How my career goals shifted from business consulting to career coaching

Since 2019, I had a clear career path that would lead me to business consulting.

Back then, I was a big fan of the TV show SUITS, featuring Harvey Specter, the handsome and successful corporate lawyer.

Business consulting is a similar environment and I was dreaming about climbing the corporate ladder and becoming a real-life Harvey Specter.?

I started studying for a bachelor's degree in business studies and enjoyed what I was learning.

I wrote my career plan on pink paper and put it on my visual board at the end of my first year in college. I was back then a recruitment coordinator at Amazon:?

“ July 2020 > Recruitment Coordinator, Ireland: 22yo

January 2021 > Recruiter, Ireland: 23yo

January 2022 > Area Manager, UK: 24yo

January 2023 > Senior Area Manager, UK: 25yo

January 2024 > Senior Area Manager, UK: 26yo

January 2025 > Operations Manager, Spain (A third language was required for my next steps): 27yo

January 2026 > Operations Manager, Spain: 28yo

January 2027 > MBA, INSEAD, Singapore: 29yo (Third language needed for this school)

July-August 2027 > Internship McKinsey & Company, Associate, 29yo

September 2027 > Business Associate, McKinsey & Company: 30yo

December 2029 > Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company: 31yo

January 2031 > Partner, McKinsey & Company: 34yo

January 2036 > Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company: 39yo

>Travel the world and think about what to do next. “

?

In June 2021, I graduated. I was getting ready to get to the next step of my plan and apply for Area Managers positions in the UK.

In September 2021, I participated in the Amazon Career Day event. I led 20+ career coaching sessions 1 to 1 with anyone who signed up and seek career advice.

?I loooooved it! It was so cool sharing my little knowledge with people. I even stayed in touch with a few of the participants after the event to keep helping them with their résumés, career strategies, etc.

The problem was that I started doubting the perfect career plan that would lead me to my “dream”?job: Senior Partner.

I sat in front of my laptop and looked at my career plan; something was off with it. It didn’t feel aligned with who I was and I started to question myself: Is it truly what I want or do I just like the idea of being a Senior Partner?

The truth is, I liked the idea of living the fast life in New York but I didn’t see myself putting in 80 hours a week, in a job that would have probably gotten the best of my mental health at some point.

I took a picture of my career plan to remember how things change and tear the pink paper.

I then started to look into career coaches, check what they were doing and spoke to some of them.

One year later I moved to Spain (because why not), completed my career coaching certification and helped numerous people with their careers.

Now my goals are less defined and clear as they were but I know that I want to stay in corporate recruitment for a while and become a fully independent career coach in a few years.

I learned as I grew up that my vision of things changed as well as my plans. I also don’t regret studying for my bachelor's degree as it taught me a lot.

I remain as self-driven as I was but I take things differently and put less pressure on myself concerning my career plan.

At the end of the day, I found what I like doing: Helping people reach their career goals.

And this makes me happy!

Damien?