Need a jolt of inspiration? Read these coaching success stories of my clients landing their dream job and dream salary. My clients persevere through long job searches, demoralizing hiring practices, and unexpected twists and turns to believe in themselves, advocate for their worth, and shine as their best selves. The result: a huge salary increase with extra benefits—and a job they love.
Excited to create your own success story? Let’s work together!
L Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
Sometimes you’re applying for dozens of jobs over a year, or sometimes you apply for one dream job and land it within a month!
Let’s tell the story L aka the fastest client to land a new job! L came to me because she was ready for a change: she had been at her current job for over 6 years and was feeling plateaued. It was time to level up her career and expand her leadership.
At this moment, a dream job came to her from a colleague: a director-level job at an organization in the community she lives in. It checked all of the boxes of what she was looking for.
We jumped into coaching: fine-tuning her interview answers to highlight her strengths and showcasing specific stories of past success. She immediately rose to being the top candidate and the process picked up the pace.
Throughout this entire process: we also discussed what L wanted in her next job. The biggest pain point she was experiencing was a struggle with work/life balance to show up for her child’s life events. She wanted a more family-friendly work environment that didn’t make her feel guilty for taking time for family.
When it came time for a one-on-one interview with her future boss over coffee, I encouraged her to be honest about what was looking for. I was thrilled to receive this note after the interview! “I brought my authentic self and asked about work life balance, something I would never have done before talking to you.”
She showed up as her true self and she landed the job!
We celebrated her increasing her salary by $17k to bump up into the coveted $100k+ salary range, getting her ideal start date, and leveling up into that Director title!
One job application + one month of interviews = ideal next job. That’s a pretty great equation!
P.S. from L herself:
“Shannon was an amazing coach to work with. She helped boost my confidence for interviewing and provided very helpful feedback. She coached me through every step of the process letting me know what to expect and helping me to prepare. And because she is an expert in fundraising it made it so easy to talk through interview processes and questions.
I appreciate that she wanted to make sure I was finding the right job, not just any job. We talked through what that meant and what questions I needed to ask to make sure I was making the right move.
I felt comfortable working with Shannon less than 5 minutes into our first call – even after she told me we would be recording sessions so I could look back and watch myself – something I was dreading, but proved to be so helpful. She made sure to make time for coaching sessions before I had interviews so that I was well prepared and felt confident. Shannon is somebody who will make you instantly feel like a friend and she will be your biggest cheerleader along the way (but is not afraid to point out how many times you say ‘um’).”
S Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
When we talk about perseverance in a job search, what do we really mean? It means that it may take over a year and you may need to apply to the same company twice for two different positions, but you never stop believing in your talent.
This is the story of S who just landed her dream job. S did not have a traditional work history– she graduated from a conservatory, but not having a bachelor’s made it seem like options were limited. Toxic work environments chipped away at her confidence, fueling imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
When I met S, she was juggling DoorDash, wedding gigs, and freelance work—doing whatever it took to get by. But she was also starting to rediscover her voice with values-aligned clients, support, guidance, and a lot of resilience. She is incredibly talented at what she does!
Even though business was taking a turn for the better, she knew she wanted a stable salaried job with benefits. As she said, “I want to know who I am when I’m financially secure.” Over the course of a year she simultaneously built up her consulting business while she fine-tuned her story when applying for full-time jobs.
Months ago, S applied for a role at this organization. She wasn’t selected for an interview, and while they did note that she made it to the top 10% of applicants, she felt discouraged and disappointed. Her gut told her it was the right place. So when another position opened up, she trusted that instinct and applied again.
Not only did she fly through the interviews, but she found out why she didn’t get the other position, which was that they were looking for a specific type of experience she didn’t have. During the interviews, multiple people said, “We were hoping you would apply! We loved your writing from your last application!”
You better believe she got the job + her ideal salary + fully remote + benefits!
I got to share in her joy of getting the perfect job offer (my favorite part of the job!). I’m so happy she persevered through the many challenges over this last year, to get the financial stability + creative job she dreamed of.
From S Herself:
“Working with Shannon was a turning point. At a time when I was juggling multiple jobs to get by, she was the first person to spot the through line of my skill set: that everything I loved doing—content, messaging, strategy—was communications. That realization rewired something in me.
