Make A Great Living Doing Work You Love:
Private Coaching Program
Our typical client is not your everyday professional
They are highly accomplished, ambitious, six- and seven-figure earners.
They are smart enough and work hard enough to reach what many others would describe as a career high.
Yet, something is missing, usually one of three things:
- Career Advancement: They want to reach higher – an executive who aspires to the C-level;
- Career Change: Their career no longer suits them – a professional who wants to pivot to a new industry, role or both;
- Career Optimization: They like their work, but there’s friction – overwhelmed, unfulfilled, a general wondering of “Is this all there is?”
Advancing your career, making a change, optimizing your work, life or both are real-life client issues we have coached:
- A VP in Big Pharma who leapfrogged from one-of-many at the executive level to CEO of a biotech start-up;
- An early hire for a failed start-up who moved into a Regional Head of Sales role at a FAANG;
- An operations professional who changed roles into business development
- A finance executive who changed industries into education;
- A change management entrepreneur who redefined her priorities and her business approach when her growing pipeline took over her life
- A strategy consultant who negotiated an in-house dream job, improving compensation and lifestyle in the process
Imagine that, instead of hoping you hear about the dream job, you create it – you design and navigate your career to make a great living doing work you love
You identify where you would like to work and what you would like to do.
You find the employers who match your values and priorities.
You identify roles that excite you.
You get job offers that pay you what you’re worth.
No more wasting time spinning your wheels, unsure about what you should be doing now, hearing about jobs that don’t interest you or spending time nurturing a lead that turns out to be the wrong job. Your career moves lead to the best next step for you.
The thing is, being great in your career is not the same as being great at managing your career
This is why even high-performing professionals, who get great results for their employers, don’t get these same great results for their own careers. You have to know how to negotiate for what you want, know how to position yourself for the right roles at the right level (this may be a rebrand), and know how to access the decision-makers (the best opportunities are mostly unadvertised).
Our six-step job search process takes the guesswork out of what to do next
Step 1: Identify your targets
Step 2: Create a compelling brand
Step 3: Understand what your targets need and want
Step 4: Connect with decision-makers
Step 5: Troubleshoot the inevitable ups and downs of change
Step 6: Negotiate and close at the right level and compensation
Our coaching program is designed to give you support all along the journey.
Sessions are scheduled on a regular cadence to ensure accountability and structure.
Phone and email access in-between sessions support the unpredictable demands of an executive career – e.g., prep for a last-minute high-stakes meeting, advice on a back-and-forth negotiation that can’t wait for the next session.
As former Fortune 500 recruiters, we know what employers want, and share that inside intel with you
After 40+ years of hiring and evaluating thousands of candidates in different levels, roles and industries, we have behind-the-scenes knowledge of how hiring decisions play out. We focus on practical actions, not theory, and our hands-on, hiring experience ensures that the actions we recommend make a difference in getting hired for the right job at the right level and at the right compensation.
We also have hired in up and in down markets. We recruited post-9/11 and the 2008-2009 Great Recession. We also recruited in the tech hey day leading up to Y2K and the bull market of the 2010’s. We know how the job market can impact candidates – and how you can control your career regardless of what the external conditions are.
See what SixFigureStart clients are saying:
"Working through the process of changing jobs was overwhelming, but you were a terrific sounding board. You understood my business, knew the players and gave me actionable advice. Working with you I was able to focus on the steps necessary to clearly define my goals and work my options. Now I'm on my way -- this is not the end destination – just the beginning."
-- Laurie, Management Consulting
Caroline Ceniza-Levine has a giving spirit. With her incredible insight, I gained confidence and clarity on what I wanted in regards to my career. As a result, I ended up with a "happy" agreement with a large corporation and landed my dream job... not bad for being laid off and unemployed for less than 2 weeks. Listen to Caroline and you will make it to the other side.
-- April, Healthcare
I got a 37% increase in salary. [My former employer] really wanted me to stay, but I was able to use that as leverage and negotiate the salary. Thanks so much for your guidance and advice – it truly helped me.
-- Jay P, Operations
I got my dream job. You were instrumental in helping me see things more clearly along the way – messaging and telling my story.
-- Colleen, Education
Caroline helped me develop my responses so that I had an answer for any possible question thrown at me during the interview. In previous interviews, I was always very hesitant after a question was asked. I needed to take time to think of an answer. After coaching with SixFigureStart, my interview with [Big Four Audit Firm] went very smoothly and I had great answers for everything asked. Without her help I do not think I could have received the [Big Four Audit Firm] offer.
-- Lindsay, Audit
Our coaching is a six-month customized program.
Our work starts where you are and focuses on what you need.
No two clients are alike, so coaching is always customized. For example, if you are unsure what you want, we start at Step 1 (Clarifying what you want and identifying suitable targets) and progress through your search.
If you are certain about your job search targets but need help getting there, we start at Step 2 (Creating a compelling brand). Or, if you are already interviewing, we start at Step 4 (Building connections with decision-makers) and drive your search to Step 6 (Closing at the right level and compensation).
We have also had clients come to us at Step 6 to strategize on title, salary, bonus, equity, downside protection and more (executive compensation is complex) and then to be successful in their new role. Some clients are focusing on an entrepreneurial venture, rather than a traditional career, or on optimizing their work, life or both.
Clarifying your goals and making changes that stick takes time. High-level job searches take several months at a minimum. Changing careers, building or growing a business can take longer. Coaching includes:
- An intake session to determine your career strategy and how we will work together
- Scheduled calls every 1-2 weeks to build in structure and accountability
- Additional emails and calls in-between sessions as needed
- Review and feedback of branding material -- bio, resume, LinkedIn, etc.
- A 24/7 voicemail service to use for pitch practice
- Proprietary exercises and assessments that we have developed to identify gaps and focus areas for your job search
- Recordings from 20 of our previous career and life coaching workshops, covering subjects such as time management, marketing, interviewing, negotiating, and more
Each coaching session includes an update of what you have been working on to keep you accountable, as well as customized action steps to maintain momentum and forward progress.
Calls are recorded so you can reference the coaching again and again.
Coaching is an investment in clarity and direction
Private coaching helps you avoid wasted time and missed opportunities. Contact co-founders Caroline and Connie directly at [email protected], or send a note here, to inquire about availability and next steps.
Private coaching starts at $5,000. For alternative options, check out the Group Coaching Program, online job search course or book on career change, Jump Ship: 10 Steps To Starting A New Career.