After completing a certification in coaching in 2004, Joanne added a new chapter to her professional quiver and started her own executive and career coaching firm - Living Your Dream Coaching. She is now on the flip side of recruiting - she helps candidates navigate their job search process. As a coach who was previously on the “inside” of the process, Joanne helps her clients understand how recruiters think and explain how long the recruitment process might take, what to expect, identify the decision makers, and predict the questions they will ask.
An Introduction to Joanne’s approach to coaching
Joanne shared how her real-life experiences impact and influence how she shows up as a coach. She’s had personal challenges that taught her a lot and boosted her confidence. Thus, part of her coaching method helps clients recognize that sometimes the unexpected events in life might be wonderful and how to be opportunistic with them. On the other hand, bad things happen too; they might be a learning moment and an opportunity to turn toward a more positive direction.
More about coaching...
Should I be working with an executive/career coach?
There are so many reasons why someone might want to work with an executive coach or career coach. Some of them include:
- Provide insight on deciding whether I want to stay at my current job or not
- How do I tackle a job search in the virtual world?
- Guide for how to start my own business venture
- Help on determining what is the next chapter of my career
- How to prepare for job interviews
A coach can help you find focus and clarity - where you are and where you want to go. Even if you are very accomplished in your profession or as a scientist, it can still be hard to know how to get to that next level. And it’s difficult to figure it out alone.
Joanne stressed that a great coach can be a guide, mentor, and trainer, helping you navigate the different pieces of a job search. The coach can also act as a sounding board for brainstorming ideas or practicing pitches. Most importantly, a coach can keep you accountable.
How can an executive/career coach help me find a new job?
A coach like Joanne can help in various aspects of the job search. First, you might need help moving forward and deciding the direction of your next career move. A coach can help you identify your transferable skills as you advance or pivot. If you want to be a leader in your organization, a coach can help you figure out how to stand up and show up with executive presence.
If you need support with the traditional components of a job search, like creating a resume or CV that pops, a coach can help you highlight your unique skill set. She can guide you in writing a cover letter and design your LinkedIn profile so that you stand out from the crowd. A coach can also help you prepare and get more comfortable with the interview process.
A coach can work with you through the entire job search process, including negotiating job offers and determining which option is the best choice. Joanne even helps her clients onboard at their new jobs. They show up on their first day confident and competent, hitting the ground running. New employees need to create the relationships that will set them up to be successful, and a coach provides valuable tips and guidance.
Should I be working with an executive/career coach even if I’m not looking for a job?
Coaching is so much more than just the job search. Coaching can assist you in making decisions that will improve how you think, feel, and behave at work as well as outside of work. You can learn new skills like leadership and effective communication while also developing self-awareness so that you can better understand how to manage stressors in your day-to-day life.
Joanne suggests that coaching can be very beneficial during periods of change and uncertainty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped new clients navigate how to work effectively from home and decide whether they truly liked their jobs or not. As long as you are ready to commit to yourself, Joanne says, then coaching can be incredibly valuable for you, at any time in your life.
How do I make the most out of working with an executive/career coach?
Some employers provide their workers the benefit of executive or career coaching (e.g., through BetterUp or internal career offices). Sometimes, they provide coaching services when employees are unfortunately being let go or laid off. In other cases, people might seek to work with a coach independently of their employers.
In any of these circumstances, Joanne recommends, avail yourself of the coach’s expertise. The coach may be a rich resource for leadership development or for landing the next opportunity. Outplacement services, for those who are forced to find new jobs, typically focuses mostly on developing the resume. Coaches will help you write a resume that helps you shine and stand out, highlighting your responsibilities, accomplishments, and value you bring to the organization.
At what stage in my career should I invest in an executive/career coach? Do I need to be at a senior leadership level to benefit from coaching?
Traditionally, we think of only the people in C-suite positions receiving executive coaching. Companies may reserve coaching services for only their top performers, executives, and those in upper management.
Nowadays, coaching is not just for those in senior leadership levels. Coaching can be for everyone. After all, we can all use support or guidance to realize our full potential. And collectively, think about how powerful that realization might be to bolster our employers and for our own professional and personal lives!