From there, she helped me sharpen my resume, clarify my voice, and gave me permission to let my personality (and my awesome taste in music) take up space on my LinkedIn. I also knew I could bring any question to her, no matter how small or chaotic, and get clear, expert guidance from someone thoroughly heart-aligned.
I just landed my first official communications role, and it feels like I’ve finally caught up to the version of myself she saw all along. It is not hyperbolic to say that I wouldn’t have become who I was meant to be to get this job had it not been for Shannon.”
L Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
Sometimes it’s time to change jobs because you want more money, and sometimes it’s because you want to have a stronger heart connection to your work. When you’re dragging yourself to the office and dreading your tasks: you know it’s time to make a big shift to align your heart with your work.
Let’s tell the story of L who made a big leap that totally paid off! L had been fundraising for 20 years, but it was no longer inspiring her. When she came to me, she had withdrawn from several searches because they weren’t exciting to her. She knew that she wanted to switch to a Chief of Staff role but wasn’t sure how.
One thing I always talk about is to “warm up your network” when making a job change and tell anyone and everyone (within reason!) about your desired new job. You never know who will connect you with that new job! Case in point is this story.
L was at church one day and her pastor approached her about becoming more involved and volunteering. L said that she was interested but needed to know the time commitment because, in addition to working full-time and being a parent, she was in the midst of a new job search. “Oh, in fundraising?” “No, actually I’m working to switch to a Chief of Staff role.”
Cue stunned silence.
“We’re actually about to hire a Chief of Staff here and I think you would be perfect for it.”
And yes, you guessed it–she got the job!
Now L has achieved her career pivot, doing work she loves, at an organization that is near and dear to her heart. She was able to match her existing salary and PTO so she could step into this job that aligned with both her values and her budget. Now instead of counting down the days until retirement, she’s excited to go to work and tackle something new each day!
P.S. from L herself:
“Whenever anyone in my network is looking to change jobs or careers, I recommend Monsoon Leadership. Shannon advised me midway through what ended up to be a five-month search. She helped me prepare for interviews as well debriefed, aiding me to see things clearer than if I had gone through the process by myself.
And during a complex negotiation process and weighing job opportunities, we worked together to determine what I absolutely needed versus what would be nice to have but weren’t deal breakers. Shannon inevitably helped me feel very confident in my final decision. It’s so important to have someone like her in your corner!”
S Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
I always say that the best revenge for a terrible boss is going out and getting a baller new job—and that’s exactly what S did.
When S came to me, she was in a super toxic work environment where she was actively being documented and pushed out. She was actually thrilled when they fired her because it tasted like freedom.
However, the scars of toxic workplaces linger longer than anyone wants them to. As we worked on her materials for her job search and practiced her interview questions, the hurt and anger over how she been mistreated snuck out into her answers. We worked together to identify those moments, rehearse new answers, and show up in interviews as hopeful and confident as possible.
Not long after we started working together, a dream job popped up: a mission she had a deep connection with, a fully remote position, an ideal salary, and a fancy title. We worked together on making her materials speak from the heart about her connection to the mission and they called her right away to interview.
Next, we dove into interview prep, practicing telling her story and working through tricky questions that could trigger past trauma. S flew through the interviews and before we knew it: she had a job offer for $28k more than she was making and a fancy VP title—and fully remote!
Within two months of being fired, she landed an amazing new job! I wish I could see her old boss’ face when they see her shiny new job pop up on LinkedIn. Never let a toxic boss limit what you are capable of—there is a job out there that deserves your brilliance. S is living proof!
P.S. from S herself:
I found Shannon on LinkedIn. She had written a post that included the phrase “You cannot pay your bills on ‘passion for the mission.’ This is why I coach people through the job search process, so they can land a job that funds their life. We all deserve financial health and wellbeing.”
At that time, I was burning out in an underpaid, unsupported, poorly defined role while working three part time jobs to make ends meet and being told that I was not “all in” enough, not working hard enough, not working long enough, and not making enough progress.
When I spoke to Shannon the first time, I felt seen and heard. I decided to invest in myself, and I am so glad that I did.
Shannon helped me create a resume that put my best foot forward. She helped me tailor my job search to jobs that would allow me to bring my full self to work. She heard my request for better pay, work life balance and decent benefits, and did not let me back away from those “MUSTS” in my search.
