Today we’d like to introduce you to Annette Garsteck.
Hi Annette, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I worked in corporate America for many years. I started as a temporary hire, working on my winter and summer breaks from college. Eventually, I was hired by the same Fortune 50 company. After my first year of being promoted into a salaried position and two days after winning a President’s Club award and trip, I received a buyout letter. My colleagues were trying to console me, telling me things like, “This happened to all salaried employees.” Or “Don’t worry, you will go through this so many more times in your career.” That really struck me. It was all so normal to those around me. I knew then that I couldn’t leave my professional career in anyone else’s hands.
So, I started learning. How to update a résumé, how to interview, and how to negotiate my salary. I used this knowledge to navigate my professional career. As a people leader, I also leveraged the information to help my direct reports grow and develop and level up their careers. I helped family members and friends do the same.
When I decided to leave a toxic workplace for consulting, I wasn’t exactly sure what was next for me.
It was my husband, Ray, that encouraged me to help people in the ways I had been helping them for years into a business. So I did! I have never looked back. Now I am so proud to lead professional women through a career reinvention, helping them rediscover their purpose and take ownership of their fulfillment.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Personal growth and professional development are not linear paths.
Self-doubt is something that I can struggle with at times. Wondering if I am making the right decision for myself. Replaying over and over in my head an action I already took. Or thinking I could have done something more for a client. What I have done to remedy this is to talk it over with someone.
Surround yourself with smart people who can show you how they did it, will support you through the tough times, and empower you to try something new when you are exploring.
If I could share one single message when you are struggling, it is “Trust your intuition.” Your gut instincts are there for a reason.
As you know, we’re big fans of Annette Garsteck Career Consulting. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
My proudest moments coaching are helping professional women see themselves through a lens of accomplishment and confidence.
As women, we are often told to do our job; if we do so well, we will be noticed. And being noticed would equal opportunities, raises, and promotions. Nope – that is NOT how it works. Yet this advice continues to permeate professional spaces that women occupy. I am here to help women recognize their worth, ask for it, and transform their career trajectory.
My purpose is to help women recognize and speak about their accomplishments confidently. This single skill can transform their résumé, interview skills, and how they show up professionally.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories is being tall enough to ride the rollercoasters at Cedar Point! That weightless feeling when you hit the top of the hill and start to descend; there is nothing like it! I am making it a goal to remember that feeling more often. Changing and adjusting to what life throws at you can feel like a huge obstacle to overcome. I am looking at it as the peak you have to climb so you can have the thrill of coming down the other side.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.annettegarsteck.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annettegarsteck/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annettegarsteck
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettegarsteck/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnnetteGarsteckCareerConsulting
Image Credits
Liza Sue Smalcer
