Peter worked with me as a career coach and has been incredible. He gets to know you, what you want to achieve and builds the steps to get you there.
He is an amazing listener and is able to pick out the fine points of what you are saying which is rare!! His advice, plan and interview coaching ARE THE REASON I have my new career. His attention to detail, patience and professionalism is second to none. What I believe makes Peter the only choice in career coaching is that he wants you to succeed just as much as you do, if not more. He is not like the usual copy and paste mentors, he tailors it to you and I felt comfortable and at ease with Peter and his method from the first session, which made all the difference!
Engaging Peter proved to be an excellent choice. He was encouraging, supportive and made practical suggestions which really helped me. Peter was responsive and always available when I wanted to contact him. He was generous with his time and there was one occasion I recall in particular when he rang me back at very short notice to give his input on an important matter.
Peter has a wealth of experience and obviously understands his clients’ needs. I would have no hesitation in recommending Peter.
I first became aware of Peter and his company, Career Development Associates in late 2016.My wife heard Peter in a radio interview and told me I should listen to it. She had heard plenty of my ‘I need to do something different career wise’ moments. It took me a few weeks, but I did listen to it. The interview really resonated with me and I knew that I needed to remove myself from my employment ‘comfort zone’ and arrange a conversation with Peter, just to explore my inner ambitions a bit.
I met with Peter in early 2017. Our first meeting seemed to fly by as I went into great detail with him about my current career status and my wish to improve my situation. The same employer for 26 years.Restaurant manager overseeing 40+ staff.
A lot of things going for me, so why was I meeting with him.I suppose I needed some focus on how I wished to now prioritise things in my life. Our subsequent meetings focused on what my strengths were, what I enjoyed doing and how I wished to push ahead, career wise.
My conversations with Peter were the most insightful, thought provoking and motivational encounters I have ever had. I do believe that my career was on hold and I was stuck, so to speak. Peter coached me in terms of my confidence, becoming inwardly driven to make that change and making me realise that the only person that could alter my situation was me.
His vast expertise across a broad section of the employment industry coupled with an in-depth knowledge of what potential employers are really looking for, make a conversation with Peter an absolute must for you, no matter what your employment status is.
I am about open my own business and can say with absolute confidence that without meeting Peter and availing of the professional service that Career Development Associates provide, my career would still be on hold.My conversations with Peter were game changing for me and my family and can be for you also.
The service provided by Peter is outstanding. Transitioning between job is difficult at the best of times but Peter’s support and advice will get you focused and motivated putting you in a positive frame of mind. Peter’s experience, work plans and tools will have you on the right track in no time. I would highly recommend the service provided by Career development Associates.
I would very much recommend Peter to anyone going through a career transition. Personally, his continuous support, both technical and emotional, and his impressive professionalism have made a difference.
He was continually available, and in many cases, went above and beyond what I expected in supporting me through difficult “ups and downs” of the transition process.
Following many years of being self-employed, I was looking to transition into a more permanent training role, with an organization where I could continue to develop both personally and professionally. Contacting and working with Peter O’Connell was a godsend.
From our initial conversations he used his in-depth knowledge and experience to look well beyond the surface of my situation. He understood both my needs and wants, as well as the obstacles facing me. His professionalism speaks for itself.
Peter challenged me to question my negative automatic thoughts and to have patience with the process, as any career transition takes time. He helped me build momentum, keep on track and stay positive. He went above and beyond in being there as a sounding board, particularly when I needed to vent my frustrations.
If you are looking for an experienced, emotionally intelligent and wise mentor, look no further. Peter is the real deal and what’s more, he will make sure you see results.
I don’t think I could ever thank this man enough, for what he has done for me and for my career.
In the summer of 2016, I was very unhappy in my work place, and I was not content that the industry and job that I had studied and worked for, was the right one for me. I went into my work place feeling de motivated and stressed. I actually feared going into work everyday. Although I was in a challenging role that gained me great experience, I knew I didn’t want to be there for years. However, I did not know what direction to take, or if there was any new career path for me to take.
I went onto LinkedIn and found Peter’s profile, I listened to some of his pod casts and read some of his reviews. I rang Peter and he set up a meeting to give him a better understanding of my background and experience to date. Peter listened very carefully to me and designed a career package and coaching package that would suit my needs.
In my second meeting with him he told me to write down 1.01.17 on my desktop screen at work as a motivator, as by that date, I would have progressed through my work plan and I would be in a work place that added value to my career.
Peter coached me to build up my confidence and work on my personal development and professionalism. This allowed me to apply for my ideal role. Peter worked through my portfolio and helped me gain contacts through networking. Peter also coached me through difficult periods that I was having in my current work place, and how to deal with conflict, and how to best prepare for performance reviews.
In Dec 2016, I got offered a role as a project manager with one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. I am now in a role that is the perfect fit for me, and I couldn’t be happier. I am now on a stronger career path, and I am using my skills where they can utilised fully.
