Meet Jenn Smith | Career Coach & HR Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenn Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenn, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My first job post-graduation was working the graveyard shift as a front-line supervisor in a potato chip factory. Talk about not knowing what you want to do!
Fast forward 15+ years: from supervising teams in a potato chip factory; to a major pivot into human resources; to building a college recruiting department for a global company — from scratch — I have successfully made 10+ career jumps, U-turns, steps up and down across multiple industries and Fortune 200 companies that have left me with life-long lessons, experiences, success, failures and even a few surprises along the way. These personal experiences and my progressive, technical HR and recruiting expertise have equipped me to uniquely serve you by sharing insight, brainstorming ideas, creating plans, and inspiring action.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize: too many people, all too often, find themselves feeling stifled in a career that just doesn’t fit.

Whether it’s from forcing themselves into an uncomfortable pair of shoes and a stiff pantsuit because it portrays a particular image…
Or dragging themselves into a regimented, dull office that stifles creativity…
Or feeling paralyzed from staring at a computer screen until 6pm every night because it’s taboo to leave before their boss…
Or from the guilt that weighs on their heart from leaving their puppy home alone for 10+ hours each day…
Or from the constant judgment of their work results displayed on a red / yellow / green colored scorecard at each team meeting…
Or… I could go on, but you get the point.

I get it. I’ve seen it, felt it — heard it all.

To me, working in a career that doesn’t fit is like a princess working on Wall Street. Can you picture Cinderella working on the New York Stock Exchange floor—her blue and white gown, perfectly applied makeup, puffy blond hairstyle, and overall presence among all the dark blue pantsuits? Yeah, me neither.

I’m not saying careers are all about magically going from scrubbing factory floors to dancing in fancy corporate boardrooms, although I do believe there are practical ways to move toward a career path that fits perfectly, like Cinderella’s glass slipper.

Which is to say that career success doesn’t have to be at the expense of living a well-balanced, radiantly healthy life. Constantly placing yourself in situations that don’t fit can cause small doses of pain, anxiety, and resentment. Those small doses add up over time. If you’re not careful to check in, notice, and reset—those many small doses could add up to a prescription of unhealthy decisions, burnout, and illness.

Work should cultivate your energy, not drain it.

Setting realistic boundaries and consistently welcoming small amounts of nourishing change will add up to make a big impression on living a happy, healthy, and wealthy lifestyle.

I know; I’ve lived it.

After spending too many years of my career forcing myself into roles that didn’t fit, my mission is to help early and mid-career professionals become crystal clear about who they are and how to cultivate a career that fits. And to craft a careful, practical approach to navigating the new world of work—resetting boundaries, avoiding pitfalls, igniting action, and evolving from an ill-fitting, uncomfortable job into a healthy, well-tailored career path.

I know; I’m living it.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I get what companies are looking for when hiring top talent. It’s what I do. I have recruited, coached, and hired hundreds of early and mid-career professionals into positions covering human resources, finance, engineering, tech, sales, and operations.

I am mostly known for being 110% career driven with a bias for taking action—I have been told this passion for career and business is called a “voluntary obsession,” and I’m OK with that…

Constantly reading the latest trends in business and recruitment and learning new ways companies are hiring top talent is part of my DNA, and I’m diligent about integrating this into my coaching and consulting practice, serving clients with the most up-to-date guidance.

My first job post-graduation was working the graveyard shift as a front-line supervisor in a potato chip factory. Making potato chips in the middle of the night might not sound like a “dream job” right out of college, although I learned more about running a business, teamwork, and leading people during that time versus any other job.

From supervising teams in a potato chip factory to leading a team of college recruiters, I have successfully made multiple career jumps, U-turns, steps up and down that left me with life-long lessons, experiences, and successes.

To others, this journey might look like messy, intertwined roots of a tree in need of sunlight and a bucket of miracle grow; although in actuality, every tangled-up root is now a strong branch equipping me to properly serve others in sharing advice, brainstorming ideas, creating plans and inspiring success.

Along with spending the initial years of my career in operations management, my resume includes 15 years in corporate HR at fortune 200 organizations across multiple industries, including biotechnology, food and beverage, technology distribution, and sales.

Specialties include career changes, heart-based career planning, professional & leadership branding, talent acquisition, university relations, and leadership development. Recognized for high learning agility, trustworthy leadership, and having an authentic ability to inspire others.

“You can drift, you can dream, even walk on water, anything you want.” David Gilmour. This is the quote I selected to leave for my classmates in high school. It’s the quote printed under my senior year picture in our final yearbook. This quote still resonates…so much so that it’s part of the core foundation of starting a career coaching and consulting business—Flourish Careers.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My dad—your unconditional love and encouragement make me the wealthiest lady on the planet! Where would I be without your eagle eye for copywriting and editing (especially the em dash and en dash lessons!), your genuine feedback about my ideas and risks, and mainly, for cheering me on and enabling me to follow my heart.

Website: https://flourish.careers/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourish.careers/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlsmith9200/

Other: The Flourish Careers Podcast! https://flourishcareerspodcast.podbean.com