CAREER COACHING
What we do: We provide strategic guidance to you - the executive or business professional.
- Career Management
- Vocational Counseling
- Strategic Coaching
- Personal Marketing
We help you expand your network; and develop it as an extended community that can help you now - and over time - as part of a considered, strategic and evolving career plan.
How we do it: We develop a Marketing Plan.
- Discovery-Branding-Packaging of you
- Marketing Materials
- Techniques and Tactics
- Strategy
- Networking
- Focused Targeting
The Results you can expect: Exposure to our Proven Methodology
- Job Security
- Advancement
- Success
- Inspiration
- Confidence
- Better Network
- More efficient job search
- Long-term Career Plan
- Greater Job Fulfillment
- Higher Aspirations!
We see opportunities - including the ability to create value through networks, informal affiliations, "virtual" companies, new ventures and strategic alliances.
We can do this better together than you can do on your own.
Every great athlete needs a great coach.
THE BIRCH GROUP DIFFERENCE
Birch Group is a dedicated team of Career Coaches and Personal Marketing Specialists with a unique, proven methodology to help people identify and attain their career aspirations. Birch Group has redefined career coaching with three key innovations to help its clients take control of their future:
1. “5 Star Aspire Higher” Model
Our proprietary model is built on the simple premise that true satisfaction in life comes from working at the intersection of those things that we love to do and the things we are best at doing.
Our “5 Star Aspire Higher” Model helps clients:
- Discover their true strengths and interests;
- Develop a personal value proposition and plan;
- Learn today’s most effective personal marketing strategies and tools;
- Target “best-fit” opportunities; and
- Negotiate the best possible compensation package for their situation.
Result: Better-fit career positions that yield deep satisfaction and fulfillment for each client.
2. Clients for Life
Other firms offer counseling programs that terminate once a client accepts a new position or at some arbitrary, fixed point in the future. With today’s dynamic workplace environment, we recognize that career planning is not a one-time event. We believe that each person has unlimited potential and that they continue to grow and develop throughout their career. As such, we have created a business model that allows us to coach people continually throughout their career journey, helping them to take control of their future, anticipate and manage through change, and effectively aspire higher.
Result: A dynamic personal career plan that evolves with each client and a coaching resource available to assist them for the balance of their career.
3. We Invest in Our Clients before they invest in us
A revolutionary idea! We believe our success should be based on our clients’ success. We know that what we do works. So to underscore our confidence and to minimize any perceived risk on the part of clients, we don’t bill the majority of our fees until we have helped our clients successfully attain the next step in their career journey.
Result: Minimal upfront out-of- pocket expense. No surprises.
HOW WE WORK
What Every Job Seeker Should Know
Published sources for jobs -- newspapers, fliers, or the Internet -- represent 10 percent or less of the jobs that are available on any given day. We call this the "passive" job market, and it shouldn't represent more than 25 percent of your job-seeking effort.
You enter the "active" job market by seeking out the companies and work groups that you want to join, and then research and network to learn more. You identify a number of "target" companies and opportunities.
You identify company needs, symptoms and problems, and develop appropriate contacts to talk about how you can meet, fill and address those issues.
These conversations result in the creation of new opportunities, both for the "target" company and for you.
Your Campaign Begins With Understanding
We help you discern:
- Where your strengths are;
- What you love to do;
- The value of the qualities you offer; and
- The value of your skills and strengths.
We teach you how to present yourself:
- What value you bring - Your Value Proposition;
- What you're looking for - Your Objective;
- What you've achieved - Your Stories; and
- What you present in writing (portfolio, resume).
We teach you how to research:
- Details about your "Target" companies;
- How to infer needs and opportunities;
- How to identify key people to contact; and
- How to use Internet and networking sources.
We help you define:
- Your Dream Job
- Your 10-Year Plan
TESTIMONIALS
[Career Advisor],
….One of my grad school teachers had once said that when more work yields less results it’s time for a paradigm shift. I knew I needed a new plan .
The Birch Group Model helped me to understand my strengths and potential value to future employers. The skills assessments and assignments pressed me to reflect deeply and recognize my talents and their potential applications. I started feeling much better about myself and I could feel that I began to project this to others.
