An experienced perspective on your next career move.
Career advice for people considering a change, working through a decision or finding it difficult to explain what their experience has to offer.
Work with Joannah Bernard, drawing on more than 25 years in recruitment, career advising and coaching.
60 minutes by video · A$270 · Written recommendations included
- 01Should I stay or leave?
- 02Why am I no longer excited by work?
- 03Why do I keep missing opportunities I know I'm capable of?
- 04Should I move into consulting?
- 05Why am I being overlooked?
- 06What would actually suit me next?
Most people don't need more information. They need a clear, objective assessment of the variables in front of them.
- A clearer view of the decision in front of you.
- Language that reflects the value you actually bring.
- Patterns and strengths you had stopped noticing.
- A more grounded sense of the options worth pursuing.
- Practical next steps you can act on.
What I've
Observed
After more than 25 years in recruitment, career advising and coaching, I've noticed that most experienced professionals don't struggle because they lack capability. They struggle because they're too close to their own experience to see it objectively.
My role is to help people see what has gradually become invisible to them: their strengths, their options and the assumptions quietly shaping their decisions.
Listen
We slow things down and understand what has actually happened, rather than relying on a CV or LinkedIn profile.
See Clearly
Patterns become visible. Strengths become obvious. Options become clearer.
Communicate Clearly
Together we shape language that reflects the value you actually bring, so the next step becomes easier to take.
Typical Conversations
A snapshot of what people actually bring, including the thoughts that come before they say anything. Names and details stay in the room. If you recognise yourself in any of these, that's usually a good sign we should talk.
- 01“I'm thinking about leaving but don't know why.”
- 02“I want to make a change, but I don't want to seem desperate.”
- 03“I'm considering consulting.”
- 04“I've lost confidence after redundancy.”
- 05“I'm constantly overlooked despite strong results.”
- 06“I feel overlooked, underestimated, or simply no longer seen by the market.”
- 07“I'm not sure what I want anymore.”
- 08“I have two opportunities and don't know which to choose.”
- 09“I know I'm capable but I can't explain why.”
The Person
Across The Table
- Years
- 25+
- People Advised
- 2,000+
- Sectors
- Financial, Professional, Technology, Industrial, Manufacturing, Defence
For more than 25 years I've had the privilege of sitting alongside people making some of the biggest decisions of their working lives.
Those experiences changed how I look at leadership.
What I've come to understand is that the hardest part is rarely capability. More often it's perspective. We become too close to our own experience to see it clearly, and too certain about the stories we're telling ourselves to notice the alternatives.
My role isn't to provide generic advice. It's to help people think more clearly, recognise what they've stopped seeing, and make decisions they can genuinely stand behind.
Alongside my established experience in recruitment, career advising and coaching, I am currently undertaking a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy. This study is adding another perspective to how I listen, what I notice and the questions I ask.
Notes From Practice
Three observations, drawn from thousands of conversations at important career crossroads.
- 01
Capability and visibility are different things.
Some exceptional people consistently underestimate their value, while others communicate average capability brilliantly. Careers are influenced by both.
- 02
Most career problems aren't really career problems.
They are often questions about identity, confidence, timing or change that simply appear through work.
- 03
Better decisions rarely come from gathering more information.
They usually come from seeing the situation differently.
What This
Isn't
- This isn't motivational advice.
- This isn't positive thinking.
- This isn't generic career advice.
- This isn't about finding a perfect answer. It's about resolving the specific bottleneck holding you back.
This is practical, rigorous analysis grounded in decades of watching how professional moves actually play out.
From People
Who Have Done
The Work
Confidentiality is part of the work. Clients are referenced by role, never by name. The reflections below are shared with permission, and stand on what was said rather than who said it.
“She helps you confront your areas for improvement.”
Regardless of our experience, we can always learn more, especially about ourselves. Joannah helped me immensely to shine the spotlight on my strengths, but importantly, areas for improvement. I appreciate her empathy, candour, and ability to help me with self-accountability. I'd highly recommend leaders of all levels of seniority engage her to shepherd you to push yourself to the next level.
“A straightforward approach that de-risks big career moves.”
Joannah stands out for her honesty, integrity, and straight-talking approach. Her ability to work with you to determine what you 'really' need is unparalleled, and her straightforward communication style sets her apart. She focuses on long-term calibration, significantly de-risking major professional decisions and providing genuine confidence.
“She thinks completely outside the standard process.”
Joannah is a quick thinker with a sound ability to think far outside the general recruitment process. Her style of dealing with experienced professionals is exceptional. She is a determined, professional, and highly credible adviser with an engaging communication style that creates immediate impetus for progress.
“Kindness, support, and just the right level of challenge.”
I worked with Joannah on a professional development and style assessment level. Understanding how my communication style had evolved, and where my hidden strengths sat, gave me some great insights and validation. If you're looking for someone who can coach you with kindness, support, and just the right level of strategic challenge, look no further.
Career Advisory
Session
A focused conversation for experienced professionals who want help with a career decision, their options, or how they explain what they have to offer.
Career Advisory Session
An individual session to help you work through a career decision, consider your options or explain your experience more clearly.
You may be considering a new role, navigating redundancy, changing direction or finding that your CV no longer reflects what you have to offer.
Drawing on my experience in recruitment, career advising and coaching, we look at your circumstances and focus on the questions you want help answering.
- A short questionnaire before your session.
- A private, 60-minute video session.
- A written summary within 48 hours: one to two pages covering the priorities we agree, how to describe your experience, and the immediate steps worth taking.
We can review and discuss your CV during the session. A complete rewrite isn't included, but you'll leave with clear, practical feedback on what to change and why.
You can book a single session. If another conversation would be useful later, you can book again.
After booking, I email you within one business day with suggested times, and sessions are usually held within three to ten days depending on availability and your personal circumstances. Video times can be arranged across Australian and international time zones.
By Text
If you prefer a brief conversation before booking a session, send a text directly to +61 (0) 404 851 300 with your name and a brief note. I will call you back as soon as I am away from clients.
Common Questions
What can we work on?
Career direction, a particular job decision, your job search approach, or how to explain your experience in applications and professional conversations. We agree on the focus at the beginning of the session.
Do I need to know exactly what I want next?
No. You can come with a particular question or with options you would like help considering.
Will you rewrite my CV?
We can review and discuss your CV during the session. A complete rewrite is not included, but you will leave with clear, practical feedback on what to change and why.
Do I need to book several sessions?
It depends on your situation. For many people, one session is enough to get unstuck, and I work to make each session as useful as it can be on its own. If further conversations would genuinely help, you are welcome to book again, but there is no programme to commit to.
How does the session take place?
By video. The session lasts 60 minutes, and you receive a brief written summary within 48 hours.
How soon will we meet, and what about time zones?
I email you within one business day with suggested times, and sessions are usually held within three to ten days depending on availability and your personal circumstances. Video times can be arranged across Australian and international time zones.
What is in the written summary?
One to two pages written for you after the session: the priorities we agree, clear language for describing your experience, and the immediate steps worth taking.
If what you've read feels familiar, you already know the value of an objective outside perspective.
If you are ready to command what happens next, I'm here.
Held in confidence.