Boost your career with personalised support

What motivated you to become a job coach, and what was your career path before entering this field?

With a Master's degree in occupational psycho-sociology and a Master 2 in Business Management, I developed a keen eye for the key functions of a company and the challenges associated with psychosocial risks at an early stage.

My path to job coaching was shaped by extensive experience as a Recruitment & Career Manager in international companies such as the SHELL Group and IT services companies. The early years of my career allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the dynamics of recruitment and career management.

In 2005, I decided to devote myself fully to supporting candidates in career transition. This change was motivated by my desire to share my expertise and help others succeed in their career change or new career project.

First in collaboration with specialised platforms such as cvpremium.com and travaillerensuisse.ch, then as a freelancer from 2009 onwards, I expanded my field of activity with expertise in the Swiss market. 

This natural progression towards consulting and coaching was fuelled by my appetite for personal and professional development, as well as my in-depth knowledge of businesses, from SMEs to multinationals. 

My goal as a Job Coach is to help everyone realise their potential and successfully navigate an increasingly complex and demanding job market.

In your opinion, what are the key skills needed to succeed in finding a job in a highly competitive labour market?

The job market is becoming increasingly competitive; we no longer look for jobs as we did 10 or 15 years ago. It is therefore necessary to put a real strategy in place.

This is achieved by gaining knowledge of the target market, learning about the specific characteristics of the sector and the changes inherent in certain professions. Indeed, it is crucial to define a clear strategy for your job search, targeting the right companies and sectors.

Once you have defined your career goals, you will need to put together your application with a tailored CV, optimise your LinkedIn profile and prepare as well as possible for future interviews by working on your personal branding. Job hunting also requires methodical organisation. Knowing how to manage your time, prioritise your actions and remain disciplined in your approach will help you avoid distraction and be more effective.

Using a JobCoach can greatly increase efficiency and relevance. 

It is also essential to understand that networking is a powerful tool in a job search. This involves using a network such as LinkedIn, but also actively participating in various events (after-work gatherings, B2B trade shows, forums, professional associations, etc.). 

It is also important not to isolate yourself. This allows you to talk to people who are in the same situation. In addition, it often helps to improve your emotional intelligence, adaptability and resilience, especially if you are experiencing long periods of waiting and rejection.

Building a strong network is often cited as essential. What advice would you give to someone who wants to develop an effective network, even if they are just starting their career?

Building a strong network is indeed crucial, and the sooner the better! 

And contrary to popular belief, we all have a network.

Start by asking your friends and family: friends, neighbours, classmates, teachers, former colleagues or supervisors from summer jobs and internships. Don't hesitate to ask them for advice, introductions or recommendations.

Attend events: even if you are just starting your career, attending events in your target sector is an excellent way to meet professionals. So don't hesitate to attend conferences, job fairs, or webinars, making sure to interact with speakers and other participants. 

Join professional associations: by joining associations related to your field of activity, you can meet professionals who share the same interests. It is an ideal way to establish relationships while staying informed about developments in the sector.

Maintain your network regularly, especially via LinkedIn: networking is an ongoing process. It is therefore important to stay in touch with the people you meet by sending them follow-up messages. Do not hesitate to make an impression by congratulating someone on a new job, for example, or by sharing an interesting article with them.

How can professionals maintain their employability in the long term, particularly in the face of rapid market changes? 

In my opinion, the best strategy for maintaining employability and advancing one's career in the long term is to focus on languages. 

The minimum requirement in Switzerland is generally bilingualism in French and English, but if you add German (or Swiss German), you will always stand out from the crowd! I see this every day with my trilingual clients. 

Of course, skills development is essential. This can be achieved through continuous training via MOOCs or through IFAGE, the University of Geneva or UOG, to name but three institutions. 

I also recommend keeping an eye on economic and sector developments in order to monitor market trends. Reading specialist publications, following experts and specialist groups on LinkedIn, and attending events/conferences are fairly simple ways to better anticipate future developments and needs. 

By ideally combining these three aspects (languages, training, monitoring) and adopting a proactive attitude, a professional will remain fully employable and competitive in the long term. 

What do you think are the essential elements to include in a CV and cover letter to stand out to recruiters? 

Given that writing CVs and cover letters is part of my expertise with my clients, I immediately have very high standards for their content. ☺ I would note that precision, rigour and transparency must be the basis of both documents, otherwise it's off to a bad start...

For your CV, always specify the title of the position you are applying for at the top so that the recruiter does not have to guess.  

A «pitch» (before the description of experience) should be included: it should summarise the candidate's career path and describe their key skills. This is an excellent opportunity to grab the recruiter's attention with an immediate overview of the candidate's added value. 

Being precise and pragmatic in the description of your experience can make a big difference. For most profiles, the «objectives, achievements, results» format is a very good option. After the section dedicated to education, be sure to note your language skills according to the European language classification. The CV should be no longer than two pages. 

The cover letter should not simply be a repeat of your CV, and overly generic phrases should be avoided. Instead, it is essential to show that you understand the challenges of the position and the company. To do this, you can describe two or three of your major achievements that are directly related to the criteria required for the position. The letter should be no longer than one page.

How do you support your clients when they are going through periods of doubt or professional questioning? 

Personalised and empathetic support is crucial. I also suggest that it should be holistic in order to restore confidence in their abilities. Personally, I offer: 

1. A discussion session (usually 1 hour or 1 hour 30 minutes) based on active listening, during which my clients feel listened to without judgement. They can express their fears and uncertainties to me, while asking me open-ended questions. 
2. Clarifying their objectives by helping them refocus their thinking on their professional priorities, while taking market realities into account. 
3. An analysis of their skills through a professional assessment, and possibly the completion of a personality test. 
4. A new outlook by discussing retraining with them, changing sectors if that is what they want, along with the advantages and constraints involved. 
5. A concrete action plan that may involve training, and will definitely involve updating (or completely rewriting) their CV, revising their LinkedIn profile, and defining the job search strategy to adopt. An interview preparation session is also a relevant option for many clients. 

NB: Having an outside professional write their materials helps them regain real self-confidence. By progressing step by step, they find a certain inner peace and great motivation. I no longer see the same state of mind in my clients between the beginning and end of the coaching process.

Job interviews can be stressful for many people. What strategies do you recommend for succeeding in an interview and making a good impression? 

It is essential to prepare thoroughly in order to manage stress proactively. Here are some strategies I recommend to my clients to help them stand out during an interview: 

• Research information about the company (its products, services, culture, values) and the position.  
• Organise mock interviews using standard questions, but also questions specific to the position and the target company. This helps you anticipate the most challenging questions and practise answering them fluently. 
• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers in relation to your professional achievements or project presentations. 
• Show enthusiasm through intonation, energy and sincerity. • Pay attention to body language by encouraging them to be mindful of their posture, eye contact and smile. A straight and open posture projects confidence and professionalism. • Show interest by advising them to reaffirm their motivation for the position. • Send a thank-you email, which will also be an opportunity to explain in two or three sentences why you are relevant for the vacant position.