Custom Engagements · Complex Situations · Tailored Strategy
Your situation is specific. The coaching should be too.
Not every career challenge fits a standard package. If your situation is complex, unusual, or simply doesn't map to any of the listed services - this is where to start. A discovery call costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
How custom engagements work.
A custom engagement starts with a discovery call - no intake form, no questionnaire, just a conversation about where you are and what you're trying to accomplish. René will ask questions, listen carefully, and tell you honestly whether and how she can help.
If there's a fit, she'll propose a scope: what we'd work on, over what timeframe, and at what investment. Custom engagements are priced based on the complexity and duration of the work. Payment plans are available for all engagements.
There's no commitment required to have the discovery conversation. If the standard services are a better fit, she'll tell you that too.
Situations that often call for a custom approach
Career pivot across industries and functions
Moving industries and changing what you do at the same time is the hardest kind of transition to position. A custom engagement builds the narrative and the strategy simultaneously.
Re-entry after extended leave
A gap of two or more years - caregiving, health, sabbatical, or other - requires a different approach than a standard return-to-work strategy. The positioning, the target list, and the narrative all need to account for the length and context.
Navigating a PIP while searching externally
One of the most stressful career situations there is. Managing your current role, protecting your record, and running a confidential external search at the same time requires careful strategy on all three fronts.
Preparing for a board or advisory role
Board positioning is a distinct discipline - different materials, different networks, different conversations. A custom engagement builds the board bio, the target list, and the outreach strategy.
Supporting a spouse or partner's search
Some clients come in wanting support for a partner who is also in transition - or wanting to think through a dual-career relocation together. Custom engagements can be structured to include both people.
Toxic workplace or hostile environment
When the situation at work is affecting your health and your options feel limited, the strategy has to account for both the immediate environment and the longer-term exit. This requires more than a resume.
Recovering from a public professional setback
A layoff that was covered in the press, a high-profile project failure, or a departure under difficult circumstances. Rebuilding a professional narrative after a visible setback is specialized work.
Something that doesn't fit any of the above
If your situation is genuinely unusual, reach out and describe it. The answer is almost always that we can help - the question is just how to structure it.
"If you're not sure whether your situation qualifies, reach out and describe it. The answer is almost always that we can help - the question is just how to structure it."
René Cole - The Career Doctor
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of situations qualify for a custom engagement?
Anything that doesn't fit neatly into a standard package. Common examples: a career pivot that crosses industries and functions simultaneously, re-entry after an extended leave of several years, navigating a performance improvement plan while also searching externally, preparing for a board or advisory role, supporting a spouse or partner's search alongside your own, or a workplace situation so specific that generic advice won't help. If you're not sure whether your situation qualifies, reach out - the answer is almost always yes.
How is a custom engagement scoped and priced?
In a discovery call. René will ask about your situation, your goals, and what you've already tried. From there, she'll propose a scope - what we'd work on, over what timeframe, and at what investment. Custom engagements are priced based on the complexity and duration of the work, not a standard rate card. There's no commitment required to have that conversation.
Can a custom engagement include services for someone else?
Yes. Some clients come in wanting support for a spouse or partner who is also in transition, or wanting to sponsor coaching for a mentee or colleague. Custom engagements can be structured to include multiple people, or to gift coaching to someone else entirely. We'll figure out the right structure in the discovery call.
What if I'm not sure what I need?
That's exactly what the discovery call is for. You don't need to arrive with a clear ask - you need to arrive with an honest description of where you are and what's not working. René will help you figure out what kind of support would actually move the needle.
Standard services that may also apply