Exploring Life & Business with Helene Vo of Career Consulting by Helene Vo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Helene Vo.

Hi Helene, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from France, where I was born and raised.

At 18, I moved to the U.S. on my own, driven by a strong desire for independence. I’m an only child, and my mom was quite protective, however, I yearned to experience “the challenges of life.” I have relatives here in the US, which helped me have a support system when I barely spoke English and didn’t know much about adult life.

Fast forward, after graduating from UCLA, I began my career in HR and spent 6 years in corporate roles, then, ventured out to startups, which aligned with my need for independence. But it was still enough: so I decided to build my own business. My company was born from a strong desire for freedom: the freedom to work independently, to build something on my own terms, and to learn by failing my own way. I’ve now been a solopreneur for nearly six years, offering job search and career strategy services that help professionals position themselves clearly and confidently for their next move.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. The journey has truly tested if I am able to stand on my 2 feet in a foreign country.

One of my first major challenges was learning English. Although I studied it in school, I couldn’t truly speak it, let alone write with confidence. It took years of immersion, tutoring, and persistence before I became fluent.

Another significant hurdle was visa sponsorship. I graduated in 2009, in the middle of the economic crisis, when securing sponsorship was extremely difficult. I did find a company willing to sponsor me, and fast forward today I am a U.S. citizen.
Professionally, after 8 years of HR experience, I took a major leap by leaving my last stable job without a clear plan. This was guided by a very strong intuition that had been building for years that I needed to work for myself. I couldn’t ignore that voice anymore. Finding my path wasn’t linear. I took on unconventional work, including driving for Lyft and working for someone in entertainment, largely to meet people and explore what truly resonated with me.

Over time, I realized that writing was central to my professional interests. I combined that skill with my background in HR to build my career coaching practice. Before launching full-time, I once had to juggle 3 contracts at once to build financial stability while gaining visibility and clients.

As you know, we’re big fans of Career Consulting by Helene Vo. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I describe myself as a career strategist. I help mid to senior professionals land offers by combining strategic, done-for-you tools, such as resume and LinkedIn profile optimization, with high-impact coaching in interviewing and negotiation.
At the core of my work is a deep-dive process designed to uncover the full scope of a client’s experience. Rather than relying on surface-level summaries, I ask targeted, strategic questions to extract the details, decision-making, and impact behind their work. From there, I align what is most relevant with their target roles, ensuring their positioning reflects how hiring managers and recruiters actually evaluate candidates.

The quality of my work is directly tied to the depth and relevance of the questions I ask. That rigor allows me to translate complex careers into clear, compelling narratives that resonate on paper and in conversation.

What I’m most proud of, from a brand perspective, is bringing depth and thoughtfulness to a process that often feels transactional. I’m known for being direct and strategic about what works in today’s job market while also being deeply empathetic to the emotional toll the search can take. My approach balances clarity with compassion, helping clients feel both confident and supported as they move toward their next role.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve been living here for 16 years, and what I love most about Los Angeles is the incredible diversity of experiences it offers. Over the years, I’ve practiced yoga in person for more than five years, did improv for over two, tried indoor cycling, gone hiking, explored countless restaurants and museums, and spent many nights at comedy shows. I’ve seen artists like Trevor Noah and the Red Hot Chili Peppers live here, experiences that still stand out to me.

LA has a richness of activity that makes me feel like I can explore endlessly. It’s a place where you truly feel you can do anything and be anything.

No surprise here – what I like least is the traffic.

Pricing:

• Starts at $599

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.byhelenevo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehelenevo/