Sophee Payne: Your Career Coach for International Success

“I could feel that coaching was working when I started to approach job searching with a different mindset.”

Before I met Sophee, I was feeling very stuck. I was lacking focus, feeling like there are too many options, but like I had no options at the same time. I could feel that coaching was working when I started to approach job searching with a different mindset. I was able to see how I might be getting in my own way and started to learn that I have nothing to lose if I go all in towards my goal. It was helpful when Sophee would ask me why I believe certain things, and I learned these beliefs/fears are not the reality. I am now convinced that it is possible for me to reach my goals and find a fulfilling job that I  will be proud of.

“Through her questions, we were able to find a good memory I had that I didn't realize I could utilize to have high confidence myself again.”

In just one session, Sophee allowed me to come to certain realizations that I couldn't have come to on my own. Sophee is incredibly easy to talk to and that made me feel relaxed and at ease, even when I felt tense talking about the root cause of my fear of failure. She was also perceptive to my body language while I was talking about certain thoughts, which I can imagine isn't the easiest thing to do over Zoom. Through her questions, we were able to find a good memory I had that I didn't realize I could utilize to have high confidence myself again. It is very clear Sophee knows what she is doing!

“I was able to get the dream job I had been wanting for a long time!”

I wanted to try career coaching because I was struggling to break out of the unsuccessful routine I had fallen into in applying over and over for years. It had become such a familiar routine that I couldn't see any other options. I wanted to change but I didn't know what I could do differently. Being able to reframe my negative experiences as positive desirable qualities gave me hope that my future doesn't have to reflect my past. I felt more confident about interviews and as a result I was able to get the dream job I had been wanting for a long time!

“Since working with her, I have been asked to join a company as a partner instead of an employee, which is better suited to my entrepreneurial spirit.”

I was experiencing burnout in a field that I was no longer passionate about and had no idea where to go next. I feel a lot more at ease about my future. Working with Sophee helped me regain my confidence and be more intentional about how I presented myself to potential employers. Since working with her, I have been asked to join a company as a partner instead of an employee, which is better suited to my entrepreneurial spirit. Sophee helped me realize that this type of working relationship is part of what I need to be happy and have a balanced working experience.

“Now I feel confident that this new career field was the right one for me.”

Walking away from the coaching experience, I achieved my ultimate goal: I transitioned into a new field, earning a higher salary than I did before, without having to go back to school. The tools and resources Sophee shared along the coaching journey made a huge difference in the transition process. The mock interview we did before my real interviews helped me to practice and feel more prepared, which ultimately led to me landing a job in a new field, like I had hoped. I also learned strategies for my mindset that I will use in the future when I'm feeling stressed again. Now, I get out of the stress zone faster. I was surprised that some of the sessions had such deep questions. I think I was surprised by some of my own answers to those questions. I appreciated them because they made me think through things and recognize the "why" behind some of my approaches to life and job seeking. Now I feel confident that this new career field was the right one for me.

“Coaching helped me focus on breaking down abstract goals into something more tangible and approachable, identifying the gap between where I am and where I want to be.”

My overall goal was to get a new job that was more aligned with me, and I got it! Sophee supported me with creating actionable items, and then being accountable to them really helped in taking steps towards my goal. The coaching helped me focus on breaking down abstract goals into something more tangible and approachable, identifying the gap between where I am and where I want to be, and keeping a positive mindset throughout the whole process. I'll certainly be more positive about myself and my value. I have a tendency to skew negative, and the coaching experience helped me realize how doing so can be more self-sabotaging than anything else. I spend so much time thinking about "what if things don't go well;" it helped to have someone counter "but what if they do?"

“I saw that she genuinely cared and wanted to help support me.”

Working with Sophee allowed me to see that I can find ways to make small improvements in my current role which can have large impacts to overall quality of life, and I'm examining why I think a certain way and how to make that thinking work for me. I surprised myself with how open I was and how much I was willing to share with Sophee. I think this is because of how comfortable she made me feel and I felt like I could trust her because I saw that she genuinely cared and wanted to help support me. I would also say that I really appreciated the resources she was able to share with me that I did not know even existed.

“I no longer felt the anxiety I have always felt.”

I was so indecisive before this coaching program. I was unable to make my own decisions and I was always looking to people for answers so I could avoid making my own decisions. Things really started to change when I got in the swing of having boundaries set. I no longer spoke to my friends and family every single day, allowing me to make my decisions. I no longer felt the anxiety I have always felt. It’s all still a work in progress, but I now can recognize the things I need to continue to work on and the growth that I have had since starting with Sophee.

“I have become more self aware and confident.”

In the beginning of our session, I was very apprehensive. I did not know what I was looking for or what I wanted to change. Through the journey, I explored more about who I was and what were the characteristics that defined me. I also identified what I wanted and learnt to achieve it. I have become more self aware and confident. I have also learnt to not be afraid of the future but look forward to it. I also had an issue regarding making informed decisions and I believe it has also been resolved.