Given that there are so many reasons why you might want to work with a coach, you can obviously benefit from coaching at any level, no matter what seniority you have. Joanne stresses that her ideal client is one who is ready and receptive to coaching. The right time to invest in coaching is any time when you are ready to commit to yourself.
What objectives or goals should I have when working with an executive/career coach?
Joanne says that some clients have specific objectives or goals in mind when they seek coaching. These might be related to their job search or how they are managing their current presence at work. Some clients need help writing their resumes or LinkedIn profiles, and others might need a guide for navigating a new senior leadership position.
However, clients don’t necessarily need to know what their objectives or goals are before starting coaching. Plus, their goals can change based on how the coaching process evolves for them.
I’m ready to get a coach. How do I find one?
Joanne shared that the field of executive/career coaching has few barriers to entry, so it’s important to do your homework to find a credible and experienced coach. Some coaches will have completed coaching certification programs, but there are a wide range of certification types and levels. Moreover, certifications and formal training may not be needed, depending on the meaningful life and career experiences that a coach has.
You may be able to identify credible coaches through professional organizations like the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), which is how I met Joanne. BetterUp offers coaching for individuals as well as through employee programs. You may also find a few coaches who are active in our private Women in Pharma Careers Facebook group.
Definitely, a way to find a good coach is to get recommendations from colleagues and friends. Now that technology and the new COVID-19 culture has promoted virtual communications, coaches and clients no longer need to be co-located. Your coach can live anywhere in the world and be accessible through a solid internet connection.
Interview at least two or three coaches to find out their backgrounds and approaches. Do you like what they’re saying? With whom do you feel a connection? Coaching is very personal. It’s both an art and a science. You want someone who you can trust and feel comfortable with your candid and honest thoughts.
How do I choose an executive/career coach?
When choosing an executive/career coach, you should ask questions to better understand whether she or he knows how recruitment and talent development works in your industry of interest. For example, is the coach familiar with the career trajectories of scientists in the pharmaceutical industry? Or has the coach previously worked with professionals who have transitioned from a CRO into a biotech company?
While Joanne has deep understanding about the hiring practices within a particular industry, she stresses that finding an expert in your specific area of expertise is not a prerequisite for a successful coaching experience. In fact, even though she has 28 years of executive recruiting experience in the life sciences, her clients come from a variety of areas, including the financial and government sectors and the arts.
Therefore, she suggests finding someone who at least understands your industry in general and has a pragmatic approach. Most importantly, it should be someone with whom you have a good rapport.
What questions do I need to ask before hiring a coach?
Some questions you might use to get to know a potential coach include:
- What is your training to become a coach?
- How long have you been coaching?
- Do you have particular life and career experiences that you draw upon in your coaching?
- What is your approach or methods for coaching?
- Do you specialize in working with people in any particular industry?
- What are some examples of how you have helped recent clients?
- What are the logistics of the coaching relationship (fees, frequency of meetings, communication, deliverables, etc.)?
Joanne offers her potential clients a complimentary Discovery Session. Given that 95% of her potential clients have never spoken with a coach before, this session is a good opportunity for her to explain how coaching works. She uses the Discovery Session to explain her approach to coaching. Most importantly, she also uses the conversation as a way to thoroughly understand the potential client’s situation. After all, she needs to determine whether she can work with these potential clients or refer them to other professionals. Lastly, she also discusses her fees.
What should I expect when working with an executive/career coach?
Some people start with specific objectives and goals in mind. Others have a general idea of what they want to work on with the coach but are not clear about the specific direction or title. It’s important to be clear about your expectations. In most cases, the coach will provide some structure to help you understand your current situation and where you want to go. More importantly, the coach will help you navigate the steps to get there.
You can expect to have regular meetings with your coach. She might ask you many questions initially to prompt meaningful dialogue related to your career goals and trajectory. However, coaching is not therapy. It can be quite analytic and could include research, outreach and information gathering.
Homework may be assigned based on what you discuss in your meetings. For example, homework might be to track how you spend your time over the next week. Or it might be to schedule informational interviews, or re-write parts of your resume. The coach may ask you to list the pro’s and con’s of your dilemma and make suggestions for how you might weigh each item based on the value you place on each.
