About Me
I have lived a life of multiple curiosities.
A long time ago, my Mother offered me some advice; she told me that I “could learn to live with failure, but never with regret”. When I tell people that, they always pause and say “Wow, that’s great”. The funny thing is, that they have no idea just what that kind of thinking has brought to my life!
The idea my Mother offered makes me think that I can do anything, which then leads me to try many things with tremendous resolve. Unfortunately, the majority of things that I have “tried” have been careers. Several of them….
Undergrad in Broadcast Media…
- Worked in television production…
Went to graduate school for MS in Instructional Technology & Curriculum Design….
- Started working in the videoconferencing field…
- Left that to sell telecommunications equipment…
- Married my sweetheart of 8 years…
Went to graduate school, AGAIN, this time for a Master’s in Accountancy…
- Worked as the Accounting Manager for a startup…
- Worked in public accounting…
Became a Certified Public Accountant…
- Left public accounting to become a recruiter for senior level accounting & finance professionals
That is where I currently stand. Truth is, none of these positions have been terribly satisfying. Recruiting is actually not bad compared to many of the other choices I have made along the way (particularly accounting)!
So, as you can see my “career journey” has included many twists and turns. I haven’t always made the best decisions, but I have DEFINITELY never dealt with the regret of not trying something I found interesting.
What makes recruiting satisfying is the opportunity to change people’s lives. A large part of my job involves coaching candidates and building relationships with clients. Both of these activities are ones that come naturally for me and that I really enjoy. Ultimately, a recruiter is a matchmaker and making that ultimate match is downright exhilarating.
My first post tells the story that really jump started my career “adventure”. I think back on this story and wonder where I would be today if I had waited until the next elevator? Nonetheless, I can’t change the journey I have taken, I can only use it to enlighten, inspire and encourage others through my own experiences. THAT is what Career Courageously is all about.
I don’t pretend to be a career expert, I just offer a place for you to learn with me and, possibly, from me. The premise for this website is that “Career” is actually a verb; a way to think strategically about your own career journey and plan to do the things that will ultimately lead to success as YOU define it. I hope that you will feel comfortable in responding to my posts with your own stories and ideas, so that we can all learn from each other.
Don’t forget to take what you need and leave the rest. Enjoy!
Valerie
valerie (at) careercourageously (dot) com
