We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda McCroskey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

In the midst of a pandemic, I launched my coaching business, Hope Provides. The story behind the name is simple. I wanted to provide individuals with hope as they made the decision to step out and change their professional circumstances. Hope provides the space for people to explore the possibilities and imagine what their career could look like while enabling them to discover ways for it to align with their personal core values. Hope is a solid baseline, and from it, one can envision the opportunities, then begin to set a course of action that will get them where they want to be.

Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began my career journey in human resources and over the course of 17+ years worked within many different industries including retail, non-profit, construction, and supply chain. While I enjoyed many aspects of my HR role, coaching individuals was where I found the most purpose. It was fulfilling to work with someone, helping them reflect on where they’ve been and envision where they could go. Then partner with them in the designing of a plan that will help them navigate their next steps.

In 2020, I launched my own career coaching practice called Hope Provides geared toward equipping, empowering, and encouraging individuals on their career journey. I offer a ReDesign Career Coaching package which is a great option for those wanting to find a new job, change careers completely or launch your own business. A snapshot of my services includes: skills assessment, resume writing, brand building, LinkedIn Optimization, networking strategies, goal setting and developing an action plan.

I am most proud of my approach. I desire to hold the space for each and every client, listening intently to what they need, where they see obstacles and how I can be of service. I want to share best practices and resources with each person I work with, providing them with hope and a solid foundation from which to build upon. Nothing brings me greater joy than to witness each client confidently moving forward in the direction of their set career goal.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has been referrals. Satisfied and successful clients who have mentioned my services to friends, family or co-workers is very rewarding. In addition to referrals, LinkedIn has been an amazing platform from which to secure new clients. I maintain a business LinkedIn page along with my personal one and offer a way for individuals to connect with me for a free consultation.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I currently utilize Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as part of my social media presence. In addition, I publish a blog at least twice a month on my website which is shared to all of my social media accounts. I find that just being real and relevant is important, incorporating career related topics with every day life. I use social media to inform but also to encourage. My advice: be strategic in your postings, keeping it to set times during the week, understanding your audience and the platform you are using. Twitter can be nonstop messaging, while Instagram may be 1-2 postings in a day, with a specific attention to creating reels. Social media is about engagement, so make sure you are responding to comments (unless it’s spam) and be very responsive to inquires from potential clients via messaging.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.hopeprovides.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeprovides/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeprovides
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hopeprovides
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hopeprovides