Turning a career dream into reality

1. Turning A Career Dream Into Reality

2. One of the biggest privileges of being a careers coach is witnessing the journeys and successes of my clients. Being able to offer professional assistance to help out a family member is even more satisfying. In this blog, I share the story of my sister Myee’s incredible journey to take back her life after motherhood, and to carve out a satisfying and rewarding career in the Queensland Police Service.

3. For more than two decades, Myee was employed by one of the supermarket giants, mostly working in the delicatessen. With her focus primarily on bringing up her two children, the job served her well because the flexibility of her role which allowed her to be the hands-on parent she wanted to be. She would often be seen at school reading groups, managing the soccer team, and cheering on the sidelines of her children’s sporting activities.

4. Like so many mums, Myee looked after everyone except herself. She never lost that extra baby weight, and nurtured herself with comfort food rather than healthy eating and exercise.

5. Myee’s life changes began when she joined a local gym and signed up for a weight loss challenge and won. She then started the first ladies Grid Iron team on the Sunshine Coast, and played representative Oz Tag. As her confidence grew, she started to feel that she was capable of achieving more in her life. Over the past few years, Myee has lost around 45kg and got to know and like herself much better.

6. When her children left school and embarked on their adult lives, Myee decided it was time to fulfill her own dreams. Through several career coaching exercises, she determined that she was most suited to a job serving the community in some way. Initially she liked the idea of working in the police force, defence force, or prison system.

7. As I often suggest to clients, Myee spoke to people in these careers to learn more about the roles, and to get a sense of their fit for her. Through these conversations, it became clear to Myee that working as a police officer would give her the greatest career satisfaction.

8. But how do you transition to the Police Service at 45 years of age after a long career in retail? Myee started with a fitness regime to prepare for the recruitment process. She’d been training for a while, but she got even more focused, working in the gym and with a trainer. She put affirmations on her fridge to motivate and remind her where she was heading.

9. With my professional guidance, she worked on a resume that communicated her transferable skills in customer service, problem solving, and communication. Having spent fifteen years as a union delegate, she was able to talk about her knowledge of applying legislation. She presented a range of different achievements that demonstrated her fit for the role.

10. In mid-2018, after a lengthy recruitment process, Myee was accepted into the Queensland Police Academy. While the training course was intense, especially for someone who hadn’t studied since high school, Myee worked hard. She was even awarded Dux of her unit.

11. Get out of the house (and away from the laundry basket) to do the work. Your local library is an excellent option. • Enjoy the pWhen you are not paid for your time, it can seem like it is not important. But your time is precious, and it is ok to priorities your needs over others’. Investing time in you is always worth it! • Donna Thistlethwaite is a professional career coach who provides career help for mums. Donna helps clients develop the practical skills and motivation they need to pursue a career they love. You can sign up to the CareerSmart Mums monthly newsletter for information, resources and inspiration at www.careersmartmums.com.au. • Progress towards your goal. Investing this time is part of your personal growth, so be proud of achievements.