About Claire
Careers rarely follow a straight line. Mine certainly hasn’t.
Drawing on more than 20 years in recruitment and executive search, as well as a career full of pivots and reinvention, I now help young people find clarity, build confidence and decide what comes next.
A BIT ABOUT ME AND WHY I DO THIS
My own career has included managing a sailing resort in Greece, running three businesses, working as a chalet maid, becoming a regional manager for a mental health charity, leading a culture change programme involving more than 2,500 employees, and helping charity boards plan for the future. I’ve also lived and worked in the UK, mainland Europe and North America.
None of it was part of a carefully constructed plan. At the time, I wasn’t building what would now be called a non-linear or mosaic career. I was trying different things, changing direction and gradually working out what suited me.
That experience, combined with my recruitment expertise, means I understand how employers make decisions and what it feels like when your own path is not obvious.
WHY WORK WITH ME?
Having reviewed thousands of CVs and interviewed hundreds of candidates over more than two decades, I understand how employers assess people and why strong candidates sometimes get overlooked. I can help you explain what you offer clearly and confidently, without turning you into a walking collection of corporate buzzwords.
Career coaching with me is not about telling you what job to choose. We look at your strengths, interests, values and experiences, then explore realistic options and decide what to do next.
I work with graduates, people who chose not to go to university, those searching for their first job, and those who have started working but already suspect they may have taken a wrong turn.
You do not need to arrive with a plan. That is rather the point.
As the mother of a 26-year-old, I also understand the concern that parents can feel when someone they care about seems unsure of their direction. My coaching gives the young person space to make their own decisions, while providing the structure and practical support needed to move forward.
My career insights have been featured on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours and in the i-paper. I was also invited to join a Reed expert webinar panel discussing Gen Z and the changing workplace.
"Claire is a fantastic career coach and listener. Before my first session, she had already done some impressive research into the field I was interested in and contacted someone working in the profession. I would absolutely recommend her services to others.”
Gamal, 20
★★★★★
Claire MacLeod
claire@careerpathfinder.co.uk
+44 (0)7966 524037
