Why work with me?

 

I am a career coach because I love seeing the light bulb go on when people learn a new skill – like how to write an excellent resume, or master something hard, like interviewing more effectively.

And, having watched so many people make disastrous career decisions – or try to recover from them – I realized my life calling is to offer my hard won knowledge about job search and career development to professionals so they can make informed and sound career decisions and, build sustainable careers.

Where did my expertise come from? I have been in the job seeker shoes as a fresh college grad, as an early career professional, as a new MBA, as an expat living abroad, as an expat and parent re-entering the job market. All of that gave me a lot of perspective – and a lot of learning from my own mistakes as well as successes from strategies that worked well.

I added lots of depth to this experience by working in executive search for over two decades with professionals from all industries, in roles ranging from Staff to Senior Vice President and C-suite.

Many people don’t survive long in executive search. I succeeded both because I built great relationships with clients and even more importantly, because I coached and supported my candidates exceptionally well through the resume submission, interview, and offer processes.

This is the experience, perspective, empathy, and empowerment I offer you.

My approach

If you are looking for practical, actionable coaching that will support you in building a successful, sustainable career or finding a new job, you’ve come to the right place.

Coaching Services

  • This package is right for you if…

    You need to brush the dust off your resume and polish it up -- for your own peace of mind; as part of your annual "career hygiene"; to apply for a dream job; or to support and improve your overall job search.

    How we will work together

    This is a collaborative process. You are doing the writing so your resume will be accurate and have your authentic voice.

    It will be a document that you will know inside and out, and be ready to discuss in interviews.

    I am your guide, editor, and brand consultant, ensuring your messaging is sound, your brand strong!

    We'll book (2) 1 hour sessions preferably one to two weeks apart depending your timeline for completion and time available to work on your content.

    You will send your content to me for review prior to our 2nd session where we will clarify, polish, and finalize it.

    When your content is set, I will review it and make any final grammar or wording suggestions. You'll review and approve. I will then do a final proofread of your document.

    At that point, you'll have a professional, marketable resume that will win you interviews!

    What you’ll learn

    Invaluable resume writing skills that put you in the driver’s seat for all future resumes you will want to create, including:

    • How to craft a factual and compelling Profile / Summary section that will keep your resume in the to-be-interviewed pile.

    • How to tease out the value-add in your current and past work.

    • How to write powerful bullets that showcase what you have done and can do for prospective employers.

    • If you are targeting a promotion, how to position your leadership and skills required for your next role.

    • How to read a job description like a recruiter -- between the lines for the key asks; and how to effectively tailor your resume for specific jobs and different job types.

    • The best format for your resume.

    • How to conserve your precious resume real estate and prioritize critical content

    • How to combat ageism (if that’s a potential concern)

    • Optimizing your resume format, content, and document length for readability by hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems

    ***

    The emphasis is on teaching you how to strategically differentiate yourself and lay an excellent foundation for productive interviews.

    Here's a secret: Hiring managers base their interview questions on your resume.

    So YOU have the power to pre-engineer the interview by building a resume that allows you to showcase your best work that sells you for the role!

  • This package is right for you if…

    • You’ve done some interviewing and get the sense you need to polish up a few aspects of your approach and interview strategy.

    • You’re an experienced professional who has been off the market for a while and needs to update on best practices interview skills.

    • You would like a review and critique of your interview answers and overall interview style.

    • If you are struggling with behavioral questions and want to improve your skill with this critical element of modern interviews.

    How we will work together

    We'll book (2) 1-hour sessions to get you ready for productive interviews.

    We cover the basics and beyond with an emphasis on teaching you how to strategically differentiate yourself and put your best foot forward.

    The ideal ways to schedule your Tune-up are to: 1) Schedule both sessions in one week (on different days), or 2) book one session per week over a two week period.

    What you’ll learn

    In your two hours of interview coaching we'll cover current interview best practices, including:

    • What kind of research to do

    • Making a positive impression (body language, what to wear, introductions)

    • Handling the tough questions with feedback on your answers

    • Differentiating and powerful questions to ask

    • Questions to help you get deeper insight into the role

    • What NOT to ask

    • Anticipating the questions HR, the hiring manager, or the team may ask

    • Closing the interview strong

    • Thank you notes, the whys and hows

    Extras!

    Also included are bonus materials including an Interview Prep Checklist that you can customize, Interview Basics, and a Thank You Note How To resource.

  • This package is right for you if…

    • You’ve changed jobs and need to align your overall LI Profile with your new level and role

    • You are looking for a new job and need to tell the world what you can do

    • You are looking to improve your overall professional branding in order to build your network; get noticed by recruiters; and enhance your positioning and credibility.

