Ask for what you want, you might just get it!

Do you feel frustrated with your career, like things aren’t going the way you expected or hoped?

Do you feel like you’re stuck and running out of options?

You’re not alone!

Many people go through this phase as they try to figure out how to get the jobs they really want.
So much so that I offer an 8 week Thought Partner program to help people learn strategies and tactics so they can learn how to design courses of action to achieve their definitions of success. You can learn more about the Navigating your Career Route Map program here.

Sometimes people just need a hint, or a short conversation to give them a boost of confidence to realize that it’s OK to ask for what they want.

I was brought up on the family legend of my mother asking for what she wanted, a posting to Europe, where she met and married my father. My parents repeatedly told us to ask for what we wanted, with the follow up that the worst that could happen would be that the answer is “no.”

On the other hand, the answer could be “Yes!”

Throughout my military career, I asked for what I wanted. This included courses, postings and even volunteer roles. I viewed meetings with the career manager as an opportunity to negotiate. When I was told as a newly commissioned officer, that my next posting would be to a job where the majority of my work would deal with things like requests for access to information, I cheekily asked if I could have a “real job.”

Luckily my career manager had a sense of humour and asked me to define what a “real job” was. I told him that I wanted a job where I had a staff and responsibilities, where I could use all the leadership training, I’d had during my military college experience. I also said I was willing to go anywhere for that kind of job.

That’s how I ended up at 403 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Gagetown, New Brunswick, where I was responsible for administrative, transportation, vehicle maintenance, supply and financial services support. I led a multi-faceted team, in a very male dominated environment. It was a fabulous opportunity and I thoroughly enjoyed my job.

Now, one of the things I do as a Thought Partner is help others identify the opportunities, they have to ask for what they want.

Last week, I had a lovely phone call with a woman I hadn’t spoken to in a few years. Kris Dawson saw my post about the Navigating Your Career Route Map program and asked if I had time for a call. Between getting ready for the program launching on June 25, and projects I’m working on for clients, my weekdays are pretty much booked solid, so I suggested a weekend phone call. Here’s what Kris wrote about me on LinkedIn:

“Even though part of my background was as a career coach, it's really hard to coach yourself into your next career. So I reached out to Chantal to get some clarity around my approach to a possible job opportunity. (She made herself available right away for me - on a Sunday morning!) She gave me some straight forward simple advice (and confidence) on what to do to ensure my needs were met. And, it worked! I landed exactly what I was after. Thanks Chantal for being my trusted coach and cheerleader all in one!

More on Chantal: I first met Chantal around 7 years ago through an HR Conference, hadn't spoken to her in awhile but always had her in the back of my mind. She carries with her great knowledge and experience and a very positive mindset and is available when you need her most! I have no doubt that she can help others gain a clearer path to their next career move.”

The advice that I gave Kris can be summed up as “ask for what you want, you might just get it!”

There’s more to it than that of course, which is why there’s always work for career coaches, mentors and Thought Partners.

Here’s my small ask, if my content resonates with you, please share it with your friends, family and colleagues, so that they can learn about the services I offer.

Here’s my big ask, consider investing your time, energy and hard-earned money in the Navigating your Career Route Map: Designing Courses of Action to Help You Achieve Your Definition of Success program.