As I clarified what I had to offer, magically the phone started to ring. I finally settled on an amazing organization that manages philanthropic and non-profit organizations. I love my work, my colleagues, and the fact that I know what I do make a difference.
The interviewing skills I learned, the value statements I had developed, and the several rehearsals and critiques I was provided allowed me to speak to my offering in a clear, crisp, and confident manner that related to my employer’s needs.
If I were standing in front of you I would urge you to sign their contract immediately and get Birch Group working on getting you working... and take a minute to congratulate yourself for finding an individual of Bruce’s caliber to help you.
Best of luck.
William P
Accounting Supervisor
[Career Advisor],
…I wanted to thank you for all the guidance and encouragement you gave me throughout my time with Birch Group when I was in the throes of my personal marketing campaign. Your persistence and targeted follow-up kept me focused during my campaign.
Your encouragement and gentle urging kept me focused. In addition, you reached into your network and that of the Birch Group family, to assist me in my search to transition into a new position – something virtually unheard of in this individualistic society.
I am extremely impressed with the depth and breadth of the Birch Group network. I can only hope that I can build up my personal network to that level. I also better understand the value of networking – not just as a tool for future employment, but as a means to empower others to pursue their own career goals.
Now that I have made a transition into a new position, I can reflect on the value of your services. Not only did our sessions during the campaign help me to define the type of position I wanted, but I was also able to achieve that position. My new position is everything I outlined during my campaign. In addition, I reinforce my value proposition everyday through my daily work.
Thank you for assisting me in making the best investment of my life.
Réal H.R.
Public Relations Manager
Dear [Career Advisor]:
Standing at an important crossroads in life can be as daunting and confusing as it is exciting and motivating. Defining goals, developing clear objectives, and adhering to a system for achieving results is absolutely crucial.
That is why I am so thoroughly pleased to have engaged you and the Birch Group team to help me deliver on the next big thing in my career. You listened to me. You empowered me to shape my direction. You helped me create and execute my own personal marketing campaign.
One of the aspects of my experience with Birch Group that I found so compelling was the system the firm employs to achieve the campaign goals. It is a clear, step-by-step process that instills discipline and measurable success at every threshold.
Today, I have a thriving company with more business than I know what to do with. Most importantly, I have a concise view of my career and how it connects to the other valued aspects of my life. What Birch Group has given me is a holistic way of managing my life at the strategic and tactical levels.
Thank you, from your client for life.
Chris C.
Marketing Strategist
Dear [Career Advisor],
I wanted to thank you for your non-wavering support and guidance during my job search. Your dedication and willingness to work after hours and weekends is why the personal touch given to all Birch Group clients stands out against the competition. The enthusiasm provided by you, Linda and Paul were invaluable during the entire process. I could always count on you and the team for that needed reassurance and confidence boost. It was a pleasure to work with all of you.
Richard C.
CFO
Dear [Career Advisor],
This is a heartfelt thanks and my expression of gratitude for the outstanding guidance, support and encouragement from you and the team at Birch Group.
During our time together you took me from a state of disillusion and, I’ll admit it, some despair, to a point where I felt confident and purposeful in my search.
Your methodology is the best. I cannot recommend it more highly to those, like me, who feel that we’ve tried everything possible to get a foothold in the ugly process of finding a new position at the appropriate level.
To anyone who has been there, it is a grinding forced march on a path full of potholes, false trails and need I say charlatans and thieves.
The Birch Group methodology of course takes discipline and faith. As you often reminded me, each step has a purpose.
But there came a point when I realized that what you were doing was not repackaging the resume or teaching me which tie to wear.
What you did was tease out the best in me, and you not only unearthed those qualities that can make me an asset to any organization, but that you put them to work.
Success, What a feeling!
Your client for life,
Michael G.
VP External Relations
Dear [Career Advisor],
I cannot thank you enough for your dedication and support in assisting me with my transition following 20 years of active duty service in the United States Navy. Being able to locate my first place of employment after only two months of our campaign is a true testament to the services provided by Birch Group.
As a Government Account Manager, I am very excited about my future. You have been an excellent coach during the entire process and I look forward to utilizing your services in the near future as I climb the ladder of success.
“Bravo Zulu on a job extremely well done!”
