We are pleased to have served many of the Am Law 100 and Am Law 200 law firms (most of which fall within the top 50), as well as many major corporations, over the years. Progress in Work’s philosophy is to practice discretion and respect its clients’ privacy, particularly in the outplacement/career transition area. This is why we do not publicly list the names of our corporate clients or the individuals we have served on the website with the exception of business development coaching clients, a less sensitive area. Corporate client references can be provided when appropriate.
Testimonials
The following are representative Progress in Work client testimonials categorized by service offering:
Outplacement | Career Transition Counseling & Coaching Testimonials
“I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with Sheryl Odentz. She is just fantastic. The contact and the job actually came through her! She really went above and beyond my expectations. She was very responsive to my needs and was always available for my many questions. She motivated me to go on when I would have just given up. She is a great coach. She was there for each and every phase of the job hunting process and made me feel confident about the things that I had to do. But even more than helping me find a job is that she taught me how to network. It is a skill that is both essential and hard to learn without the right teacher. She taught me how to fish. This was definitely the silver lining.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 200 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work during my search for a new position. During these past few months, Sheryl and I have developed a strong bond and understanding due to the fact that we worked so closely. Sheryl not only helped me as a professional, she really cared for me as an individual. We would spend countless hours talking about my personal well-being as well as the personal situation that I was confronting during my job search. She really gets to know the individual in order to know the best course of action and follow through with specific action steps to focus on targeting and landing a position that will be just right for the individual. In addition, Sheryl is very well connected in the legal recruiting industry. Not only does she have direct contact with various firms’ legal recruiting departments, she has a pool of legal recruiters which she keeps constant contact with in order to be abreast of the hottest areas of law at any particular time. Her network of legal recruiters is constantly growing. Sheryl’s people skills, her direct and indirect contacts as well as her genuine interest in the well-being of her clients make her an excellent career coach. I wish her and Progress in Work much success and hope that others have the opportunity to work with her in order to experience what I’ve experienced in the short time that I have worked with and known her. She is a hard worker who is dedicated to helping her clients reach new heights in their new ventures. I would strongly recommend her to other attorneys looking to make a similar transition.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I want to put into writing how much I appreciate working with Sheryl Odentz. Thanks so much for recommending that I call her and making it possible. I am thrilled about my new position as and I can’t stress enough how helpful Sheryl has been from the moment I spoke to her until now. She has worked tirelessly to understand my professional and personal history, identify my strengths and weaknesses, thoroughly brainstorm about goals, opportunities, paths and dreams, and put it all together to pinpoint the position that capitalizes on my strengths and fulfills my needs. She has also provided friendship and support. It is incredibly valuable during this time to have had an ally with her depth and knowledge about life as a lawyer, the legal field, the financial world, the opportunities available to lawyers in and out of the law as well as outstanding counseling skills. It seems so obvious now that this is the perfect position for me, so it might appear that there was very little work that went into getting to this point. Quite the opposite! I have not been an easy client for Sheryl – I subjected her to constant questions, emails, and phone calls, requests for advice and affirmation, not to mention constant mind-changing and swervy feelings about every aspect of this difficult process. Or perhaps I should say Sheryl has not been an easy counselor for me – she subjected me to honest and rigorous analysis, held me to being truthful with myself and doing the hard work required to identify what it is that I want and need. Thank you for making that connection for me. I am enormously indebted.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I’d like to say that I’ve had a wonderful experience with Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work. Thank you very much for providing her services to me. Throughout our periodic meetings, and through these skills and work style/personality assessment tools she uses, I’ve been able to pinpoint my best skills and weaknesses; assess what I need in a job and work environment; and determine how to focus my career objectives in the immediate and distant future. I am a believer in career coaches and think everyone should have one at some point in their lives. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this service. And Sheryl has a particularly pleasant personality and tailors her assistance to the needs of each client. No cookie cutter at all and she does no corner cutting.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I want to let you know how fantastic it was working with Sheryl Odentz. She was professional, available, had a great plan of attack for me, and was a real champion for my cause through the past three months. I highly recommend the firm continue to use her services for other ‘transition’ attorneys.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“Although it has been awhile since we worked together after my dismissal from [prior law firm], I remain grateful for the support you gave me during that trying time. You helped me identify my thoughts and feelings about pursuing a career in the law and guided me through the networking process that led to my current position at [new law firm]. In addition, to helping me get the right job, you have kindly made yourself available to me more recently to discuss some of the issues that have come up in my now not-so-new job and in the months and years to come. Your knowledge of the world of work combined with your exceptional listening skills and insightfulness are indeed invaluable resources of which I am fortunate to have been able to avail myself. I have no doubt that yours are gifts that could benefit a wide range of clients.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work.
