What is a Career Coach and Do I Need One?
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At some point in our careers, almost everyone has a moment of discontent, uncertainty, or a feeling of wanting more. Even those who are happy with their current roles and career paths will experience times when they question what they’re doing and wonder if they’re on the right track for the future.
Working through these doubts and turning points with a trusted professional can help clarify goals, reaffirm, or challenge career decisions, and ensure that a person is on the right path for their own professional journey. A career coach is trained to do exactly this. But what is a career coach? Do you need one? And what do they do?
What is a Career Coach?
A career coach is a professional who works with you one-on-one to help you achieve your full potential within the realm of your current or desired career. They’ll work alongside you to uncover your skills, work interests, and professional values.
Because coaching is such an individualized experience, career coaches are equipped to help you in a variety of career-related areas. They can offer career advice, and counsel you regarding career planning, career changes, and more.
Once your goals and path are identified, they will coach you through concrete, measurable steps like executing a job search, creating resumes, filling out applications, and even clarifying the direction of your career.
How Does a Career Coach Differ from Other Types of Coaching?
An athletic coach’s job is to train and guide you through physical exercises and gains that help you rise through the ranks of your sport. A life coach is someone who will support you through major life changes and help you design the kind of life you most desire to live.
A career coach falls somewhere between these two. Their work is hyper-focused on the career and work aspects of your life. They usually won’t delve into other facets of your life like relationships, finances, or motivation unless those things are directly related to or affecting your career in some way.
Some of the things a career coach may do for or with you, depending on your current situation and future goals include providing career-specific advice, teaching ways to navigate career transitions, assisting with future career planning, helping you to find your identity in a new role or company, and helping you to set career and professional goals.
They may administer career assessments and analyze the results with you, or work with you to identify new career options. They can assist in the job search process and prepare you for interviews through practice interviews and the integration of other tools. Everything they do is focused on helping you find a job you love and can grow with, whether it’s your current role, or one you haven’t even considered yet.
Career Coach vs. Career Counselor
Career coaches and career counselors can have quite a bit of overlap in their work, but they aren’t the same. A career coach is often more focused on the big picture, and the long-term. They work on building your mental fitness over a long period of time and create a relationship that will grow with you.
On the other hand, career counselors may focus more on your past experiences, and any immediate goals you have. While a career coach can work with you to achieve goals that may be 10 or more years down the line, a career counselor is more focused on the present and very near future.
When Should I Hire a Career Coach?
Truly everyone can probably benefit from career coaching at any time. After all, who doesn’t want to realize their full professional potential and learn to thrive in a position they love?
That said, there are some times when a career coach may be more beneficial than others. If you are feeling stuck in your job, company, or career path, it can help to work with a career coach to get out of your rut and see the other possibilities in front of and around you. A career coach can also be a wonderful resource if you start to question whether you’ve chosen the right career, or whether it’s something you want to continue doing.
Even in the absence of a big, looming problem, career coaches can help you secure new ways to learn things and continue to grow in your career or assist you in improving your work-life balance and overall well-being.
How to Prepare for a Career Coaching Session
Choosing the right career coach and making sure you get the most out of your sessions can feel like a job in itself at times. There are many factors to consider, questions to ask, and things to look for in a potential career coaching relationship. The more prepared you are from the beginning, the easier and more successful your experience will be.
First, know what kind of coach you need to hire. This involves a combination of knowing what sort of coaching style you respond to, finding a coach who operates in a way that meshes with your needs, and making sure your chosen coach has experience in exactly the type of career assistance you’re seeking.
Next, be sure to do your research. Look into several different coaches, and familiarize yourself with their training, experience, certifications, and areas of expertise. Even the best career coach will be ineffective if they aren’t experienced in the kind of help you need.
Finally, meet with, interview, or complete trial sessions with different career coaches before committing to one for the long term. The first person you meet won’t always be the best fit for you. Keep looking until you find the person you know can take you to the next level.
Start Working with a Career Coach
Jonette Dyer is an experienced life and career coach with years of experience and a proven track-record of helping her clients reach their fullest potential. She will work with you to identify your core values, and then build on them to help you craft the career you’ve always dreamed of attaining. Contact her to learn more about her personal coaching services and start your journey today.
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