When Elizabeth, a seasoned senior business analyst, started feeling undervalued in her role, she didn’t know where to begin to change her situation. She had been with her company for some time, doing work that went beyond her official title and responsibilities, yet she struggled to get the recognition, authority, and compensation she deserved.
“I felt that my work was being undervalued, and that I was being undervalued,” Elizabeth shared. “I was a senior-level manager doing director-level work, and I didn’t know how to go about getting recognized, or how to ask for the authority and compensation I deserved.”
That’s when a friend recommended Dawn Quesnel, better known as Coach DQ. Elizabeth saw the potential value in working with a career coach and decided to reach out. The timing couldn’t have been better, as she was also facing challenges in navigating the online job search landscape, social media, and personal branding.
Learning to Advocate and Build a Personal Brand
One of the first things Dawn helped Elizabeth with was focusing her goals and establishing a clear strategy. They worked on internet job search techniques, how to brand herself professionally, and how to tailor her CV to target the right keywords for her desired roles.
“Dawn helped to focus me,” Elizabeth recalled. “I learned about internet job search strategies, how to brand myself, and tailor my CV for different keywords. I also whittled down the list of jobs I really want. I’m equally comfortable in business and technology; I’m equally right-brained and left-brained, with a foot in both worlds. Dawn gave me really good strategies for how to manage that balance and utilize my skills as a creative problem solver.”
Navigating a Workplace Reorganization
While Elizabeth was working with Coach DQ, her division went through a major reorganization. She watched as some colleagues, who she felt were less qualified or productive, were promoted into new roles. Frustrated and disheartened, Elizabeth turned to Dawn for advice.
“I was mad! Here were these people who hadn’t been doing anything—they weren’t delivering. And yet they were getting promoted,” Elizabeth explained. “DQ said I had to start advocating for myself, and gave me strategies for doing just that. ‘They’re not going to promote you just because you’re doing your job well,’ she told me. And she was right! I had to let my bosses know in a professional manner that I was unhappy.”
This shift in perspective was pivotal for Elizabeth. Instead of quietly hoping her hard work would eventually be noticed, she began to take a proactive approach in making her contributions known.
The Power of Self-Advocacy
With Coach DQ’s guidance, Elizabeth approached her boss with a bold, yet professional, message. She addressed the lack of growth opportunities for top performers and presented a job description for the role she wanted, one that aligned with her skills and contributions.
“I said to my boss, ‘It’s very unfortunate that there are no career opportunities for the top performers in this organization. It’s not good for the organization.’ I already had a job description for the work I wanted to do. My boss made a couple of changes, then showed it to his boss,” she shared.
Within a week, her proactive approach paid off. Elizabeth had successfully negotiated a promotion, along with an 8% raise—a tangible reward for her initiative and hard work.
Staying on Track with Support from Coach DQ
Throughout this journey, Dawn provided Elizabeth with the tools she needed to stay organized and focused. From forms and cheat sheets to strategic planning guides, Dawn’s approach offered Elizabeth a structured path toward her goals.
“Through it all, DQ kept me right on task,” Elizabeth said. “She gives me forms, cheat sheets, and strategies to guide my process. The questionnaires I received prior to our first session really helped me crystallize what areas I wanted to focus on during our time together.”
Reflecting on the Most Impactful Part of Coaching
When asked what the most helpful part of working with Dawn was, Elizabeth laughed and replied, “Strategizing. I’m smart enough to recognize what I need to do to move forward, but I don’t always know how to go about it!”
Working with Coach DQ gave Elizabeth more than just career advice—it gave her the tools, confidence, and strategy to advocate for herself and achieve the recognition she deserved. With her promotion and raise, Elizabeth is now thriving in a role that aligns with her capabilities and aspirations, equipped with the skills to continue growing her career.
If you’re looking to take control of your career, overcome professional challenges, or navigate a workplace transition, Coach DQ’s services could be the support you need. Discover how personalized career coaching can make all the difference—visit CoachDQ.com to learn more.
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