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Client Testimonials
From time to time we interview a client or former client about his or her career transition and their experience with Kelleher Associates.
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August 2004
Kim Rainey recently became the Vice President of Marketing and Director of Strategic Marketing Programs for PNC Advisors, a Wealth Management Division of the PNC Financial Services Group. We sat down with her to discuss her career transition and experience with Kelleher Associates.
Can you share with us some of your career highlights?
I have 25 years of marketing experience with my primary expertise being in marketing communications. I spent the majority of my career on the corporate side within the financial services industry. I have also had experience on the agency side while working at three different advertising firms. The consistent thread throughout my career has been building marketing programs and helping businesses grow with an emphasis on marketing communications.
How did you come to choose Kelleher Associates to assist you in your career transition?
I had heard about Kelleher Associates from a couple of other people who had been working with them, specifically with Mitch Wienick. I was ready to make a career transition, and was looking to expand my network, tighten up my resume, and polish my interviewing skills. I felt that Kelleher could help me re-position myself in the market and provide resources to aid this process.
How did you position the time you spent in transition to prospective employers?
Initially I was of the mind set that it wouldn’t be long before my next job. I didn’t anticipate being in an extended search mode. I still had consulting clients here and there, so I continued to work using my expertise. As I began to speak with prospective employers, I was reasonably comfortable talking about this work. During this time I also became extremely involved with the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group, a non-profit professional association for executives.
At first, I was a member who would periodically show up at the breakfasts or networking sessions, but within six months, I gravitated toward working actively on the group’s marketing needs. Over time, there was so much to do it became a virtual full time job for me. The fact that I was actively involved and doing real, legitimate marketing work gave me credibility with prospective employers.
What was the value of being an officer with the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group?
For me, it was personally satisfying because I was able to be involved in setting the direction of a new organization. It was a position in which I could truly use my marketing experience. I was building programs while working with minimal resources. It was challenging. I had the opportunity to help set up a series of events, manage our successes and see people enjoying networking opportunities.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your job search?
At the time, the economy was horrendous. I was working against a tight market and knew I did not want to leave the Philadelphia area. This left me with a very slim inventory of senior level marketing positions. Working around these two barriers was definitely the biggest challenge for me. This was when networking became a huge resource.
What were the most productive networking techniques you used during your career transition?
The most important technique I used was taking an active role in generating networking opportunities. I took advantage of networking breakfasts and sessions through GPSEG and Kelleher Associates. After meeting contacts in a group setting, I would follow up with them and set up a time to grab coffee or lunch. Utilizing the contacts I made during a networking session was important to me. I would meet with fellow marketing professionals or individuals with ties to the financial services world – people who shared a common background or experience with me. We would discuss job opportunities, companies that we knew were looking for people, or professionals we had in common. They were productive conversations. It was an opportunity for us to expand each of our networks.
At the same time I made a point of contacting former colleagues and staying in close touch with them. My personal business network was just as helpful and important to me as the new group of contacts I was making.
Networking through my coach at Kelleher was also a productive technique for me. Specifically working with Mitch, I was able to make additional networking contacts which led to a number of job leads. Through our conversations, he was able to point me in other directions beyond my own personal contacts. He put me in touch with people who were, or had been in similar positions. He also introduced me to contacts who could help me get in the door at my targeted companies.
What were some value-added benefits of working with Mitch and Kelleher Associates?
The one-on-one conversations with Mitch were absolutely a value-add for me during my transition. It was a huge help to have someone who listened objectively and responded constructively. Mitch was able to reflect back my own experience, allowing me to see myself from a different angle. His distillation of my goals helped me to position myself most effectively.
These personal reflection exercises really helped me to see how I could best approach my search. During the transition process, you don’t often tend to stop and strategize adequately. You’re full steam ahead from the start. Mitch reminded me that reflection and self-analysis are important steps toward reaching your next career goal. He ultimately helped me improve my personal sales process as I moved through my career transition.
The whole team at Kelleher was a support system for me. It was valuable for me to have someone outside my immediate circle, outside my family, who could evaluate my goals and guide me in the right direction. The Kelleher network itself was an enormous value-add. Mitch, and other members of the team, gave me contacts and leads I could take advantage of that I wouldn’t necessarily know of on my own.
How are you keeping up with your networking currently?
That’s a great question. My new job is definitely keeping me very busy, and I love that, but I also know how important it is to keep up the networking. I keep in close touch with my own personal network of professionals as well as those contacts from GPSEG and Kelleher, who have become personal friends as well as colleagues. We’ll grab coffee or lunch on a regular basis and catch up, discussing the market and what’s out there.
I’m also meeting new people who are sent to me through GPSEG or by Mitch. I try to set up meetings with these people to do my part in helping them look for their next job. I want to be a resource for people as much as I can, because I know how important that networking is when you’re looking.
Would you recommend Kelleher Associates’ services to other professionals?
Absolutely. I would recommend Kelleher to people who have a lot of experience, a lot to contribute, and are back in the job market for the first time in a long time. Kelleher is excellent at organizing your process so you can get going immediately. I would also recommend Kelleher to people who are feeling stuck in a rut in their current job and don’t know how to go about making a change. There are many transition periods during a career and Kelleher is an excellent resource during each stage.
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