Phil Sterne | Career Transition Coach Avis 98

Phil ran a couple of CV and Interview workshops for our PRINCE2 Foundation Project Manager Bootcamp learners. The sessions were really insightful, and the students were highly engaged. Phil is an outstanding individual, insightful and genuinely invested in helping people.

Many thanks for all your help and advice, Phil; it was greatly appreciated.

the course was really helpful and I would recommend to anyone that needs help on their cv

Phil is a most excellent human – insightful, generous and genuinely invested in helping people. And he knows a thing or two about CVs :-)

We’ve collaborated a number of times (despite technically being “competitors”), and he has always shown up as a brilliant sounding board, a supportive peer and a calm, considered thinker. Phil listens deeply, asks perceptive questions and his integrity is unfailing. He’s also a lot of fun with excellent taste in music.

I always walk away from our conversations feeling clearer, calmer and with better ideas than I started with. Anyone lucky enough to work with Phil will feel the same :-)

Phil takes a compassionate, catered and empathetic approach to guiding & joining you on your journey. Phil is incredibly thoughtful, he listens well and thinks deeply before responding. Just a really good guy, thanks Phil!

When I first started working with Phil, I’d recently been made redundant and was feeling unsure about what to do next. I was really lacking in self-confidence after the knock that is redundancy. I was toying with the idea of setting up independently, but I didn’t know how to make it happen. I really didn’t know who would pay me for services, or even what they would be!

Firstly I started with Phil’s book, which is an excellent and very practical tool. We then worked together in 1:1 sessions and later via group coaching. Phil genuinely helped me to unscramble my thinking and turn all those scattered ideas into a clear, confident plan. He gave me practical advice, structure, and a huge amount of encouragement. Even though I had all of the answers within me, Phil helped me to surface them. More than that, he helped me believe in myself again.

Fast forward to now, and I have a full book of business, I’m more selective about the work I take on, I’ve raised my prices with confidence, and I genuinely feel proud of what I’ve built. This is mainly down to working with Phil, firstly in those early days and then later as my business and confidence began to grow. In short, working with Phil has been huge for me, he has an incredible gift for helping people find clarity, courage and conviction. I’m forever grateful.

Phil made it easy to open up and supported me in cross-examining my own internal monologue

I've been working for over 20 years and done relatively well in an increasingly corporate career - but hit a traffic jam in my own head because of what felt like a traffic jam in my life: tough forks in the road career-wise and personally at the same time and all those thoughts, wants, needs, coulds/shoulds/musts refused to merge in turn.

I had been working with Phil on re-working my CV and he gently suggested I could use a little 'career-whispering'.

We met up for a morning of coffee and blurting out my thoughts. Phil helped me work through them and link concepts from the 'work' part of my head to the 'life' part of my head and vice versa, constantly balancing me out from being too pessimistic about some things or too rose-tinted about others.

Phil's kind and empathetic approach is underpinned by a clarity and directness that really helped me think more broadly.

I got in touch with Phil after reading his book. We had met in a previous life but I took some time with Phil to really work out what it was I wanted to offer after about 9 months as a freelancer.

I've enjoyed a few chats now along with some support for LinkedIn profiles etc. Two reasons I thoroughly enjoyed working with Phil:

01. It's just good, honest, no beating around the bush conversation. Phil asks meaningful and sometimes tough questions that give you the chance to be honest with yourself.

02. This was the first chance someone has made time just for me. I know that sounds selfish but this is why I did it - because when you're doing something tough, scary, fun and different - that's what you need. Phil is superb at this!

Can't recommend highly enough - thanks Phil for the support to date.

DISCLAIMER - Clarifying for the eagle-eyed readers. This is NOT an April Fool...

I couldn't be more grateful to have met Phil at Atomicon 2025! I've got tonnes of value out of every conversation we've had together. Phil has helped me realise that "escaping corporate wankery" (the name of his incredible book) doesn't just happen the once with self employment, it can happen again, and it's important to have that realisation when it might need to happen again. Phil has also helped me think differently about many aspects of my business; leading with the problem, pricing and strategizing my availability.

I'd highly recommend anyone to reach out to Phil to think differently about running your business or have that 'partner' to go it alone, together!

Phil’s been a fantastic support as I navigate a tough career crossroads. I haven’t landed yet, but he’s helped me step back, regain perspective, and focus on what really matters.

He combines honest, practical advice with real empathy and takes a whole-person approach to transition. It’s not just about the next job, but mindset, confidence, and direction. My only regret is not finding him sooner!

It was an absolute pleasure to have Phil join me on The Coffee Chaos and Confidence Podcast. Not only was it awesome hearing about his story and journey that helped him create his book, but he's absolutely a top guy, too.

Phil helped me land a job without ever meeting me, knowing who I was, or actually being aware he was helping me. That's because I used his free resources, including his emails, articles and templates to write my CV. With just my second application, I got an interview, and they commented on how my CV stood out and had personality yet professionalism (something Phil balances brilliantly). That was largely down to the insights, clarity and confidence I gained from Phil's resources. I'm delighted to say I got the job just 8 days after applying. So, a massive thank you Phil, and if your free resources are powerful enough to help me land a great job, I imagine your paid services are pretty damn special.