“I wanted to thank you for all your help in December, especially providing the opportunity to work with Sheryl Odentz, founder of Progress in Work, as a career counselor. She was a wonderful help. She was responsive to my needs, making herself available even after hours, and providing practical, savvy advice. Her folder on the whole outplacement process was an enormous aid – it provided just enough information so that it wasn’t overwhelming, but had enough depth and breadth to be very helpful. I’m grateful to her for helping me get through a difficult time in my life with grace and perspective and for helping me to develop my skills in communication and networking, which I know will be used throughout my career. I strongly recommend her services to other attorneys.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I wanted to give you some written feedback (in addition to what I said to both you and [the name of human resource professional] before leaving) regarding the outplacement services and Sheryl’s work in particular. Sheryl far exceeded my expectations. I guess what impressed me the most was that she did not just go through a standard routine but made great efforts to add value to my distinct set of circumstances and my particular job search. Although she spent a significant amount of time with me, she also worked on my job search when I was not around including getting in touch with her own contacts and even making a number of “cold calls” to see who was hiring. I had a very positive experience with Sheryl (Progress in Work) and recommend that, should the need arise, you continue to utilize her services.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“Recently, I had the pleasure of working with the founder of Progress in Work, Sheryl Odentz, who provided me with the best service I have ever received in my life! Although attorneys from big law firms in New York City have to be amongst the most difficult people to impress, I think anyone seeking outplacement, executive/professional coaching and career management services will be highly impressed by the prompt, professional and individualized attention that he/she receives from Ms. Odentz and Progress in Work. In addition to providing stellar service, Ms. Odentz was extremely savvy when it came to the legal market, allowing her to work with attorneys at different points in their career. Most significantly, Ms. Odentz taught me to focus my job search by taking into consideration my professional and personal preferences, desires, and goals in a manner that enabled me to control the job search process rather than letting it control me.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work.
“I had such an incredible experience with Sheryl Odentz from Progress in Work. We spent a significant amount of time revising my resume, reviewing employment wants and needs and preparing for interviews, etc. Sheryl really knows a lot about the legal industry and was an incredible resource for information on different firms and the key people in those firms as well as alternative career options for an attorney. After the initial assessment, which included a personality test and general career counseling, I met with Sheryl weekly. During our weekly meetings, Sheryl would go over the action steps that we came up with at our previous meeting and then help me to prepare new action steps geared toward finding the right job for me. Her counseling and experiences were invaluable to my job-hunting process. In addition to helping me with the nuts and bolts of finding a new position, Sheryl would assist me in addressing any concerns or anxieties I had about looking for work. I learned so much from Sheryl and was extremely pleased with all of her efforts.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“Sheryl is a gem. She is great to work with. She is efficient and extremely knowledgeable, and she has already given me many leads that I wouldn’t have thought of.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within the The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work.
“I want to share a bit more about my experience with Sheryl Odentz and to put in a resounding positive plug for the firm to consider maximizing the opportunities for Sheryl Odentz to be working with [prior law firm] attorneys (at any level) who may be at a crossroads in their careers and could benefit tremendously from her career guidance and life coach services.
I found Sheryl to have an incredible gift in bringing out the best in me from the get-go. My job search has encountered its ups and downs, and it had definitely been a very challenging time for me on a number of different, interrelated fronts. Sheryl made it a point to provide me with a very personalized touch. She was capable of doing this by emphasizing an open, collaborative and engaging interaction. I feel in the time that she spent with me, Sheryl might know me as a person and professional better than several of my close friends.
Sheryl buoyed and supported and cheered for me, not just in a way to check whether I was keeping my head above the water, but rather in a way that would maintain and promote my psyche, mental and physical well-being, conviction, and positive energy. All of Sheryl’s attentiveness to my well-being and state of mind and approach to the job search enabled me to seek out the right fit/seat across the multitude of potential employers, which we categorized in different silos for types of companies/organizations/institutions and industry types. Sheryl didn’t try to pigeon-hole me into a one-size-fits-all approach to the job search. Instead, she encouraged me to be active and fluid in how to tap into my professional and social network and to mine these relationships in a way that would help me identify the type of roles that I’d be best suited for.
Sheryl was someone who would always cover all the essential job search functions with me, however, it is the personal connection and level of care and concern that really distinguishes Sheryl. In fact, Sheryl dedicated a significant amount of time that exceeded the time allotted and paid for by [prior law firm] which is truly remarkable.
I would go so far to say that for my friends and colleagues alike who don’t get to work with Sheryl through [prior law firm], I would highly recommend that they come out of their own pocket to receive the benefit of Sheryl’s personally tailored services.
NOTE: Please do know that I hold you and [internal career team at prior law firm] in the same lofty standards of career development services.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“ I am touching base to send across a few words about Sheryl Odentz.
