Are you looking for a job but not finding the success that you want? Do you find yourself at a loss when it comes to figuring out what actions to take next? Have you been on 100 interviews and have yet to receive an offer even though they were good jobs? A career coach may be your solution. Career coaches help with resume writing, interviewing skills, identifying marketable areas of expertise, creating a personal brand, and more. They are trained professionals that allow clients to focus on moving forward while they handle the details. However, just because anyone can claim to be a career coach doesn’t mean they’re worth hiring. There are a few specific criteria that can help individuals prevent some of these problems:
Find a Career Coach – Look for the following details:
- Make sure they are professional – A professional will have an online presence, including a website, LinkedIn profile, business cards, and so on. They typically work with clients both face-to-face and virtually via phone/Skype/video chat which requires good communication procedures. Take advantage of free consultations by scheduling them before hiring, if possible, just to get a feel for their coaching style.
- They are trained – A professional career coach will have undergraduate degrees, if not masters degrees in the career field you want help with (i.e., finance). They should also be certified coaches through one of the following associations: International Coach Federation (ICF), Association of Coaching & Consulting Professionals (ACCP), Career Development International (CDI), or the Professional Career Management Alliance (PCMA). Some career coaches may hold coaching certifications from various institutions, including Life Purpose Institute, Coach U, etc. Many also attend re-certification courses multiple times throughout their careers to remain up-to-date on industry changes and best practices. Relevant training will show they are currently in this field and committed to continuous improvement.
- They are positive – A good coach will inspire, not discourage or insult their clients. Their passion for the industry and desire to help others is likely what led them into this career, which should be clear during coaching sessions. Those that resort to anger, insults, and mean-spiritedness likely have underlying issues themselves, which they are transferring onto their clients without even realizing it. Stay away from these types of individuals as they will only worsen by triggering emotions of fear, stress, anxiety, etc.
- They are knowledgeable – A professional career coach will know the industry inside out, including hiring trends/statistics, salary ranges both locally and nationally, typical qualifications for positions (i.e., college degrees, certifications, etc.), the internal process at companies and what employers are looking for in a candidate. They will also know the best places to network, as well as alumni associations, industry organizations, and more, which is where they spend most of their time during re-certification courses learning about new developments within an industry.
In conclusion, Find a Career Coach is a great way to prepare for the future while handling details that cause us to worry. These professionals can help by growing our networks, providing positive encouragement and focus while reducing stress.