During our work together, I applied for two roles, each one offering what I sought. Shannon helped me prepare for my interviews, calling me out when I was not putting my abilities and experience front-and-center.
Although we went through the process quickly and a bit out of order—I had an interview before we’d even updated my resume—I fully credit Shannon with helping me land a new job that ticks all the boxes and then some.
Beyond her obvious skill as a coach, Shannon is just a lovely person! She is both a sunny supporter and a tough truth teller and knows which to be when.
TL;DR – I think Shannon is the greatest, and it is a privilege to recommend her!
L Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
Landing your dream job…isn’t always linear. And sometimes a rejection is just a stepping stone. Everything may work out, but maybe not in the way you thought it would. Intrigued? Let’s tell the story of L landing her dream job and almost doubling her salary. Buckle up: twists and turns up ahead!
Rewind all the way back to November 2023. I had been coaching L on her job search and then the DREAM JOB landed in her inbox. She requested that we ramp up her coaching to make sure she was ready to ace the interview process.
This dream job was very specific and a strength of L’s was that she had expertise in this very specific area. It was such a strong fit! We both felt the stars aligning.
Because the position was a C-Suite role, the search was run by a recruiter. This was L’s first time working with a recruiter, so we worked together on how to position L as the top candidate. Many interviews, presentations, and even personality tests later…L was one of the final two candidates. It was thrilling–and nerve wracking!
The ED needed an extra day to think over their final decision between the two candidates.
Then: cue heartbreak.
They picked the other candidate who was more “experienced.” L was such a perfect fit for the role, but she was younger and had not yet managed a team. However, the specificity of this cause plus L’s amazing track record landing huge major gifts made her a strong candidate.
Yet, I see so many leaders pick the “safe choice” even if they really aren’t the best fit for the mission. It was an absolute bummer. But L did the classy “thank yous” to everyone…and thank goodness she did…
Meanwhile at her current job, a new boss had come in, saw what a shining star L is, and was planning to promote her. All the stars were now lining up to get the promotion she deserved at her current organization. We did some coaching on what to ask for in this promotion and how to structure her new role.
Then, a bombshell hit.
The previous organization reached back out…the new hire was leaving after only three months: would L consider this C-Suite role again?
It was exciting, validating, and completely overwhelming. We jumped into coaching again to weigh the options and talk through what L would ask for in the offer.
Here’s the deal about most recruiters: they need their candidates to stay in place for a year or they have to do the search again for free. Plus, this ED had just hired for this role and within three months had to hire again: wiping out any momentum in their development program. They needed to make a hire fast and a hire that would stay at the org. L was in the strongest position she had ever been in the entire process.
I advised her to ask for the top of the range. And yes, she negotiated like a pro and got the top of the range, which is almost DOUBLE what she was making currently!! And she secured other specific benefits, such as a coaching budget to keep working with me in her new role. It is a Cinderella story on steroids!
L went from being undervalued and ignored to having two amazing career options, then stepping into the C-Suite with a baller salary that will change her entire family’s life.
In this one career move, she dramatically shifted the wealth trajectory of her life. Finally her salary reflected the value she brings to an organization. And boy, do I love seeing her wear that C-Suite title!
It is an absolute honor to do this work and help talented people like L step into the careers they deserve. I can’t wait for the next success story!
P.S. from L herself…
“Shannon helped me land my dream job. Her interview prep approach was invaluable. She helped me filter through noise (and, if I’m honest, a little self-doubt) and get down to how I could help this organization transform their development program.
Then she helped me distill those ideas into their purest form, so that not a word was wasted while I made the case for myself and my vision. When the interview process was over, I knew I had done the absolute best I could, and that even if I didn’t get the job I would be proud of the growth that my performance represented.”
G Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
It seems impossible that you can find a dream job that’s a mission about your very specific hobby + fully remote + a life-changing increase in salary…but sometimes the perfect job comes around and you gotta be ready!
Let’s tell the story of G landing his dream job.
G came to me because he was ready to start thinking about changing jobs. He needed a fully remote position because he’s an outdoor enthusiast and doesn’t live in a major city. Also, he’s a grant writer, so there are less jobs to choose from when in a specialized field.
Then two days later, he texted me that he had found his dream job for a nonprofit focused on his very specific hobby. We dove into resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile edits to tell his story to show that he was the perfect candidate.