From my first meeting with Sheryl, I knew that I had the support of a kind and knowledgeable counselor who was deeply invested in helping me achieve my professional objectives. She very carefully and patiently took the time to learn about my personal goals, background, and values and made it her mission to come up with an action plan that took everything into account. Sheryl started each meeting by giving me the time and space to share my thoughts, questions and updates, and she knew when and how to ask the right questions to help me come up with a game plan for next steps, She helped me to clearly identify short-term and long-term goals and introduced me to different career options, which made it easier for me to envision opportunities that could help me to grow and evolve in ways that had not been possible in my practice group at the firm. She brought focus and organization to each meeting and provided me with many substantive resources that she created and/or curated that were invaluable. Sheryl followed up after each meeting with notes and with additional resources to help me execute on the action items that were discussed during our meetings. I am confident that anyone who has the good fortune of working with Sheryl -regardless of their background or experience as a lawyer – will come out better equipped to carve out their own unique path to professional success. When I think of all the people who I have come across during my years at [prior law firm] colleagues, mentors and friends across virtually every group at the firm – Sheryl stands out as one of the most professional, knowledgeable, and kind individuals who has made a profoundly positive impact on my career. Whenever I needed advice or encouragement as I navigated stressful decisions, or whenever I wanted to share exciting and happy news, I felt so grateful to have Sheryl in my corner, guiding me and cheering me on at every juncture. I feel fortunate to have Sheryl to look up to as an example of what it means to be a professional woman at the top of her field – someone who is not only incredibly good at what she does, but someone who is also an incredibly good person while she does it.
I hope that you’ll please share these thoughts with anyone at your firm who would like to explore how they might go about setting and achieving their own professional goals. They need not look any further than Sheryl Odentz.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“ I hope all is well with you. I wanted to let you know that I have officially accepted and signed a contract to be a litigation attorney at a New York City based mid-sized law firm named [new law firm].
First, I want to thank you so much for all the support, guidance, and help throughout this transition process and in particular giving me the extra time and patience to be able to interview and find a placement, it was truly critical for me.
Second, I want to thank you for connecting me with and retaining Sheryl Odentz with Progress in Work LLC. She has been hands down absolutely phenomenal. I literally could not recommend her more to everyone who might be in a similar position as myself or anyone who may need career coaching in general. She was the direct reason why I was placed at [new law firm] and I am so grateful to have had her services during this process. She is simply the best and not only is she amazing at what she does, I felt at ease and comfortable working with her during an otherwise difficult time. If I may say so, I would recommend the firm retain her for other attorneys that may be going through this.
Overall, thank you for everything, and I hope we stay in touch and stay friends over the years!”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 200 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“ I am writing to share with you just how extraordinary Sheryl Odentz is based on my personal experience and how vital her external career transition services are to a departing attorney’s career. Because of Sheryl, I am remaining in big law, joining a top law firm’s Chamber Band 1 practice group for 20 years running, as a 7th-year associate, being paid Cravath scale compensation, with a signing bonus, while coming from a completely unrelated and highly specialized practice group (insurance and reinsurance), in which compensation tends to fall significantly below markets, all while big law firms are conducting mass layoffs right and left.
Without Sheryl, I don’t know where I would be. When an attorney finds themselves in this position, what they need is someone they can trust. Sheryl has my utmost trust and confidence. I know without a doubt she has my best interests at heart.
Sheryl’s time, resources, guidance, and interview prep sessions were invaluable.
I cannot thank you enough for making her services available to me.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“She raved about you (as I always do) and shared that with our partners who are delighted with the outcome. And we love a happy ending or should I say a new beginning! Thank you for your help. Her last day with us is on January [date of departure from current law firm]. I don’t know when she is starting at [new law firm]. Enjoy and safe travels! Wishing you and yours all good things in [the new year]”
– From the Director of Recruiting and Legal Personnel at a firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 written about a lawyer Progress in Work assisted.
“ I hope this email finds you well.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for connecting me with Sheryl Odentz for coaching. Her support has been crucial in my journey towards self-discovery and exploring future opportunities.
Sheryl has been an invaluable resource, offering perspectives and recommendations on various career paths that have been immensely helpful. I am consistently impressed by her care, attention to detail, organization, technological proficiency, and perceptive advice. Her genuine commitment to my growth and as a young attorney has been evident throughout our sessions.
I still have two sessions with Shery, during which we will focus on exploring insights into my strengths and areas for growth, as well as identifying potential career opportunities and organizational fits based on the Birkman Method’s evaluation.
Thank you once again for facilitating this valuable connection. I am grateful for the support I’ve received from [prior law firm] and feel honored to have worked with such a dedicated team. I look forward to embarking on an enriching judicial clerkship and maintaining our connection.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 200 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I am writing to express my thanks to you for providing me with the help of Sheryl Odentz. As you will recall, when we first discussed my hope of making a significant career change, I was well aware of the challenges that lay ahead, and I admit I was somewhat skeptical of Sheryl’s ability to help. To my pleasant surprise, Sheryl’s advice and guidance proved invaluable in setting me on the path to exactly what I wanted and eventually got – a job in the field of human rights and international relations.
Sheryl gave me the tools I needed to best go about my job hunt, through proper networking techniques, interview skills, resume and cover letter revisions and general good organization assistance. She was always insightful when we spoke and made herself available to me anytime I needed her help to act as a sounding board before interviews and the like. I especially appreciated her putting me in touch with some excellent contacts in my field of interest. I know Sheryl has been very helpful to lawyers transitioning from one firm to another, but I was particularly impressed at her ability to help someone like me, whose interests strayed far from what seems to be the norm.
