Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Bilawchuk.
Kim, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I studied business as an undergrad because my dad was a banker, and he said I should go to business school. It seemed like a good plan until I took my first accounting and finance classes! So I started taking management and psychology courses, which were far more interesting to me. Upon graduation, I took a job with a high-tech company in HR, managed their college relations program, and completed my MBA (thanks Teradyne!). After 5 years, I moved to a financial services company to do a similar role in a very different cultural workplace. Good-bye jeans, hello business suits!
I took a career development course as part of my MBA program that changed my life. After a semester of intensive self-reflection, I decided it was time for me to try something new. After a series of informational interviews (much more labor intensive before the advent of sites like LinkedIn and Facebook!), I decided to transfer my coaching and counseling skills as an HR professional to working with students in higher education. I developed college relations strategies for a couple of high-tech companies, and ultimately, returned to school to get a counseling degree and work in university career services offices. Ahhh, happy to have finally found a role and culture that felt “right”! After several years counseling students, creating and delivering workshops, coordinating career fairs, I’ve transitioned, yet again, to running my own career coaching business.
About a year ago, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training and now teach a couple classes a week at a local studio. I’m also passionate about introducing yoga to kids, especially to help them manage the stress and emotions they experience with the busyness of balancing activities, school, and home lives.
I love the flexibility I have to manage my businesses and be a mom to my 2 school-aged children.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Running your own business is always filled with obstacles and challenges! I’ve learned a lot about what works and doesn’t and am continuously altering my strategies to make sure I’m attracting the right types of clients and offering what they need. There’s so much more focus on social media today than 10 years ago, that I’ve needed to figure out where my audience is hanging out and what kind of support they need. My target market is also a bit different because I market both to my clients (new/recent college grads). But their parents also often want to know about my services as they help finance my services.
I started my business to have the flexibility to work around my family’s schedule, and I’ve been able to do that. It means that my work schedule is sometimes erratic, my “full” days are generally only 4-5 hours, and that sometimes I still need to take clients calls when my kids are home sick or on a snow day.
I generally downshift my business for the summer so I can spend more time with my kids. Because of this my income can be inconsistent from month-t0-month.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kim Bilawchuk Career Coach – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Kim Bilawchuk is committed to getting college students and young professionals “unstuck” and finding the career of their dreams. If you are looking for a proven professional who can help you identify what you’re good at and what interests you, create a plan to get where you want to be, and help you develop the skills and tools you need to achieve your success, you’ve come to the right place.
With 20 years of corporate and academic counseling experience working with amazing clients with similar worries and concerns and guiding them to achieve remarkable success, her mission and commitment is to help EVERYONE find their dream careers.
Kim coached and counseled professionals in a variety of corporate technology and financial services settings at companies such as Teradyne and BNY Mellon Financial. She has also counseled students of all ages and backgrounds at many local college and universities, including Babson College, Boston University, Boston College and most recently at UMass Lowell, where she has taught a Professional Development Seminar to help students prepare for co-op and the world of work.
Kim knows what it’s like to be stuck in a job you hate, she’s been there, and is committed to helping you get to your dream job now!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m always looking ahead to be able to offer my clients the support they need to find the jobs they love. Here are some of the new things I’m working on:
“Just-in-time” programs so clients can select a-la-carte the services they need like interviewing skills, skills assessment, networking skills, job search strategies
Interviewing skills for high school students preparing for their college interviews.
Integrating more mindfulness and visualization into my career coaching, bringing in what I’ve learned as a yogi to the world of work.
Introducing middle school students to yoga to help them be more confident in their own minds and bodies, giving them the tools to cope with the activities, relationships, and stresses of their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kbcareercoach.com
- Phone: 7816960926
- Email: kim@kbcareercoach.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kbcareercoach
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kbcareercoach
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/kbcareercoach
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/kbcareercoach
Image Credit:
Adobe Stock Images
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