It worked! Within hours of applying for the job, they invited him in for an interview. We then dove into interview prep, practicing his answers to help him shine. He was immediately the top candidate. He flew through the next few interviews with his new boss praising him each step of the way. G’s confidence grew and grew throughout the process.
Then, the best part: they offered him a life-changing salary—a $37k increase from his last position! And, they matched his current PTO amount to give him an extra week of starting PTO.
So in the end, G gets to write about his passion, is almost doubling his salary, is able to be fully remote, and keeps his same amount of PTO. It’s like the universe heard his wish and granted it! I’m so happy for this life-changing opportunity for G and honored to be part of the process.
P.S. from G himself:
“Working with Shannon was an absolute game-changer in my job search. Her personalized guidance and deep understanding of career advancement helped me secure a role that perfectly aligns with my skills and passions. I couldn’t be more grateful for her expertise and support throughout the process!”
M Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
How do you frame your nontraditional work history for a traditional job? I truly believe your past doesn’t dictate your future. It just takes creative framing of your past jobs to show that you have the core skills for this future position.
Let’s dig into the story of M and how she re-framed her story to land her dream job!
M is super talented and multifaceted. She is amazing at creating structure out of chaos and building systems from scratch. A perfect fit for an operations manager role with one hitch…almost all of her experience was with non-traditional organizations like documentary films, “do-good” start-ups, and other assorted small businesses.
She had been applying to jobs and getting interviews, but not landing any positions, so she came to me. We worked on reframing her experience and telling her story with more clarity and impact. In our interview prep, we honed in on the specific experiences to share that highlight her strengths and applicable skills.
M even created notecards to practice her story and memorize her points. And, it paid off! She landed the operations manager role and they offered her the top of the salary range! This job hit all of her priorities: it was for a nonprofit close to her house where she can work outside on a mission she cares about.
This job was everything she was looking for! On top of that, we brainstormed how she can fit in some extra consulting hours and keep her side business going to help other documentary film organizations while she worked her new 9-to-5.
I truly believe you can be a rockstar at work and have a side business that feeds your soul. I’m doing just that, so I love helping people figure out how to do both and still have time for regular life. I’m so happy for M as she steps into this new job that provides stability while her side business continues to fuel her creativity. Sounds like a good life to me!
P.S. from M herself:
Working with Shannon to clarify what I professionally bring to the table was just what I needed to land my “right fit” position. Most helpful was our interview prep, where I learned to edit and concisely explain myself without getting too far in the weeds about all my experience. In this case, less was more, and it paid off. It allowed the folks who interviewed to really see me.
I can’t thank Shannon enough for seeing me, as well, and helping me make the simple and powerful tweaks needed for this important career pivot.
Z Success Story
Dream Job Coaching
How do you regain hope that you will find your dream job after having a horrible almost-hire experience…all while your current work situation gets worse and worse? It’s hard to throw yourself back into the job search after a disastrous end to a previous search, but your dream job is out there, I know it.
Let’s tell the story of Z and how he dodged a bullet to land a gem of a job.
Things had become really tough at a current job, and it was time to move on. Z and I worked together every step of the way for a job that hit some of his requirements, but was way off on others, such as a long commute. But because of the current work situation, we moved ahead with this new position.
Then the offer came in: and it was the bottom of the range and it was a “hard-line.” Basically, the range was not real and they could only offer the lowest amount (don’t get me started on this!).
Z and I went back and forth on a very reasonable counter-offer that included possible options for bonuses or professional development funds since an increase in salary was not an option. Also, could we lower the number of in-office days to decrease the financial burden of the long commute? All reasonable requests and communicated in a very professional way.
Shockingly, instead of having a rational discussion, they rescinded his offer! I had never seen this before. Incredibly disrespectful to the candidate imo.
But Z dodged a bullet. If his new boss can’t handle a tiny bit of negotiation, how are they going to handle conflict at work? Also, you know they would never advocate for Z to get a raise or promotion. It would’ve been a career dead end. Nonetheless it was depressing!
It took a minute for Z to get back in the swing of a job search after this demoralizing experience. But he did, and quickly started to shine in a new job search. The offer came in, and it was again, lower than he expected.
Should he counter offer? What if the same thing happened again? Would he be trapped in this job forever?
We crafted a counter offer, and this time: they agreed! He negotiated a $25k increase from his current salary and they upped his offer to the middle of the published range…and he got the holy grail: a 4-day work week!!