Many thanks again!”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I would like to write some thoughts about my work experience with Sheryl Odentz. She did an extraordinary job as a career counselor. She was personable, kind, extremely professional and deeply caring. Her strategy was to take a holistic approach to career counseling. She considered both her client as a professional as well as a human being and explored my many personal roles and life responsibilities such as son, significant other, etc.
Initially, she spoke to me at length about my career objectives, aspirations, values, set of skills, various networks of personal support etc. This initial conversation was ample. She gave me all the time I needed and she listened attentively for hours at the same time she asked insightful questions. Then she conducted a variety of useful career tests that she carefully applied to my individual situation. She was always disciplined in her approach but not stifling. She would empathize emotionally with me but would respect my privacy at all times.
She developed an individualized plan for me based on my desires, aspirations and the realities of the market and she would check on my progress on a weekly basis.
She would then recommend strategic action that included networking through informational interviews or her extensive network of contacts. I have always cared and put effort to improve my networking skills but Sheryl’s networking tips were extraordinary; the best networking advice I have been given ever.
Sheryl has extensive marketing experience so once she determined what my strengths were and where my heart lied she helped me develop exceptionally effective marketing materials ex. a portfolio with all my academic writings, resumes for NGO type jobs, multilateral organizations or academic positions. Her marketing advice was phenomenal. In my many different interviews for the many different industries I explored, my interviews were raving about the effectiveness and professional look of my marketing materials.
Her psychology background always came handy. She would deal very effectively with stress, frustration and the variety of ups and downs that come along with reorienting a life and a career.
These are very challenging times to find a job. It is an uncertain job market that is highly competitive and sometimes brutally ruthless. However, I felt that Sheryl highlighted with equal doses of pragmatism, genuine kindness, and constant emotional support the bright aspects of an otherwise challenging situation.
In my life, I have always looked for counselors and mentors because I think they are essential third party observers who have helped me flourish personally and professionally. Without question, Sheryl has been one of the most competent mentors I had. Her marketing, psychological and career counseling skills are just unmatched.
I thank her deeply for all her hard work, extraordinary level of professionalism but particularly for her genuine care and kindness.
If you need to discuss my experience with Sheryl Odentz further, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“First, thank you for helping me through the process of switching firms. I will be starting work at [new law firm] on November 11.
I also wanted to thank you for referring me to Sheryl. I don’t think I could have transitioned into this new role without her help. Her service is invaluable, and I wish many other lawyers (and law students) had her expertise at hand. She knows so much about the legal field and law firms in general that having her at your side gives you an advantage in the job search process.
From the outset of our counseling, Sheryl helped me get organized and ready to start my new career. She detailed everything I would need at the start, and thus, I had it all ready whenever a law firm asked for materials. She helped me constantly stay on track. She gave me job counseling and expert advice for stressful and tricky situations, almost like a therapist would. She knew that the best way to find a job was through networking, and despite my hesitancy to do so, she pushed me out of my comfort zone and luckily, it worked out. When it came to interviews, she knew the types of questions I would be asked and helped me craft intelligent responses. She also gave me great style advice for what to wear for the interviews. And ultimately, she counseled me through the intricacies of starting fresh at a new firm.
Sheryl’s professionalism, patience, and knowledge made her a wonderful person to work with. I will miss our weekly zoom meetings, but I am truly grateful that, due to her guidance, they are longer necessary.
Once again, thank you.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I am writing to express my gratitude to you and [prior law firm] for supporting my transition to a new firm and providing me with outplacement services for three months. More importantly, thank you so much for recommending Sheryl’s services, as I am not sure I would be in the same position and about to start at a new firm without her.
I want to let you know about Sheryl’s exceptional work because I’m confident that I would not have had the same success in finding a new position that I’m extremely excited about had I chosen any of the other providers. Sheryl’s services and coaching exceeded my expectations in every way, and I was especially grateful for her ability to take the time to get to know each individual and take their circumstances, preferences, and abilities into account in tailoring her counseling services and the job search process. Not only did Sheryl have a wealth of resources and databases to assist me in finding new employment, but her decades of experience were immensely reassuring and her guidance was indispensable throughout the job search and interviewing process. She even stood by me and offered her support beyond the 3 months of services that she was paid for, showing that she really cares about whether her clients end up a success story.
I know you offer associates several options for transition services, but if they are anything like I was, they likely don’t know what exactly a good outplacement coach is supposed to do. I’m letting you know of Sheryl’s exceptional work so that you can make other outgoing associates aware of how immensely helpful and personalized her coaching is, and they can likewise benefit from it in the same way that I did.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“Following up on our conversation earlier today, I just wanted to offer some feedback regarding my work Sheryl Odentz.
I found her service to be extremely valuable. Early on, we worked together to identify my personal work style which helped me better understand what my ideal career opportunity might look like.