Oftentimes, you will play a role in exploring different career paths and doing the research required to understand your options. Sometimes, the coach will do some research on your behalf.
Joanne has a written Agreement with her clients. Not only does the Agreement describe her fees, it also details the level of commitment required from both parties. She stresses that the Agreement is not just a commitment that the client makes to her; but is a commitment to themselves. It’s incredibly powerful to take that step in earnest and seriousness to invest in themselves.
What is the difference between executive/career coaching vs. corporate career development or training programs?
Joanne told me that she talks to companies regularly about career development training for their staff. It’s one thing to attend the group training, she says, but to be most effective, employees can benefit significantly from a coach. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to today’s career development, and executive or career coaching needs an individualized personal touch to be most impactful.
Importantly, a coach will keep you accountable. Most career development seminars or training provide lots of great information; but most attendees passively take it in and never actually make any changes afterward. Reading this blog is a great start to exploring a career in the pharmaceutical industry, but you might need a dedicated guide to navigate your specific next steps and realize your career goals.
Lastly, maybe you are looking to start a new business. It’s unlikely that your current employer’s training programs will help you understand what you need to consider to branch out from your job. Joanne and other coaches who specialize in working with entrepreneurs can be your secret tool for launching your new business.
What type of results do clients see after having coaching?
People often approach coaching because they don’t like their boss, their team, or employer. Perhaps, they feel they’re not paid enough. Or the commute or workplace have become toxic components of work life. However, they are often scared to make a change. They might not like where they are, but they are reluctant to make a change from something that "feels" comfortable simply because it’s familiar. It’s a big deal to make a change. According to Joanne, her clients gain peace, meaningful insights and resolve with their decision making, whether that is to make a change or stay with their current job.
Clients also gain a concrete plan and master the specific steps for how to move forward to reach their objectives and goals. For example, she works with many PhD-level scientists who are introverts. She role plays with them, writes scripts for how they can approach people for networking, and teaches them how best to answer difficult interview questions.
Most importantly, Joanne says that her clients gain increased confidence and lifelong skills to deal with work-related situations and personal issues or challenges. Sometimes their biggest obstacle is themselves. Her coaching clients are bright, capable, and competent; however, they’re not necessarily self-confident. She helps them realize who they are and consider the entire package of knowledge and expertise that they bring to their current and prospective employers - including their value as a high performing employee.
Final thoughts
I learned so much about executive/career coaching in my discussions with Joanne. Executive coaching is about more than just listening and asking questions. It's about facilitating change in your work environment or personal life. Working with an executive coach offers benefits including increased confidence, reduced feelings of isolation or loneliness, improved performance on the job by subduing anxiety, and learning action steps for career advancement.
In summary, I discovered that an executive/career coach is a guide, teacher, and mentor, all rolled into one. Getting a coach can help you find ways to effectively develop your career and find meaning in your job. I was excited to hear that Joanne works with an executive coach herself!
She says: “Everyone can benefit from a career coach, if you’re receptive. It’s different from discussing a challenging situation with a spouse, friend or family member. The coach brings a more objective and professional perspective. She’s on your side, your team. There’s no bias or hidden agenda. Her primary focus is to do everything possible to help you advance.” She believes that everyone deserves to wake up every morning and look forward to going to work. “Life is too short to be miserable or underutilized.”
I had one last question for Joanne, given the audience of this blog…
Bonus: What are the most common habits, behaviors, or mindsets that create glass ceilings or stall upward growth for women in the workplace?
Joanne said that women she works with often have many fears:
- Fear of the unknown - “What’s this new position going to be like?”
- Fear of success - “I always wanted a bigger role, but will I be any happier?”
- Fear of failure - “I don’t like where I am, but at least I know where I am”
She also said that women often don’t think to ask for more compensation in a job offer. In addition, she praised the professional network and events of the HBA, as she said, “We need the ‘old girls’ network.” Certainly, we need to nurture a culture where everybody wants to help everybody else move up.
Joanne offers a complimentary Discovery Session to prospective clients.
Many thanks to Joanne for answering all our questions about executive/career coaching!