Kevin Downey

I’ve always been a writer, but it wasn’t until much later that it became my full-time profession. My management career, however, started long ago when my supervisors noticed the hard work I put into the job I held at the time. I embodied the culture and environment of that company and lived their core values. It wasn’t hard. I was just the right fit for the company, and the job was the right fit for me. The hard work was the easy part because I was having fun doing it.

When I was recruited to train for a leadership role, I wasn’t fully prepared for what it entailed. I was favoured by both my manager and regional manager and felt like a rising rockstar. But when my manager and regional transferred to roles across the country, I suddenly had to work twice as hard as everyone else to prove myself. From there, the road was rough.

When I was promoted to a leadership position, I was transferred to the roughest and toughest location in our region. It was known as the place where new leaders were sent to die. Despite the new obstacles, I stuck with it, passing every test thrown my way, and continued to operate with integrity. The work was no longer fun, but I was growing as a leader and a person, and that is something a true leader doesn’t cast aside lightly.

I was eager to share every lesson I learned the hard way with others to usher their success and spare them unnecessary failures. That’s when I discovered coaching was my favourite part of the job, and the work became fun again. Second to that, I found interviewing and recruiting my ideal teams rewarding. When I interviewed someone who seemed ready for the job before their foot was even in the door, I knew immediately they were the right addition to my team. There’s confidence, swagger, and a light in their eyes that you don’t see in every candidate. There are actions behind their words and a commitment that comes with them.

After a decade with the company, I had job security, was well-liked and still enjoyed the work, which only got easier with time. Yet, I was no longer growing professionally or personally. I realised the company had given me all it could, and I had given them the same. So I decided it was time to move on and seek out new challenges. Soon I found myself managing a small medical practice, and my skills grew.

During this time, I volunteered at career fairs, helping college graduates customise their career goals, cover letters, and resumes while coaching them on how to deliver an above-average interview. I started training two of my staff, and they both grew into newly created management positions, and I’m proud to say they are running the clinic together to this day. I’ve since turned writing into my full-time career. Now thanks to mockquestions.com, these many years later, I can do my two favourite things in the world in tandem: writing and helping you land the job of your dreams.

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