As my search progressed, Sheryl provided me with invaluable guidance and insights into the search process. The materials provided by Progress in Work are comprehensive, well-organized, and very useful. Sheryl also generously provided me with access to all her databases, her personal network, and other resources, leaving me with an abundance of potential leads which I would not have been able to otherwise access. She also helped by motivating me and keeping my search focused during periods of frustration.
The in-depth interview preparation was perhaps the most valuable aspect of her service. She helped me practice answering possible interview questions and prepare for any difficult ones. As a result of this work, I felt confident and well-prepared for all my interviews.
I would not hesitate to recommend Sheryl and Progress in Work without reservation. I am very grateful that [prior law firm] offers this benefit and that you recommended Sheryl to me.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 100 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“Thank you again for all of your kind support throughout my transition process from Corporate to Child Advocacy Law. I owe you all a debt of gratitude, and [the HR professional’s name from prior law firm] – I thank you especially for your kind guidance and encouragement.
Thank you also for referring me to work with Sheryl Odentz. I have told you all this in person, but Sheryl’s services were so effective that I thought you might want to know exactly what it was that she did, and what benefits she can offer someone in the same position I was in:
First, Sheryl’s sense of timing and intuition about how much or how little guidance I needed at different times was perfect. Sheryl encouraged me in our very first phone call to find a way to meet with her asap (preferably, that very week if possible) so that she could put me on the “fast track” because she knew I had a deadline by which to find a new job. We did end up meeting later that week (because Sheryl was kind enough to come to work an hour early to meet with me), and Sheryl mapped out a general plan and broad series of steps for me to take so that I left her office with a very concrete plan to immediately put into action. I worked with Sheryl over the course of four months, and initially we spoke at length at least once a week because I had many questions as I was putting together cover letters, resumes and lists and of people and organizations. As time went on, we had fewer formal appointments but Sheryl always responded to any phone call or email from me within the same day, and often within the hour. Although Sheryl did routinely check up on me, she also gave me the space to make my own decisions and have time to reflect on my own. Even during the several weeks when I was merely waiting to hear back from organizations with which I had interviewed, Sheryl always made a point to call or email to see whether I had any updates and to offer her help.
Sheryl is also a very good listener and an empathic person, which is exactly what I needed. When I first approached her, my thoughts and emotions were very jumbled. I knew corporate law was not a good fit for me, but otherwise I wasn’t sure of what types of practices to look in, how to approach my search, or even whether I wanted to stay in the field of law. Sheryl was patient, and spent much of our earlier conversations reframing my own thoughts back to me, asking questions to get me to think more deeply about what I was saying, and giving me enough encouragement so that I felt hopeful. These active listening techniques were immensely helpful in allowing me to narrow down what it was that I was actually looking for in a new position and also gave me an emotional outlet to voice my own fears.
Third, Sheryl is very highly skilled at crafting cover letters, resumes and interview answers. Because we knew the legal industry was hiring only sparsely, part of our strategy was to obtain as many informational interviews as possible in the hopes that anyone who met me in person would like me and refer me later when a job opening arose. Sheryl helped me to draft a cover letter that conveyed my desire for a job, and also expressed clearly my desire to meet with the letter’s recipient in person – even if s/he did not have any openings. This technique worked beautifully, and I was able to obtain several informational interviews early on, which started the ball rolling. Sheryl also helped me to revamp my entire resume so that it targeted family law organizations and highlighted both my legal background and my experience working with children and families. Most importantly, she helped me to pull together a general “pitch” to say to people to tell them why I was looking for a job and what kind of job I was looking for, and she also helped me to craft talking points to present during interviews.
Sheryl’s general philosophy, which is highly effective, is to give honest and genuine answers in a way that frames you in the best possible light. For instance, one of my former law school professors is a extremely successful and well-connected family law attorney in NYC, but I was very hesitant to approach him because I had not kept in touch with him at all since taking his class in law school. Sheryl encouraged me to convey that thought directly, by saying something like, “Professor [name of professor], I felt hesitant to contact you because we haven’t spoken in a while, but you were the first person I thought of because I always remembered how passionate you were about the field of family law…..” Sheryl also kept a video camera in her office for practicing interview answers, and our interview prep sessions were highly useful because Sheryl strongly advised me beforehand to research the field thoroughly so that I could anticipate the questions commonly asked in family law interviews.
There were several instances where I had to make a judgment call (e.g. how frequently to follow up with someone; how personal a tone to take in a letter), and Sheryl would tell me what was commonly done in those situations, but also encourage me to use my own intuition. Looking back, my own intuition was exactly what was needed at those times.
Lastly, Sheryl’s general strategy of focusing on personal contacts and networking (as opposed to merely replying to advertised positions) was extraordinarily effective and proactive. In our first meeting, Sheryl used a metaphor that always stayed with me. She said, “You have the next few weeks to plant as many little seeds as possible, because it takes time for them to grow. Every time you communicate with someone over email, talk on the phone, meet someone at a training, go on an informational interview, or get an interview (even if you don’t end up getting the position), you are planting a seed. If you plant enough of them, eventually one will grow into a job.” Following Sheryl’s strategy, I not only got two job offers for the exact type of job I was seeking, but also quickly obtained dozens of contacts and built a professional network in the field of family law, where a few months ago I had known virtually no one.
