About Us
GiraffesConsulting is a professional career coaching practice established by Terrylynn Smith for the purpose of helping people from all walks of life move into rewarding employment or navigate a successful career change. Recognizing that each of us has a unique personality and outlook, Terrylynn takes an individualized approach to each of her clients to help them find their “inner giraffe,” tapping into their own internal wisdom to guide them to the career of their dreams. At different times, she acts as career coach, life coach, accountability coach, cheerleader–whatever is needed at the moment to help the client move forward.
Whom We Can Help:
- People who have recently been laid off or unemployed
- People who are tired and bored in their current career and looking for a change
- People wishing to expand their horizons or reinvent themselves professionally
- Graduates looking to land their first “real” job
- College students looking to position themselves competitively for the workforce before graduation
- Corporations in need of outplacement services
“They call me the employment whisperer. I help people who are unemployed or stuck in their career get moving, face their fears and land a position with purpose–not just a job with a salary.”
–Terrylynn Smith
About Me
THE EMPLOYMENT WHISPERER
As a certified coach, I help people who are unemployed or looking to change their career, as well as recent college graduates, face their fears and create a plan to find a position with purpose, not just a job with a salary. As the founder and president of Giraffes Consulting, I instill in my clients an appreciation for the inevitability of change, and encourage them to take control of their lives in the face of it.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Why did I name the business “Giraffes Consulting?” I fell in love with giraffes on a golfing and safari adventure in South Africa. I realized that these graceful creatures exhibit several human behaviors of success: they lean forward with confidence, they are highly flexible, and they have a farsighted, almost future-oriented, tree-top view of the world. It was karma!
WHAT CLIENTS CAN EXPECT
I implement a positive, empathetic approach to may clients, listening actively and asking probing questions to help muy clients discover who they are and what they want to do. I then help them design a strategy to reach their goals utilizing four essential tools: a customized resume/cover letter; a compelling LinkedIn profile; a strategy for network development; and interview preparation and practice. In so doing, I helps my clients face their fears and create a plan to land the job they want.
WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE
Laid off at the age of 68 amid a corporate merger, I decided to use my 30 years of experience as a human resources executive to become a career coach. As a graduate of the Georgetown University Leadership & Coaching Program and a member of both the Society for Human Resource Management and the International Coaching Federation, I bring a fierce commitment to helping my clients thrive in the midst of change and to reach their full potential.
AN UNUSUAL BUSINESS MODEL
As a financially independent business person, I measure my success by the degree to which I am able to give back, passing along a significant portion of my business revenue to such worthy causes as Charity Water, the New York Women’s Foundation, the American Red Cross, the Wounded Warrior Project, Razom for Ukraine, and JAIA, a youth development program. Not only does this give me great joy, but my clients come away feeling that by working with me, they, too, are contributing to the greater good.
MY MANTRA
“With courage and a plan, you can accomplish anything!”
Why This Approach Works
After 30 years in HR and being laid off at 68, I learned something important: most career advice is terrible. It’s generic, impersonal, and treats job searching like a numbers game.
Here’s what I discovered:
- Sending 100 resumes gets you nowhere. Sending 10 perfect resumes gets you interviews.
- AI can help with your resume, but it can’t replace human connection
- Most people stay in jobs they hate because they’re afraid to want something better
- Executive leaders are often completely disconnected from what their employees actually need
My approach is simple: I treat you like a human being going through a tough time, not a commodity to be processed. We work together until you succeed. No shortcuts, no false promises, just real support and practical tools.
Giraffes Theory: Our Underlying Philosophy
The inspiration behind the Giraffes Theory came while I was on a trip to South Africa. While observing giraffes in their natural habitat, I noticed several correlations between the behaviors of the giraffe and the behaviors that lead to success. From this life-changing experience has come a proven strategy that I share with all my clients, empowering them to see the bigger picture in formulating a plan for their career.
Four Key Characteristics of the Giraffe:
- The giraffe leans forward, not backward. Its long neck naturally extends at a forward trajectory from the body, leading it ever forward—a key characteristic to have in times of transition.
- The giraffe has a long vision. As the world’s tallest mammal, the giraffe can see above the throng, beyond the immediate obstacles to the horizon beyond.
- The giraffe is naturally curious. The length of its neck enables the giraffe to take a closer look at its surroundings, from the treetops above to the grass below.
- The giraffe is flexible and able to stretch. While able to move its head both high and low, the giraffe has the natural ability to touch heights others can’t reach.
These four characteristics form the foundation of the Giraffes Theory, a profound and transformational way of approaching career changes and other life transitions in an empowering way.
It Only Takes Courage and a Plan.
Landing a new job or embarking on a new career is a major life change by all accounts. It can be a scary and intimidating prospect even in the best of times. Utilizing the principles of the Giraffes Theory, I help you develop a plan of action derived from your own internal wisdom and innate forward-thinking abilities. This plan will look different for everyone, but it will be definitive enough to provide structure, yet flexible enough to accommodate the unexpected twists and turns.
Land the Job You Want
If you’re ready to start on the path to a rewarding and fulfilling career, CLICK HERE to schedule your FREE 30-minute consultation.