Interview with Jason Harvey

Introduction:

Hello and a very warm welcome to Episode No 99 of the podcast.

Today, I have a special guest on the podcast - Jason Harvey, an ex-client of mine.

I think you will enjoy our conversation - Jason's journey demonstrates the power of career coaching.

From facing redundancy and questioning his career path to finding clarity and purpose.

Jason shares his experience with me of how he navigated these challenges and ultimately discovered a fulfilling new direction.

Jason describes the tools and strategies that helped him redefine his career and the lessons we can all learn from his journey.

Let’s meet Jason now.

Mark: Hi, Jason. It's great to have you on the podcast today.

Jason: Hi, Mark. Thanks very much for inviting me.

Mark: Yeah, no, it's great to see you here. Now, we worked together a few years ago, of course, when you became a client of mine. I think it would be useful if you could set some context in terms of what had been happening in your career up to the point that we started working together.

Jason: Yeah, absolutely. It was probably about three or four years ago now, wasn't it? I'd just gone through a long-term employment. I'd been with a business for nearly 10 years, developing through that role. Then I decided it was time to move on and joined a much larger company, doing a similar role as a project manager within the construction facilities industry. I was made redundant from that company. At that point, I stopped and thought, "Is this really what I want to do?" I hadn't enjoyed that time. I felt very stressed and disorganised. I thought, "Right, what do I want to do now?" I was at a point in my life where I needed to decide what I was going to enjoy for the rest of my career.

Mark: Yeah. So you thought you needed some assistance to help get through your thoughts and ideas and find what you actually enjoy doing. It's important to enjoy what you're doing, considering you spend a good eight hours a day working.

Jason: Exactly.

Mark: How long did you wait before contacting a career coach or contacting me? Did you try to figure things out on your own initially, or did you go straight to contacting career coaches?

Jason: I spent a bit of time on my own. It was during the COVID time when this all occurred, so I was fortunate enough to be able to take some time for myself. But after a few weeks or so, I did the usual—looking through LinkedIn, job boards, and applying randomly for jobs. I realised I was applying for the same sort of roles, and I didn't even know if I wanted to do them. That's when I reached out to a LinkedIn connection, which led me to you.

Mark: Yeah, we started working together. I'm always interested in how clients set themselves up for a career change. Did you set aside a certain number of hours a week, or did you approach it as a full-time job?

Jason: When I started looking at this, I had all day, every day since I'd been made redundant. I made a project out of finding the right job for myself. I set up my desk in my spare room and treated it as a full-time job during that period.

Mark: So you made looking for your next career as your day job?

Jason: Yes.

Mark: When we started working together, we worked through what was important about your career, your values. Can you remember what those important things were for you back then?

Jason: We used a very useful tool called the career timeline. It involved plotting everything I'd done from leaving school to the present time, focusing on enjoyment and how I'd felt during those periods. It made me realise that it wasn't necessarily what I was doing but where I was doing it that was the problem. It helped me identify the important aspects of the company and industry I wanted to work in.

Mark: That's a good point. Many people think they need a new career when sometimes it's about changing the organisation or how they do the role. It's not always about jumping into a new career, is it?

Jason: Absolutely. I found that it wasn't the role but the company and industry that were the issues. We also did an exercise to identify my skills and strengths, which highlighted what I enjoyed within my role and what I needed in my future roles.

Mark: Right. Focusing on what you're good at and enjoy boosts confidence and helps ensure you're not discarding the good parts of your current role when making a change. You mentioned reaching out to others during your career change. Was there anyone you contacted who helped you along the way?

Jason: Yes, I reached out to previous customers I'd worked with to see what they could offer. Interestingly, the role I got was with a company where a former customer had moved to. Knowing he was there gave me confidence that the company was a good fit.

Mark: Career change is indeed action-oriented, and reaching out to people is vital. It's great to hear that one of your connections turned out to be instrumental in your new role. You narrowed down your options using the post-it note exercise. How did you make the final decision about your next role?

Jason: The exercises we did made me realise that I was good at and enjoyed what I was doing. I identified the skills I wanted to use more and developed them. During my time off, I took courses on strategy, change management, and agile project management, which fit well with my mindset and way of working. These courses added to my knowledge and personal offering.

Mark: So you worked on yourself, did some further education, and were proactive in going for interviews. How was it to accept the job offer you finally did?

Jason: It was fantastic. Walking in on the first day, seeing the place, and realising there was so much I could do was great. My boss provided psychological safety and a free hand to get on with what needed to be done. It was a refreshing change from my previous job.

Mark: Psychological safety was a big factor, wasn't it? How has it been over the last two or three years working at that company? Has it worked out as expected?

Jason: Absolutely. The freedom and trust in the environment have been excellent. COVID was an alien environment for everyone, but adapting to new technologies and working remotely worked out well. The trust and freedom to get on with my work were and are excellent.

Mark: It's a great success story. You've also done some further development recently. Can you tell us about that?

Jason: Yes, one of the skills I used a lot as a project manager was coaching, which I realised through our work together. I undertook a coaching and mentoring course last year and am now setting up my own executive coaching business. It will be a bit of a side hustle, taking a day a week to set it up and see where it takes me.

Mark: That's great to hear. What sorts of clients are you looking to coach?

Jason: I'm looking to work with technical professionals, engineers, and project managers—people with similar backgrounds to mine. Executive coaching often seems geared towards high-level professionals, but I want to make it accessible to mid-level and lower-level professionals as well. Coaching is about finding your inner strengths and improving yourself.

Mark: I agree. Having a coach can make a big difference in your career and life. Do you have any tips for others looking to change their job or career?

Jason: Take the time to talk to someone, whether it's a coach or a friend. Discussing things through can bring new perspectives and insights. Don't sit alone and dwell; seek out other perspectives.

Mark: That's right. Coaching provides a unique focus and helps conversations move in a helpful direction. If someone wanted to contact you, what's the best way?

Jason: I'm on LinkedIn under Compass Coaching, and my website will be launched soon at compass-coaching-change.com.

Mark: Excellent. I'll put links to those in the show notes. Thanks so much for coming on the podcast and sharing your journey, Jason. It's been great to see your progress and hear about your new coaching venture.

Jason: Thank you, Mark. It's been a great experience, and I appreciate all your help.

Mark: Bye.

Jason: Bye.

There was my conversation with Jason Harvey, it's clear that his journey holds valuable lessons for anyone considering a career change.

Key takeaways from Jason's story include the importance of taking time to reflect on your career, the benefits of working with a coach to gain clarity and direction, and the power of taking action and reaching out to your network.

Jason's experience shows that sometimes the issue isn't the role itself but the environment in which you're working. By identifying what truly matters to you and using your strengths, you can find a more fulfilling career path.

Jason also highlighted the significance of continuous learning and development, as he pursued additional qualifications and has recently set up his own coaching business.

His journey is a testament to the transformative power of coaching and self-discovery.

If you're feeling stuck in your career, take a leaf out of Jason's book: invest time in understanding yourself better, seek out support, and don't be afraid to take bold steps towards a more satisfying career.

Conclusion:

Thank you for joining me, I’ve enjoyed your company. See you next time.