In sum, Sheryl is kind, available, and very, very skilled at guiding others to find jobs they want. I would, without hesitation, recommend Sheryl to any attorney seeking to find a job and I am very grateful that you gave me the gift of working with her.
I hope all is well, and thank you again.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I would like to thank you and [prior law firm] for sponsoring my outplacement work with Sheryl Odentz. I have benefited from her help both professionally and personally. Facing the predicament that I found myself in in January was difficult. I am young in my career and maintaining the confidentiality of my situation was important to me.
Knowing that I could confide in Sheryl fully and strategize with her helped me maneuver the process of finding another job that ultimately led to a job I am excited to be going to. Sheryl’s help was critical to my job search. Not only did Sheryl provide support and help in writing my resume and cover letter, but she also taught me the skills to network and to market my legal skills. Sheryl’s understanding of the legal market and law firms helped me in evaluating and pursuing what was important to me in my work environment.
Without Sheryl, I would have relied heavily on recruiters, rather than managing recruiters. Although there are excellent recruiters out there, their interest in placing attorneys does not always correspond to what is in the best interest of the attorney.
I believe my chances for success in my next legal job are exponentially higher because of my work with Sheryl. I know now what I want from my legal career and how to get it. Working with Sheryl fast-tracked that career development process for me. I have always held [prior law firm] in high regard because I believe that [prior law firm] is a very humane place. I continue to whole-heartedly believe that.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“ I had a terrific experience working with Sheryl Odentz from Progress In Works, as my career counselor. Her expertise and knowledge in the world of job search and career counseling were extremely helpful during these challenging times. She was absolutely essential in helping me navigate through the not-so-easy job search process. Sheryl struck an excellent balance in being proactive and dedicated to my search, with her professional counseling abilities (of which she has the requisite educational background). I could not have asked for anyone better, and I highly, highly recommend her to the firm for future needs.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I am writing to say a very big thank you for all the help you gave me in finding my new job. As I discovered very quickly, finding the right inhouse job is not something that happens overnight, but takes much time, persistence and patience. Your advice and support during this process were invaluable.
Even though I had spent a lot of time myself on the Web looking at materials about job moves and interviewing, your written materials were really useful. They were focused on the legal profession and included a lot of information and things to think about that would have taken me a long time to work out for myself.
Even more importantly, the meetings and calls with you were very helpful – being always the right mix of motivation session, wise counsel and sounding board/reality check. There were times when you gave me a real confidence boost just when I needed it, which helped me in the job hunting process. It’s also obvious that you really care about the people you work with and are willing to go the extra mile in thinking about new strategies and, as events unfold, unusual challenges and circumstances!
Finding any inhouse job – let alone the right inhouse job – is a formidable task. I know that, as a result of working with you, I went about this in a much more efficient and effective way than if left to my own devices. Even though I’ve only been on the new job a couple of weeks, I’m really happy with the move and looking forward to learning and developing new knowledge and skills. I would wholeheartedly recommend you to others who are looking to move jobs!”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work.
“I just wanted to reiterate how appreciative I am that [prior law firm] allowed me to use the services of Progress in Work during my transition from the firm. When I first began my job search, I really was not sure where I wanted to go from here and Sheryl was extremely helpful in helping me flush out my goals, priorities and professional values. She was also a wealth of information when it came to networking ideas and other resources in the legal field. Ultimately, it was her contact that was able to place me at my new firm. I think career counseling is really a wonderful and valuable service that [prior law firm] provides to its employees and I think that Sheryl has the perfect balance of compassion and professionalism to get the job done.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
“I just want to let you know that Sheryl was very helpful to me. She was positive, practical, down-to-earth and easy to talk to. She helped me to keep the ball rolling by encouraging me to be proactive and maintaining a high-energy approach.
I enjoyed working with her on a personal level as well because she has a good sense of humor and speaks her mind. Also, she didn’t shy away from talking about the unique circumstances of my case which really helped me. Had she been uncomfortable with that (or ignorant or fearful or whatever), I probably would have been uncomfortable working with her, so that was very important.”
– An attorney from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work.
I am writing (better late than never) to express my appreciation for giving me the opportunity to work with Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work on my career transition from [prior law firm].
On so many levels, Sheryl was great … from rewriting my resume for several different audiences, wordsmithing cover letters and correspondences, and generating ideas that helped me to think out-of-the-box.
Because she is a legal specialist, that helped. For instance, she gave me current names of Administrators and Chief HR officers for all size law firms and their contact information which she curated herself. I also found her databases and materials with templates specifically designed for the legal industry useful.
I know she worked on my behalf in between sessions, which I appreciated, and sent me open jobs she found.
In addition, she was incredibly responsive and always made herself available when I needed her. What I appreciated the most was that Sheryl customized a program that worked for me. It was not a cookie cutter approach.