What a shift from the contentious previous conversation—his new boss collaborated with Z on a deal they both could be happy with. Now he gets to step into this great new job with a salary that feels worthy of his talents. I’m so proud of his perseverance and belief in his value.
P.S. from Z himself:
“I went into my job search feeling fairly confident – in large part due to Shannon’s ability to capture and reinforce my shine – and I never thought that any of the horror stories I had heard about other people’s job searches could ever happen to me… And then I found myself in a state of complete shock, grappling with a horror story of my own.
More than ever, I needed the support of trusted allies, and Shannon was there to ease my pain and remind me of my value. When the next offer came, she helped me work through my trauma and create a successful counter offer that got me what I wanted. Shannon is a compassionate, wise, and fierce ally, and she will be your biggest advocate through all the BS and triumphs of your search!”
T Success Story
Salary Negotiation Coaching
Let’s set the stage…it’s Valentine’s Day and money is in the air.
I receive a frantic LinkedIn message from a woman, we’ll call her T, who attended my salary negotiation tactics session at the AFP LEAD conference: “Hi Shannon. Totally last minute, but I just found out that I will be promoted, and I have to have a conversation with our COO tomorrow at noon. Do you happen to have any availability to talk today or tomorrow morning?”
The answer is always “yes.” I will always move what I can in my life to make room for a last-minute salary negotiation prep sesh!
Meanwhile I’m also texting my gourmet husband about what he’s cooking for us for Valentine’s Day…I suggest something fun we’ve never cooked: chicken saltimbocca. He responds, “frantically looking up ‘chicken saltimbocca.’”
In case you’re also wondering, it’s a chicken breast pounded thin and wrapped in prosciutto and sage and fried to perfection. Spoiler alert: it was amazing.
So, I book T for a call for 7am PST the next day, and take breaks from pouring wine and helping my husband cook to send her my Salary Power Pack and invoice for our hour the next morning. My last message to her is, “Happy Valentine’s Day—let’s get you a salary you love <3”
Spoiler alert: we did that AND MORE.
The next morning, I’ve got my coffee poured and ready to dive in. An amazing opportunity had been offered to T…but it’s sparking more anxiety than joy. Her beloved boss is leaving and suggested that she step in as interim VP…sounds good right? Except that last time T held a VP title, it was a disaster of her being bullied. She never wanted to be a VP again.
Even tremendous opportunity can ignite past trauma. We talked through that past shitty job and explored the new opportunity. Her current job and team sound amazing. This will not be the same VP situation again—she gets the opportunity to wear this title she deserves with pride with a team who values her. Within 30 minutes, she put away the old trauma and is ready to embrace this wonderful new job.
Then we get to salary… “Oh no, I can’t ask for $100k.” As a VP, you should make a minimum of $100k. We work through the fears, role play the conversation, and she’s ready!
I’m now the anxious one waiting all day to hear the results…and I get this incredible message:
“You are NOT going to believe this!!!!! They offered me a $40k raise! OOOOOOHHHHHHMMMMMM goodness!!!!! Thank you so very much for boosting my confidence and for taking time to meet with me this morning to prepare for this salary negotiation!”
I’m jumping up and down SO HAPPY for T!!
For $150 spent on coaching with me, she increased her salary by $40k! Plus, she’s owning that VP title like a boss and contributing to a mission she loves.
I’m not going to downplay this: a $40k increase in your salary in ANY region is a life changing amount of money. You can work towards ambitious savings goals, take that dream vacay, build wealth, and breathe each month.
To play a part in helping her heal her past trauma and open up to this amazing new job is an absolute honor. On Valentine’s Day, I got to do what I love: help a nonprofit professional earn more money.
…oh, and eat an amazing new home cooked meal with that bottle of Cab we’ve been aging for 10 years. It was a great day!
Memorial Day is coming up, who’s next??
P.S. from T herself…
“I LOVE that you referenced my previous employment as a “shitty” job because it was just that!! And I’ve begun to realize it truly was their loss. Thank you (and my beloved recent manager) for helping me to see that.
I’m ready for this challenge and am excited to see the impact our team will have on our nonprofit community. You are a part of making this a reality and I’m truly grateful.
I’m honored to share my story. Hopefully it will help others know what’s possible with your guidance.”
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