I came across Phil after reading his brilliant book Escape Corporate W@nkery and commenting on one of his posts. Phil took the time to understand my pain points; really digging into where I was getting stuck. He reviewed my LinkedIn, offered honest feedback, and even stopped me from wasting money on things he felt I didn’t need. Instead, he gave me practical suggestions that were far more effective and tailored to my situation.

Phil’s approach is pragmatic, personalised, and refreshingly genuine. He’s not in it for the hard sell he genuinely wants to help and he's great at it!

I can’t recommend Phil highly enough. He didn’t just help me rewrite my CV but gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed at a really crucial moment in my career. His approach was thoughtful, encouraging, and genuinely empowering. He took the time to understand my experience and aspirations, and translated that into a CV that truly reflects my strengths. I walked away not just with a stronger document, but with a renewed sense of clarity and belief in what I have to offer. An absolute game-changer!

Found Phil after months of countless job applications with zero interviews causing me to become despondent with the whole process.

Phil went above and beyond expectations: providing an expertly tailored review of my CV to support my career transition.

I would highly recommend Phil's service. He is a joy to work with and his insights have renewed my enthusiasm to land that perfect role in tech.

Phil has worked with our academy trust to deliver a range of workshops and assemblies. For our school, he delivered a CV assembly to around 200 of our Sixth Form students.

This was a friendly and engaging session where Phil walked students through the CV writing process, framing AI as a useful tool when used appropriately to explore the opportunities available to them.

Phil kindly allowed us to share free resources, including a CV template, with the parents/careers of the students who attended, allowing them to provide further support to their young person.

Students felt more informed leaving the assembly, and even staff commented that they had learned something new. I feel that the job application process is something school's need to put a greater focus on, to prepare students for the world of work. The sessions offered by Phil are a great way to engage students with this, and we look forward to working with him in the future.

Phil delivered an engaging and informative careers seminar to all Yr13 students within our school. This was approx 200 students and Phil took the remit of 'CV workshop' and created a bespoke session to help benefit our students. Not only did Phil cover a student friendly help guide to write a CV based on skills and qualities they didn't realise they had, he also discussed mindset when choosing a career and led an interactive session on the use of AI. Students really enjoyed Phil's engaging and age appropriate advice and we can't wait to invite him in again.

Having been off the job market since 2018, I realized my CV and LinkedIn profile needed a refresh to align with C-level IT leadership roles in the current job market. I reached out to Phil for assistance, and from our very first call, I was pleasantly surprised at how insightful and valuable his advice was. He was never pushy and always took the time to explain his thinking, which gave me real confidence in the process. Impressed by his approach, I decided to proceed with his services for a full CV and LinkedIn update. While I haven't changed jobs yet, I now feel significantly more prepared for future opportunities. Thank you, Phil!

We were fortunate enough to have Phil visit our school to deliver a workshop and give an inspiring talk to our Year 12 students, and it was truly a memorable experience. From the moment he began, it was evident that Phil has a rare ability to connect with young people in a way that makes them feel both seen and understood. His approach was refreshingly modern, blending timeless principles of success with innovative strategies that encourage students to think beyond the conventional.

Phil’s presentation was far from the typical lecture-style talk. He actively engaged with the students, fostering an interactive environment where they were encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and participate in meaningful discussions. His ability to break down complex ideas into relatable and actionable steps was incredibly valuable, particularly as many of our Year 12 students are navigating one of the most pivotal points in their academic careers.

What stood out most was Phil’s unique perspective on success. While he did touch on the traditional methods of achieving academic and career goals, his insights were far more expansive. He highlighted modern tools, strategies, and mindsets that empower students to not only excel in their studies but to think outside the angles. Phil emphasised the importance of creativity, adaptability, and resilience—traits that are just as critical in today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving world as academic achievement itself.

The students were visibly engaged throughout the session, hanging on his every word, participating in discussions, and sharing their own experiences. It was clear that Phil had established an open, welcoming environment where the students felt comfortable expressing themselves. His relatable nature made it easy for them to absorb his messages and reflect on how they could apply these insights to their own lives.

In addition to being incredibly insightful, Phil’s session was motivational and empowering. He reminded the students that success is not a one-size-fits-all formula, and that each individual has the potential to carve their own unique path. The feedback from the students after the workshop was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how they felt inspired and better equipped to tackle their future endeavors with confidence and a more open mindset.

Overall, Phil’s workshop was a perfect blend of inspiration, practical advice, and interactive learning. We are grateful for his time and expertise, and we highly recommend him to any institution or group looking for a speaker who can truly make a lasting impact.

Phil was knowledgeable, professional and easy to speak to. Through a few engaging phone calls he was able to gather all the information needed to produce a clear, succinct and impressive CV.

Working with Phil was the best ever experience! Phil did much more than just provide a new and interesting CV, he gave me confidence. I very much appreciated Phil’s collaborative approach and now consider him a friend.