COURSE OF ACTION Career Coaching
Guiding individuals on their professional journey for nearly
20 years.
My name is Brian, and over the past 17 years, I’ve worked with college students & PhDs, recent graduates, and seasoned career professionals who are unsure about their career trajectories. Whether you’re at the very start of your career or if you’re looking to pivot after years in a particular industry, the decisions to be made and the actions that await you are significant. My goal is to make sure you feel empowered in your decision making, confident in the steps you need to take, and certain of your skills, values, and interests.
Contact me for rates and coaching packages:
About Me
Effective career progression and development often focuses on becoming “unstuck”. Be it workplace complacency, fear of the unknown, risk aversion, or good old fashioned imposter syndrome, there are many ways in which we can become stuck, professionally speaking. My approach to career coaching is one that leverages your genuine curiosity and honest introspection to identify your true goals and to develop the confidence needed in order to achieve them.
I have worked in career services within the higher education space for over 17 years across 3 institutions (Wesleyan University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Yale University). In that time, I have coached undergraduates, professional students, PhD students, and postdoctoral fellows and scholars across over 80 academic disciplines. I have also worked directly with employers on recruiting early and mid-stage career professionals in industries such as technology, media & entertainment, management consulting, finance, education, and the non-profit space.
In addition to one-on-one coaching and employer consulting, I have hosted hundreds of workshops on topics related to career development, and have been invited to speak on these topics by universities and professional associations.
Beyond my time in career services, I have also developed course curriculum and taught in the classroom at the collegiate level at the University of New Haven and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I also served as a course teaching assistant and academic advisor at the University of Connecticut, where I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
My passion for this type of work is driven by my desire to help individuals in achieving their professional goals, appropriately consider the various factors that go into this pursuit, and to empower them to make informed, confident decisions that will impact their lives, both in the immediate and long-term.
Please refer to my LinkedIn profile for more details about my professional background.
Career Coaching
I provide a unique methodology to career coaching that challenges clients within a supportive environment and focuses on building self confidence. From resume reviews to interview coaching and everything in between, I work with individuals and groups across the professional spectrum to refine career goals and develop a strategy to move forward.
I offer virtual coaching in 60-minute single sessions or multi-session packages based on your needs. All sessions include a complimentary 30-minute initial consultation to see if I’m the right fit for you!
Sample session topics:
Jumpstarting Your Job Search
Developing a Professional Narrative
Resume Building
Job & Salary Negotiation
Confident Interviewing
Constructing a Professional Network
LinkedIn Profile Revision
Speaking Engagements and Workshops
I offer talks and workshops on a number of topics tied to career growth and development. I modify my material and talking points to each group, to ensure the audience clearly understands actionable next steps. Participants conclude each session with increased confidence and a clear means of moving forward. Please contact me to discuss the specific needs of your group or event. Outside of my professional duties, I am proud to have served as an invited speaker for the following:
University of Connecticut, Communications Department
Connecticut Young Professionals Symposium
National Association of Foreign Student Advisers
Connecticut College, Hale Center for Career Development
National Clinician Scholars Program, Yale School of Medicine
Coaching Testimonials:
Brian Frenette is an engaging, empathetic, and highly skilled career coach. He provides considered insight, thoughtful feedback, and clear steps forward. I came to Brian as I was aiming to make a career pivot after several decades in my previous industry. During our many conversations, Brian was helpful in pointing out the value of my prior experience, while counseling me on how to reframe it, creating a relevant new narrative geared towards a new audience. He was attentive to my issues, clear in his advising, and most impactful in building clarity and confidence as I set forth in the pursuit of a new career. I would highly recommend him for anyone seeking a career change or looking to energize an ongoing career search.
Patrick S.
Former CEO
Before working with Brian, I went to several consultants and advisors and while they outlined a general process for resume adjustment and applying for jobs, Brian gave me direct and detailed advice as to what my specific needs were and how that correlated with the positions I was applying for. Communication was consistent, encouraging, and authentic. When I went through another round of applications taking the advice that was given, I started to get responses that led to interviews. The process Brian outlined became clearer and gave me confidence to pursue what initially seemed overwhelming.
Jesse A.
Higher Education Professional
Brian’s genuine passion for his work shines through in his approach and his demeanor strikes a perfect balance between professionalism and approachability. As an immigrant to the United States, I found him to be a powerful role model, particularly in helping me navigate cultural nuances, for instance, regarding formality of speech in professional encounters. Within a one-on-one counseling session, I experienced Brian as a patient and attentive listener, whose intention was to comprehend my personal story and develop a custom approach. Brian does not offer annoying platitudes or one-size-fits-all solutions. Again, it was obvious to me that providing his support was not just a job to him, but something he is truly passionate about.
Andrea K.
Yale Postdoctoral Associate
Brian is fantastic. Over several sessions, we confirmed my area of interest (figuring out what would work best for my personality, skillsets, and desired outcome) and created a detailed plan to achieve those goals. I learned valuable tools to market and position myself, landed a new job in the sector of my choice, and have loved it since. The ROI from Brian’s coaching session have been incredible, and I still use the skills today.
Arjun J.
Yale Graduate Student
Workshop Testimonial:
I first met Brian as a participant of one of his career workshops, aimed at graduate students and postdocs. Among the numerous workshops I attended, Brian’s stood out distinctly in terms of quality. His session not only provided invaluable information and resources, surpassing by far anything a simple Google search could yield, but it also left me feeling inspired, motivated, and encouraged - a testament to Brian’s infectious enthusiasm and warm-hearted personality.