Sheryl is a gem, and I would highly recommend her to anyone in career transition.
Lastly, Sheryl generously offered to work with me past her contract with [prior law firm] out of the goodness of her heart which I appreciated very much.
Furthermore, [HR professional at prior law firm], thank you for checking in with me periodically to see how I was doing. Your support throughout all of this was tremendous.”
– A professional in the law firm’s business practice from a law firm ranked within The American Lawyer 50 who was in career transition with Progress in Work. This testimonial was written to the sponsoring law firm.
Business Development Training & Coaching Testimonials
“Sheryl was recommended to me by another professional as a business development coach. She is a talented and inspiring “partner”. Very experienced and expert in her field. She uses a methodical approach to business development and rainmaking that is both motivational and highly effective. She is organized and an excellent listener. Equally important, because she is very knowledgeable about the practice of law, particularly at large law firms, her advice is practical and useful immediately. She has great ideas about how to develop business and enhance one’s profession, both within and outside one’s firm. Plus, she is a nice person. I would enthusiastically recommend Sheryl to any attorney wanting to generate more business and revenue.”
– Bruce Colbath, Retired Partner at the law firms of Weil Gotshal & Manges and Sheppard Mullin.
“Sheryl is great to work with. She is highly organized, persistent, and creative. Sheryl provides valuable insights that lead to measurable results for attorneys who want to increase their business development success.”
– David Shimkin, Member at the law firm of Cozen O’Connor.
“I started working with Sheryl after she was recommended by a friend. She provides keen insights on the best (and proven) ways to market both your firm as a whole and your individual practice area. She is easy to work with and always available to discuss matters that arise “out of the blue.” One can tell she cares about her clients and their careers. She helped me a great deal in choosing the best kind of events or conferences (especially those involving significant travel) to attend, and then worked with me on the best ways to prepare for them. She also keeps clients laser focused on the specific goals they seek to achieve.”
– Jorn Holl, Of Counsel at the law firm of Wolf Popper.
“Sheryl was a great sounding board and a great teacher. She introduced me to her basic tenets of business development and how to distinguish myself in a crowded marketplace. I went to Sheryl soon after leaving public service for private law firm practice. With her advice and lessons, I understood the nuances of starting my private legal career. She provided me with the tools and the confidence to attract clients and to create a practice of my own.”
– Linda Riefberg, Partner at the law firm of Cozen O’Connor.
“Sheryl provides the critical tools necessary to succeed in going out and bringing in business. Her materials, contacts and experience are excellent in giving you what is needed to develop and implement a business plan. Her one-on-one coaching skills are invaluable. Her insights on how to understand and put yourself in the potential client’s shoes help you establish instant credibility. Sheryl takes over where law firms typically fail – teaching lawyers, young and old, how to get out of their comfort zone and go out and ask for business. If you happen to be interested in career transition coaching, Sheryl is excellent in helping you find your next challenge in life. Her materials and coaching help you prepare for and survive a career transition. Her business coaching skills are particularly helpful in preparing for the interview process and making sure you are responding to what the potential employer is actually looking for in a new hire. I would recommend Sheryl unconditionally for your business coaching and career transition needs.”
– Hartwell P. Morse III, IP Litigation Counsel at Luv n’ Care, Ltd. and formerly a partner at the law firm of Husch Blackwell LLP.
“I just wanted to give you an update. I’ve been practicing the skills we worked on and just landed a great client- an accounting firm that my firm has been trying to bring in for a while. Luck brought me the opportunity, but I was able to make the most of it because of our work. Thank you!
How are you?”
– This testimonial was sent to Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work by a former business development coaching client who is an attorney.
“Hey there – thank you for your note! Hope you are doing well. This has been a great move so far and a big part of it has been premised on my perceived BD skills. I’ve come a long way since we worked together, but your instruction/guidance gave me the substance, confidence, and perspective to take my BD to the next level. At [prior law firm] I had a number of significant wins that shot me up the pay ladder there and also made me a good fit for this opportunity – we are building an energy practice from scratch so all new hires are required to be business and growth-oriented. So thanks again.”
– This testimonial was sent to Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work by a former business development coaching client who is an attorney.
“Hi Sheryl,
I hope that you are well! One of my clients hired its first general counsel and IP counsel and we were afraid that we would lose the work. Today I had lunch with the general counsel. I managed my nervousness by focusing on asking her lots of questions like you taught me.
She just sent me this email: ‘Thank you again for lunch today, I had a really nice time. I have to say it is refreshing to speak to a lawyer who wanted to know more about the company’s goals and strategies. We really value a team mentality and appreciate your supportive bench approach.
Looking forward to working with you more closely – have a wonderful weekend!’
Yay! Thanks, Sheryl!”
– This testimonial was sent to Sheryl Odentz of Progress in Work by a former business development coaching client who is an attorney.
Executive & Leadership Coaching Testimonials
“My weekly meetings with Sheryl were wonderful. She is practical, has great insights and is a superb coach. I can’t thank her enough for helping me get to the next level.”
