smart career

& Life design

Susan Martin, Ed.D., PCC, CMC

Trustworthy Guidance for

Women with PhDs and Other Doctoral Degrees

Individual Career & Life Coaching

Online Group Programs

Consulting for Higher Education

Doctoral Careers Have Changed 

Gone are the days when earning a PhD or other doctoral degree prepared individuals only for faculty careers or traditional research positions. And the pandemic has radically changed the way most people want to work.

In today’s economy, doctoral level professionals have highly developed and valuable transferable skills that can be used in a wide range of careers paths in private industry, government, nonprofits and entrepreneurial ventures.

Typical doctoral training does not include opportunities to explore career options or learn the skills necessary to effectively job search or manage ones’ career over time. This can leave newer and even seasoned doctoral level professionals feeling ill equipped to effectively identify and pursue work that they love.

I work individually with doctoral level clients at all stages of their careers on a very wide range of career and life issues including career pivots, job searches, professional development, job satisfaction and transition and retirement issues.

I also consult with higher education organizations to improve career services for doc students, postdocs and doctoral alumni.

  • Why career & Life Coaching?

    Coaching facilitates self-reflection and can increase your awareness of your short and longer-term career and life goals, unique skills and strengths and guiding values.

    Coaching supports you as you build new knowledge, competencies and confidence for managing your career and conducting a more effective job search.

    Coaching helps you craft your personalized and persuasive “value added” narrative for potential employers.

    Coaching can enable you identify and address limiting beliefs and behaviors that may be holding you back from reaching your career goals.

    Coaching teaches you how to create a career and life you want, helps you get unstuck, and can increase your peace of mind, happiness and joy.

    My Services

MY COACHING & Consultation approach

  • Awareness

    It all starts by focusing on you and what you want in life and your career. Coaching can help you identify your priorities, values, unique combination of strengths, skills and interests. You may already know what your ideal life and career look like - your vision can to be illuminated through coaching. If you are feeling frustrated with your career, job or life, coaching can help you reconnect with yourself and what you truly want.

  • Relationship

    I believe that all of my clients are creative, resourceful and capable human beings. As a coach I work to develop trust, listen with empathy and ask powerful questions. During each session we’ll focus on your agenda. As we work together, you’ll have the opportunity become more aware of barriers to achieving your career goals. Coaching can help you identify options and action steps that work for you and your situation. You are always in “the drivers seat”.

  • Resources

    During our coaching appointments, you’ll benefit from my expertise and experience working with 1,500+doctoral students, postdocs and alumni. I’ll share resources relevant to your career goals and challenges. I provide valuable feedback on application materials, your LinkedIn profile, and how you are presenting yourself to employers during interviews. This feedback can build confidence and enable you to conduct a more efficient and effective job search.

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