Play to Your Strengths | Career Advice from the HR Frontlines

A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine (we'll call her Fran*) reached out for some career advice. Fran had just moved back to the DC area after a couple of years in Florida, where she had completed law school. Following a devastating breakup, she found herself on her best friend's couch in Virginia, unemployed and with hopes to pass the bar (which, to her credit, is pretty impossible while you're fighting with your ex-boyfriend while packing up your life). 

But Fran's smart. She's got contacts - a network - who quickly helped her back on her feet. Soon she was working as a legal assistant at a law firm downtown, but she wasn't fulfilled. She felt stuck: she had just gone through school to be a lawyer, so why did she feel unmotivated? That is a lot of money and time invested in a goal which no longer excited her. 

Knowing I specialized in recruiting, Fran reached out and asked for some career advice. I listened to her describe what she liked about law, and what she didn't. I then asked her what she likes to do, and what she's good at.  As is the case for most people, these turned out to be very much aligned:

1. Organization - Fran is a highly organized person. I lived with her for two years in college and I've never seen the girl's bed unmade or papers in disarray on her desk. I swear she sorts her socks by color. She enjoys creating order in a chaotic environment (i.e. a freshman dorm or fast paced law firm). And when Fran tells you she'll be there at noon, you better believe she'll arrive no later than 11:45. 
2. Project Management - Not only will Fran keep herself organized, she will keep everyone around her on task, too. And she goes about doing that in a very non-aggressive fashion that allows all parties involved to feel comfortable contributing. She's a good taskmaster and is also hands-on. She will expertly see any project through from start to finish. She likes seeing the fruits of her labor.
3. Research and Writing - Fran is not one to take everything at surface level. On the contrary, she's an excellent digger and detective. What makes this skill even more valuable is her ability to piece together information, to connect the dots and tell the story in a way that makes sense in the context of any project. She is also an skilled editor with an eye for detail that could make or break a paper.
4. Finally, Fran enjoys (and is great at) support, whether it be supporting projects, goals, organizations, or people. Need a friend to call at 2 AM when your crush breaks your heart? Call her. She'll be there. She's also the one to remind you that he doesn't even know your name, because she's honest, even when it hurts. She'll then tell you how great you are and bring you wine and cheese. She likes being depended on, and lucky for everyone around her, she excels in a role that allows her to utilize this underrated talent.

Of course, Fran is my friend and I could go on and on about how wonderful she is, but we're talking about career here, so I'll get back on topic. 

At the time, I was placing both HR professionals and executive assistants. Any of the skills above would have been a fit for an administrative role, though I could tell that wouldn't make her happy. Fran is a project person who likes to have a lot going on. Plus, her legal studies were clearly important to her. It was obvious she worked hard to get where she was, and placing her in a purely administrative capacity would have been doing her a disservice.

I ended the call by sharing these thoughts with Fran, and she agreed that executive assistant work wasn't for her.  But the conversation had indeed proved fruitful- whereas she had previously lost sight of the unique skills she brought to the table, she was now able to articulate and define her strengths - traits that shine through in her everyday life. She was better positioned to identify jobs that would play to them, regardless of industry, and recognize the right opportunity when it came her way. 

I wouldn't say I'm a believer in fate, but I do believe that timing is everything. Sure enough, days after this conversation occurred, a top client reached out with a rather nontraditional request: they were seeking someone highly organized with strong writing skills and a legal background to develop a records management system for their client, an agency of the US government. Did I know anyone who was detail oriented, a strong project manager who was also good at research and talking to people and had a track record of all star support and executing on time-sensitive deliverables?

She was offered the job on the spot.

*name changed for privacy purposes