I am so grateful that I came across Peter and his company. He is an absolute professional and his experience allows him to have answers for any question or situation thrown at him.
Thanks Again Peter!
“Just reflecting on my time since resigning in Oct 2014 and the events that have happened throughout the last 6 months:One of the biggest fortunes throughout this period was meeting up with Peter O’Connell and having him as my mentor. His understanding, style, knowledge and expertise were exactly what I needed as I entered into a period of uncertainty, one that I had never experienced throughout my career. He skilfully guided me through the emotional rollercoaster that I experienced, and gave me the reassurance that I would be successful in my quest to get a job. He was always available to offer and share his expert advice be it, a phone call, an email or a meeting. At no stage did I ever feel disconnected or uncomfortable with our arrangement.
His real strength is understanding the emotional challenge, and knowing how to navigate through various stages of the transition in a subtle, yet professional way. His schedule of expectations and tasks necessary to complete, were made very clear in order for me to succeed in this journey. His knowledge and skill in designing a “Professional CV” and matching it to the job specification plus knowing what to expect at the various stages of the interview process were invaluable. These I believe were the real difference between me being called for an interview and being successful in getting the job offer.
I will be eternally grateful for having met up with Peter, and for all that he did for me. I hope I get the opportunity to return the compliment in the near future. On behalf of my family and myself, I wish Peter continued success in his career and life choices.”
My opportunity to work with Peter came after I was made redundant having worked for the same company for 10 years. Having never been unemployed before I found the whole experience quite challenging and tended towards a negative outlook but Peter always persuaded me to see the positives and opportunities that were now open to me.I found his support and structured approach to be invaluable during the whole process. He had ample time for me and I always looked forward to our meetings and felt infinitely more positive after each one. He is very knowledgeable about industry and knows what it takes to succeed.
I relied heavily on his expertise and am indebted to him for helping me secure a new position. I wholeheartedly recommend the career-enhancing services Peter has to offer and wish him all the very best with his new venture and adventure!”
“Looking for a new career path and a new direction can often be daunting and frightening. During the recession, I was put in this position where I needed this help. With Peter’s careful, honest and measured guidance we worked through a programme where I learned about myself, my career ambitions and where I wanted to go next.Peter helped shape my experience into meaningful achievements and slowly we created a new CV and a career direction and opened up my mind to new possibilities.
I can confidently say that I still use elements of his approach when I am coaching my team, and also when I’m looking for a new challenge myself. I’d highly recommend anyone who wants to take an honest inventory of where they’ve come from and shape where they are going to talk to Peter. You won’t be disappointed.”
“I first meet Peter in 2019. I was working as a Financial Accountant in a multinational company.My journey to accountancy was very different to most people. For the first part of my career, I worked in the family business which was in retail, and I went back to study accountancy in my 30’s. As such I was not the “typical accountant”.
When I met Peter, I was at a crossroads as I was not a natural fit with the company, I was working in. He helped me navigate this situation and gain back my confidence after a difficult time.
The result of this was gaining my position as Group Financial Accountant in my current company, which was a much better fit for me.
Fast forward two years. I needed Peter again – this time it was to help me progress in my current role. I felt I was on the verge of moving up in the company but lacked the confidence to put myself out there.
Peter helped me deal with the issues that were holding me back. He gave me a detailed plan on how I could achieve my goals and focus more. He also pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to improve my presence in the business. I took on new projects that I might not have done before.
Result – I have achieved my ideal role as Group Financial Controller in a company that I really like and that fits with my values and my ambitions as a person.
I cannot recommend Peter enough; he is a great listener and helps you focus on the positives and what you can offer a company. He really helped me to develop my confidence and for that I am forever grateful.”
“Peter provided wonderful support and encouragement when I was looking to change direction within my career area. He really listened to my concerns and provided practical support and help when I needed it. His structured plan and high level of engagement allowed me to get a clear idea of what I really wanted out of my career move, and what that would look like in terms of my work-life balance. He then worked with me until I got the job that allowed me to tick all those boxes. I would not be where I am today without him, hiring Peter turned out to be some of the best money I have ever spent on myself and I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
“After 20 years of running my own business, I was at an age where I needed more security and I wanted to explore the idea of working full time for an employer. I was unsure of myself not having worked in the corporate sector for a long time. After thoroughly debriefing me Peter enabled me to see the impressive set of skills that I had developed over the time. He gave me a lot of excellent guidance and most importantly the confidence to move forward. His method is flexible which I really liked, and he is a pleasure to work with. I have just accepted a full-time high level position which I can’t wait to start and at a salary that I am really happy with. I would highly recommend Peter for anyone looking to develop or change their career or simply for great advice.”
Peter O’Connell is one of the best investments I’ve ever made in order to turbo boost my career,He gave me strong advice on what really matters when you are trying to obtain a senior role,
He was also flexible with time & made the process insightful with his suite of personal exploration tests.
I’m now in the role destination I always wanted and starting to move faster within my career.
My key learning is if you want it bad enough you will get there, but you need sound direction, and this is what Peter gives.