When investing money, most people have clear goals and strategies. But what about the career that generates those investment funds? Northern Virginia’s father-daughter career coaches, Chris Ricci and Lauren Ricci, emphasize the importance of investing in your “body of work,” a portfolio of skills and experiences that enhance your professional opportunities.
“In terms of investing and building that body of work, it’s a lot like financial investing,” Chris said. “It involves risk and learning new skills and keeping up with trends and which courses to take.”
You can invest in your professional career at any (and all) stages and in any (and all) industries. About 10 percent of the clients the Riccis assist at their NVA Career Coaching business are recent college graduates or early in their careers, while 70 percent are making a career transition. About 20 percent are late in their careers or looking to work at least part-time through retirement. The Riccis estimate that they’ve worked with people in nearly all industries.
“Well, we’ve never had a client who’s a logger,” Chris admitted with a smile.
The Complete Career Approach
The Riccis recommend the following five elements of a successful career investment:
1. Career Assessments: Deep evaluations guide clients in identifying strengths, areas for growth, and suitable career paths. Discover which roles best suit you by assessing your skills, personal style, and motivational style. At NVA Career Coaching, the Riccis help you uncover and then use this information to identify three career roles, then they assist you in branding yourself for those roles.
“The more focused you are, the better,” said Chris, who often sees people sending out countless resumes, to no avail. “You need to know who you are, the value you bring, how you bring that value, and the role you’re looking for.”
Following the assessment, his clients receive comprehensive resources, including an e-book with the assessment results (typically 60-70 slides) and a personal career summary document, which also helps clients prepare for job interviews.
“We work with many clients who are employed but want a change and are not sure where to go or how to do it,” Chris said. “When you have the assessment phase document, it’s a guide for them—they can act on it right away or not. It’s worth it to take a deep dive and look at yourself and make that investment—it’s direction for the future.”
2. Networking & Mentorship: Career advancement depends on cultivating meaningful connections and leveraging personal networks.
Chris calls networking the most underrated form of career investment. “If you’re not going to do anything else, you have to let people know your story,” he said. “It’s just communicating; you’re not asking for a job. I could tell you stories of unbelievable networking and quirky connections that paid off for clients. We help them develop their story, and then they get in the networking pool.”
He described four types of people who should be in your network: a driver, a teacher, a maintenance crew, and a motivator. “We coach people to look for those people in their network and use those people to help you,” Chris said.
“Networking doesn’t have to be people in your field,” Lauren added. “It could be a neighbor you’re talking to who has a connection who can help you.”
Don’t overlook volunteering as a way to both build skills and network, Chris said. “It gives you a chance to practice networking,” he said. “You run across so many people, and you can hone your skills and abilities and get leads on new trends.”
3. Mock Interviews & Coaching: Work with a coach or friend to practice in-depth, role-specific mock interviews to prepare yourself for this essential part of the process. The Riccis work with communication coaches, offering practices and evaluations to perfect client performance.
4. Certifications & Education: Targeted certifications and courses can enhance career prospects and differentiate professionals in the job market.
Continuing education helps to “future proof” your career, Chris said. “No one can predict what’s coming, but future proofing and using certifications can differentiate you from other candidates.”
5. Career Investment Strategies: Budget the time and financial resources you devote to your career search wisely, for the long term.
Chris said it’s essential throughout your career to find time daily to keep your network alive.“You have to find ways to harvest time from your day,” he said. “Just a few messages on LinkedIn or emails or calls. There are ways to harvest time, and it compounds.”
Another investment Chris recommends: LinkedIn. “Get LinkedIn Premium,” he said. “They give you a free month, then it’s $39, and you can see who’s looked at your profile and send them an InMail. When you look at the doors that is going to open, it’s worth it. I see people wring their hands over a small investment, and they ignore the long-term payoff.”
Practical and Pragmatic
So how long does it take to see a return on your investment if you work with a career coach?
That, Chris said, is everyone’s big question.
“It really depends on the client, how engaged they are,” he said. “There’s no easy answer. Our initial term is 120 days, but we can extend if it takes longer. You typically start seeing some response, whether it’s knowing more about yourself, having a solid resume and LinkedIn profile, or a call for an interview within 30 to 60 days.”
If you’re trying to combine your passion with your career, however, Chris recommends caution. “We don’t believe that if you find something you love you’ll never work a day in your life,” he said. “Save that passion for hobbies. Save it as an energy provider, and focus on another full-time role.”
Another piece of advice: Don’t try to turn your weaknesses into strengths. “You will spend so much time trying to improve small weaknesses, and you will ignore the strengths you have,” he said. “There’s a sledgehammer of pragmatism that we bring and a level set. We want to keep your spirit up, but also, let’s look pragmatically.”
For Chris and Lauren, hearing that they’ve helped a client is their greatest reward. “We win when our clients win,” Chris said, “and they win when they reach their objective.”
If you’re interested in a free, one-hour consultation, Chris and Lauren will share their program, send you a guide, and help you focus your thinking about your career. “Take a risk, which might be just reaching out,” he said.
To learn more about NVA Career Coaching, go to nvacareercoaching.com.
“In terms of investing and building that body of work, it’s a lot like financial investing. It involves risk and learning new skills and keeping up with trends and which courses to take.” —Chris Ricci
“The more focused you are, the better. You need to know who you are, the value you bring, how you bring that value, and the role you’re looking for.” —Chris Ricci