Sincerely,
Charles B.
LCDR USN (Ret)
Bravo Zulu – This two flag naval message hoist acknowledges fine ship handling or anything done in an exemplary or outstanding fashion.
Dear [Career Advisor],
Thank you, Bruce and Paul for all your wonderful work and effort on initiating, planning, and executing a career marketing campaign tailored to fit my goals.
I came to Birch Group with doubts on the benefits of having a career marketing coach and what you and the Birch Group team could do to add value. My doubts were erased by having you work to put together a well formed plan that incorporated my skill set, career history and achievements with my objectives and goals for the future. What was even more impressive was the time and effort that you put forward in keeping me focused and motivated to execute my career campaign. It was truly invaluable to have you and the Hire Aspiration team there with me in every step of the process. The guidance and advice allowed me to handle any situation with confidence. I was always fully prepared to deal with the situation, whether it was making my introduction, conducting an interview or negotiating an offer.
Although I have successfully landed, I know that I am a client for life. I know that I can count on you and the team to be there for me as I advance my through my career.
Best Regards and thanks,
Chester W.
Manager, Global Real Estate Security Operations
[Career Advisor],
I wanted to thank you and all the support from Birch Group in preparing me for my next role. From the very first day we met, you assisted me with setting up a progressive, professional program resulting in two very strong offers this week.
During our first meeting, you described the overall plan for the coming months and how each exercise would build upon the previous one. You recommended the most professional job boards, leading to my strongest offer and most likely my future employer.
I was most impressed by the marketing brochure. During a second interview this week, I presented the marketing brochure to the CFO who commented on the professionalism of the document.
I thank you for your continued support and I will recommend you and Birch Group to all those I come in contact with, personally and professionally.
Regards,
Bill D - FINANCIAL SERVICES GLOBAL CONTROLLER
I just wanted to let you know how pleased I have been with the services of Birch Group. I was surprised to see how you were able to adapt your system and style to meet my needs. Your initiative and persistence helped keep me focused during my campaign. And that is exactly what I needed.
One of the most important services you delivered during my campaign was your regular encouragement and support. I had worked with the “free” career councilors provided by my previous employer before engaging you. They were helpful to a point – but because they did not have a stake in my success, their support was very limited. The model you have used to build your business guarantees that customers like me will receive your attention and support while they are working through the process of re-entering the work force.
Now that I am back among the employed, I am really seeing the value of your services. When you say that the best time to hire a career coach is when you are employed, you are so right. I now feel that I am in the driver’s seat because I know where I are going and have a plan to get there. I no longer feel that I am at the mercy of my employer.
Finally, I have been very impressed with your support in helping me to develop my network. When I left my previous employer, I thought that I had a great network. My contact database contained 500 of my closest friends. But I learned that building and maintaining a network is more than keeping track of names and email addresses. Through your coaching, I have learned how to strengthen my network by helping others and by reaching out to them. I also learned that the quality of your network is more important than the size. The connections your have helped me make will significantly improve my network.
When I initially signed up with you and your business, I thought of the purchase as a job hunting expense and I viewed your firm as a service provider. But I now see the monies I spent with you as an investment in my career and I view you and Birch Group as a partner in my success.
If there is anything I can do for you and your company in the future, please let me know.
Jerry R
"The world's best athletes have great coaches that help them discover and drive toward their highest potential. I feel like I've found a personal career manager to do the same for me. He has helped me tap into my core values and interests; he has stretched my thinking about career options, and has provided valuable network contacts that I never would've gotten on my own."
Brian S.
Because strategy planning is not simple, "...a counselor is needed -- and you were that person for me ... You pushed me, you kidded me, and you kept me FOCUSED on the plan… and it paid off, and I have you to thank for it.”
Vincent C.
"I'd just like to say, thank again for your time during our meeting last week. As usual, you were a bolt of lightning for me, with plenty of ideas....”
Mike M.
“I never thought I would find a position so quickly… There were many Sundays I spent looking through the help-wanted section and became very discouraged. I feel I am lucky to have had the support [of my Career Advisor] to keep me on track and to show me where the real jobs are found.
Thanks again. I am glad that I invested the time and the money…”
Charles R.