– A professional from a large financial company.
Professional Colleague Testimonials
“Sheryl is someone I think very highly of, a first-rate coach, well trained and highly experienced in working with lawyers, and a delightful person of the highest integrity. I can’t recommend her highly enough. She’s a great resource for you and the firm and I’m sure you’ll enjoy her.”
– Shelley Canter founder of RJC Associates, a consulting firm that provides career, executive and team development services to corporations and professional service firms. Shelley is also the author of Make The Right Career Move. This recommendation was taken from a reference Shelley provided to a law firm ranked within the American Lawyer 100 considering hiring Progress in Work.
Workshop & Webinar Testimonials
“Sheryl was gracious enough to conduct a Personal Branding session for the ALANYC C-Level/Director Level Special Interest Group. Members are the most senior administrative level person at their firms. They report directly to the Managing Partner or Executive Committee and are involved in leading the strategic direction of the firm. Some of the comments on the evaluations were “Great session! Wish it was longer! Come back!” and “Great use of time, very informative”. By attending this session, you are choosing to invest in your future! This has changed my perspective on what is needed to succeed. The stories and examples used throughout the session brought the concepts home for me. I learned so much about myself and my personal brand. I highly recommend this session.”
– Shahily Negron-Falcon; Firm Administrator; Kantor, Davidoff, Mandelker, Twomey, Gallanty, Kokhba P.C.
“I have worked with Sheryl in two capacities: first, as a client engaging her for outplacement services and second, as the host of an ALA special interest group where Sheryl presented. With regard to outplacement services, Sheryl is an expert in her field. She has a wealth of resources at her disposal and a strong network of contacts. She takes the time to understand the needs of her clients and works patiently with them to achieve their goals. Sheryl is organized, efficient, and effective, and a pleasure to work with. As a presenter on the topic of career planning and development, Sheryl is also a standout. She spoke to the ALA special interest group about personal branding and leadership and engaged them with relevant research studies and practical exercises that left the attendees wishing there was more time to spend with her. The reviews of her program were all consistently outstanding, and the attendees all agreed that the session was time well spent. I would highly recommend Sheryl both for direct client services and for live group presentations in the areas of her expertise.”
– Molley-Lehr Pease; Director of Administration and General Counsel; formerly at Grais & Ellsworth and now Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer at Curiam Capital LLC
“Hello Sheryl,
I was wondering if you would consider doing a webinar for ALA? I would love for you to present, “Personal Branding Can Make You a More Effective Leader” from this fall’s Regional Legal Management Conferences. Your session was received so well at the conference that we thought it would be great if you could present the subject matter for those that did not attend?”
Comments from participants at the Regional Legal Management Conference held in Las Vegas are as follows:
-
- “Very interesting session.”
- “I liked the implementation of group effort. Met new friends while learning.”
- “Great speaker, kept everyone engaged with interactive exercises. ALA has to get her for future conferences.”
- “Would attend this speaker again- thank you.”
- “Great session. Loved the interaction with other participants. Session helped to determine what your strengths are what needs improvement.”
– Peggy L. Siems; Professional Development Manager; Association of Legal Administrators
“Thanks again for yesterday’s presentation at Tannenbaum Helpern’s regular attorney marketing skills development meeting. The social style, personal brand, and general guidance about relationship-based business development provided practical tips and food for thought for both junior associates thinking about client development for the first time and experienced rainmakers at our firm. Notably the tools you offered have practical application to both in-person and today’s Zoom-based interactions, and, in fact, provide useful skills for lawyers collaborating together in their day-to-day projects. As you indicated, knowing the social style of your colleague allows you to modify your approach to make communications clearer, more effective and more likely to achieve consensus.”
– Paul D. Sarkozi, Co-Chair of Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department and member of the firm’s Management Committee. (Webinar: Applying Social and Psychological Theories to Unlock Your Hidden Rainmaker)
Career Counseling & Coaching Testimonials
“Sheryl’s passion and genuine interest were evident to me on the first day. Incorporating myriad resources, Sheryl helped me to unearth insights both on the personal and professional levels. The Crossroads Career Counseling and Coaching Program promises tangible results, which Sheryl herself prioritizes and delivers upon. After working with her for several weeks, I have attained a renewed confidence in myself and my career path moving forward.”
– Rising Junior from Brown University
“When I started working with Sheryl, I was very unhappy with my job. I had graduated from a top business school with an MBA one year earlier and took a job that I thought would be a perfect fit for me. After one year working at that job, I knew it was all wrong. The Career Crossroads Program helped me better understand myself with respect to work and life in general. Through the various career assessments self-exploration exercises provided in the program, I was able to identify a new field that is a better match for me. I am now optimistic and excited about my future. I also found a new job fairly quickly through networking, which Sheryl also discussed. Furthermore, Sheryl is a nice person, compassionate, and very easy to talk to. I highly recommend Sheryl and The Career Crossroads Program to anyone who is unhappy with their current job and unclear about what to do next.”
– Recent MBA graduate from Columbia University