T“Arranging life’s events into a coherent story is one of the most subtle yet demanding challenges of career reinvention. To reinvent one’s self is to rework one’s story, revising it frequently, trying out different versions on others.”

- Herminia Ibarra, Working Identity (2003)

Pivot and take control of your career: be your own coach

The rapidly evolving world of work and the arrival of AI means most of us will be changing jobs evermore frequently which is why learning the tricks to personally navigate and manage these changes is vital. It’s important for us to plan our own careers and understand what makes us tick and where we want to be.

I can help you future-proof your career and put you in control of deciding what’s next, become your own career coach. I help you:

  • Helping you plan for the future

  • Identify opportunities in your current workplace

  • Build personal brand

  • Change jobs well

  • Be proactive in job search and not just rely on applying to vacancies advertised on online jobs boards

  • Market yourself brilliantly via CV, LinkedIn and interviews

  • Identify new paths and passions

  • Fully understand your beliefs, values, personality and motivation

  • Fully understand your skills, experience

  • Network – linking with people, making contacts for the future to further the career – and help others do the same

  • Identify and set goals for the future

  • Address perennial questions like: is my job right for me? Why was I overlooked for a promotion? What skills do I need to develop to succeed next time? What’s my next step?

Developing career resilience

Part of being in control of your career is about having career resilience and the tools and confidence to handle constant change. I have been supporting clients for years to develop resilience through coaching them around:

  • Tried and tested confidence building tools

  • Re-connecting with who you are and what makes you thrive

  • Testing the water

  • “I turned to Helen when I knew I needed a career change after twenty years working in an area I wasn’t really connecting with any more. I had no idea what else I might do, and my confidence was low. Helen worked with me to identify my transferable skills, and believe in my abilities, and I was able not only to shape what I wanted out of my next career but successfully move into a new field, all within a few months.”

    Charlotte, ex-civil servant, now a Deloitte consultant (2022)

  • “Having come to a career crossroads in my life, I felt I needed some support in defining what my real vocational passion was and in finding the best way to put it into practice. Helen was fantastic in this regard: throughout our sessions I found her encouraging manner, broad business experience and practical insights extremely valuable in helping me to refocus and achieve my goals.”

    Director of Government Affairs, pharma sector (Dec 2023)

  • “Helen is a fantastic leadership coach who has helped my transition to a portfolio NED. It’s been hugely beneficial to have her helping me – a sounding board, collaborator, supporter, mentor, coach, truth teller. I recommend everyone has someone like her on their side.”

    Tina, NED and Strategic COO Advisor (Jan 2024)

  • “My coach, Helen Slingsby, has been wonderful! She is quick to respond, easy to set up meetings with (even last minute when things come up), flexible, and takes a very professional yet friendly and empathetic approach to meetings. She asks all the right probing questions, provides great resources, and has my best interests in mind.”

    Anastasia, ex-schoolteacher, landed a job in the Ed-Tech sector (Jan 2024)

  • “After a spell of unsuccessful job hunting I made the decision to get help from a professional career coach and booked in a course of five sessions with Helen. I found a job even before my fifth session and don't doubt for a moment that this was the result of my increased confidence and better job seeking skills resulting from these sessions.”

    IT Specialist (Jan 2024)

  • “Helen’s individualised approach boosted my confidence and helped me to completely re-evaluate my achievements and to see my potential in a much more positive light, so that I was able to reposition myself and secure my ideal job.”

    Cindy, Reading, Berkshire

  • “The subtle changes you made to my CV and Linkedin profile made a big difference - with me no longer chasing jobs, but agents chasing me.”

    Jeremy, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

  • “It’s been a year since our meeting and I just wanted to thank you for helping me to focus on my key strengths and interests. I’ve just been promoted to a Business Critical Account Manager responsible for building and maintaining relationships with customers, and I couldn’t be happier.”

    Wassim, Maidenhead, Berkshire

  • “Helen acted as my career coach after I was made redundant from a large blue-chip organisation. Through our sessions I learned a lot about myself, gained a huge amount of confidence, plus the ability to sell myself better and I have now secured a new role in marketing.”

    Alison, Basingstoke, Hampshire

  • “At times I felt a bit lost, and a little despondent – Helen was a really great coach in keeping my spirits up.”

    Andrew, Oxford

  • “I’ve been successful in my job hunting and will be starting in the New Year. Salary is excellent. As you’d suggested, I found the job through someone I used to work with – so networking wins again.”

    Jane, Tadley, Hampshire

  • “Helen has been a fantastic help in enabling me to progress through a big change in my career. I now have much more clarity on my skills and what I want from my career.”

    Hannah, Pangbourne, Berkshire

  • “Thank you for the coaching and advice – I start on Monday as Chief Product Marketing Officer. The visualisation of walking into the new office did really help, and just having some of those structured approaches to answering questions kept me going.”

    Steven, Reading, Berkshire

  • “Your guidance through the interview process and pointers toward proper preparation gave me, if results are considered, a confident and winning approach in a very competitive first move into industry from a Big Four accountancy firm.”

    James, London

  • “I have worked with Helen for six years. She has been very effective in helping me through a change in career, and through ensuing regular executive coaching sessions that keep me on track.”

    Ross, Reading, Berkshire

  • “From the start I was impressed with Helen’s energy, professionalism and the way that she dealt with me as an individual, this support has been invaluable, thank you.”

    Liam, Marlborough, Wiltshire

  • “I was facing an important life transition after 35 years in the corporate world so finding renewed purpose and re-inventing my identity was essential. With Helen’s coaching and encouragement I have secured voluntary work and am in the process of identifying further options by using my network.”

    Gill, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

  • “I am finally out the other side now and feel like a new person. I have accepted a finance role, which will hopefully free up some time for family and exploring my new love of interior design. Couldn’t have got there without you!”

    Amanda, Hook, Hampshire

  • “I was made redundant from a senior executive role in a global publishing company. I have now landed a job that really excites me, and I am extremely grateful to Helen for her support and expertise.”

    Andrew, Oxford

Get started with your own career breakthrough, today.