MISSION 

Teaching job hunting strategies that advance careers.

PHILOSOPHY

Career Direction is based on the philosophy of the French chemist Louis Pasteur who believed that Chance favors a trained mind.  Our training is designed to give you the edge in our highly competitive job market and is focused on making you the stand-out candidate in a crowd of applicants. 

HISTORY

Shannon LeJeune, founder and owner of Career Direction, offers more than three decades of experience managing research consulting businesses and raising funds for colleges and universities. An accomplished professional, she has been recruited nationally, working in Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. In 2005, she moved to Traverse City, Michiga. Her combined experiences, as a job applicant who has interviewed throughout the country and an executive who has made hundreds of hiring decisions and mentored dozens of colleagues, are the foundation for her mission to teach people how to job hunt strategically.  

With more than 20 years experience in the corporate world and 10 years experience in academia, Shannon has been responsible for recruiting and hiring hundreds of employees, from administrative assistants to development executives.  She developed a reputation for recognizing talent and creating efficient teams by encouraging excellence and providing opportunities that offered career advancement. Her role as supervisor evolved into that of mentor.  Under her guidance, her colleagues have gone on to flourishing careers in education, healthcare, sales, science, and technology.  (Please see Testimonials page for details).

A native of Chicago, Shannon was awarded a BA degree in history and English from Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1974.  Later than same year, when she earned her certification from the Institute for Paralegal Training in Philadelphia, she had the distinct honor of being among the country's first certified paralegals. 

From 1976 to 1996, Shannon worked:  In Chicago for the Independent Voters of Illinois (political education and activist group); in San Diego for Resource Management Systems (human resources firm contracted by the US Navy); in Washington, DC, for Wirthlin Worldwide (public opinion polling and market research firm); and in Denver for RL Stollar and Associates (environmental engineering firm). 

In 1996, seeking new challenges, Shannon switched careers to development officer for higher education, combining her business management skills with that of her volunteer fundraising experience for such organizations as United Way and Make-A-Wish.  

As Director of Development Director for the University of Utah College of Pharmacy from 1996 to 2002, Ms. LeJeune worked with internationally recognized scientists in pharmacology, toxicology, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry; 2002 to 2005, she was Vice President for Advancement at Silver Lake College in Wisconsin.  Currently, she works as a fund raiser for Munson Healthcare.

Community service has been a hallmark of Shannon’s career.  She is a member of Zonta International (advances the causes of women and children), and serves on the board of directors of CRS (Conflict Resolution Services).  She donates her time to the Traverse City Film Festival, National Cherry Festival, and was a volunteer for the 2007 National Governors Association Meeting in Traverse City. She has served on the boards of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County, CA; United Way of Fairfax County, VA; and Intermountain Therapy Animals of Utah.  And she worked the box office for the Sundance Film Festival.

Shannon's most unique experience was that of transportation host for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.  During her three week assignment, Shannon entertained family and friends with emails describing the joys of escorting tourists on and off shuttle buses.  Her most cherished piece of Olympic memorabilia is a custom-made baseball cap, designed by a fellow volunteer, and embroidered with the words "I survived Park 'N Ride 2002!"