    How we will work together

    In our first 30-minute meeting we will:

    • Review your current LinkedIn Profile

    • Strategize on aligning your LI Profile with your new role or career goal

    • Discuss the content: What to keep, discard, and add

    You'll start making those changes to your LinkedIn Profile and also drafting new content for you About section, current job section, and any other sections that need a refresh.

    In our 2nd 30-minute meeting, we'll review your new content to ensure that it supports your professional brand and career goals, and discuss any other questions you may have. You’ll then be ready to add your content to your LinkedIn Profile.

    Once you add your content, I will review and provide final feedback and suggestions.

    The deliverable:

    A digital calling card ready to do its work showcasing your experience and building your brand!

  • Career coaching is a fit for…Everyone at some point in their career!

    It’s one of those things where you’ll have an inkling that you are in need of …

    —A good sounding board

    —A coach to ask you great questions that help you find your own answers

    —Someone who has lots of experience with job search, negotiating offers, assisting with tough multiple offer decisions…

    There’s a myriad of career questions, decisions, and situations that arise where we could use someone standing beside us. Listening, brainstorming, advising with real world experience, helping us stay on track with our career goals, applauding our wins.

    How we’ll work together

    In our intake session we’ll discuss your career and what you’d like assistance with from a coach.

    Together we’ll craft the plan — directed by you — to help you achieve your goals.

    It could be a single session, a series, or on-going coaching. Whatever it takes to help you build the best version of your work-self and your career.

    Some of the things you can learn and we can work on together:

    • Career planning – goals, milestones, timeline

    • Leadership mindset and skills

    • How to assess and analyze a Stay-or-Go situation and find peace of mind

    • Adapting to a change of role

    • Transitioning to a new company

    • What to do to get promoted

    • Re-entry to the job market

    • Job search strategy and coaching throughout the job search process

    • Job offers -- What to consider, how to decide, negotiation, timing issues

    • On-boarding and making a great impression in your early days on the job

    • Building a successful professional brand – internally and externally

    • Networking like a pro

    • For fresh college grads, how to get that first job

    Not a comprehensive list…but you get the gist. Let’s discuss your situation and how to work on it so your goals are met!

Ready to Start?

What People Are Saying

  • “Highly recommend and enjoyed working with Caitlin. Super insightful industry knowledge, and positive thinker. I enjoyed her process and approach to both resume and career coaching. It certainly helped weather a storm of interviews and cover letters. Thanks, Caitlin!"

    J. Alfveby, IT Risk & Cybersecurity

  • “I have worked with Caitlin for 15 plus years and grateful to have her guidance with helping me understand what I want from a career. Caitlin has been key in developing my mind set with constructing my CV while preparing me to answer questions that leaves me confident in the interview process. I highly recommend Caitlin to anyone that needs advice on their career and understanding the next steps to achieve their goal."

    B. Ciardello, Internal Controls Leader

  • “You will be hard pressed to find someone who puts as much heart and soul into their work as Caitlin. She truly cares about people and wants to see them succeed with their career objectives. Caitlin is passionate about her work and has strong communication skills that assist her clients with resume presentation and career search. Caitlin is an excellent Career Coach and it would be difficult to find better."

    B. Gallagher, CISO

  • “I wholeheartedly recommend Caitlin McGaw to anyone seeking to transform their professional career trajectory. Caitlin's keen insights and personalized approach not only improved the aesthetics of my resume, but also captured the essence of my experiences in a compelling manner. Her expertise goes beyond mere formatting; she has an innate ability to highlight strengths and craft a narrative that truly stands out. Thanks to Caitlin, I now possess a resume that reflects my true potential, setting the stage for exciting opportunities ahead.”

    G. Quinlan, Cyber Security, Privacy, & Open FAIR

  • I recommend Caitlin for anyone seeking professional guidance and career development. Caitlin possesses a deep understanding of industry trends, job market dynamics, and effective career strategies. What sets Caitlin apart is her genuine passion for helping others succeed. She goes above and beyond to empower clients, providing not only practical advice but also emotional support during challenging career transitions. Her positive attitude and encouragement create a motivating environment for growth. Her expertise, empathy, and commitment make her an outstanding career coach.

    Y. Li, PhD Organic Chemist

  • I really enjoyed working with Caitlin and appreciate the guidance she provided to help progress my resume. The approach Caitlin used helped me to see that I needed to reformat and reshape my resume to tell "my story". Her knowledge of recruiting and resume writing combined with her expertise in the industry was invaluable to me. I don't think I could have done it without her!

    L. Beigle, IT Compliance Specialist