If you are ready to make changes in your professional life, finding a career coach may be a good option. Career coaches —also known as career counselors or job coaches—can offer insight, advice, and specific steps to take in your career progression. In this article, we explore what a career coach is and the reasons and tips for hiring a career coach to help change the way you are managing your career.
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What does a career coach do?
Career coaches use expert communication and analytical and strategic skills to help you navigate your way from where you are to where you want to be in your career. These professionals assist in all stages of the employment process, from choosing suitable jobs, perfecting your application materials, coaching you for interviews and more. Because they stay up-to-date on current hiring trends and what jobs are available, career coaches are well-suited to helping you attain your ideal job.
8 reasons for hiring a career coach
Here are eight reasons you may want to hire a career coach:
1. You are ready to move up
When you’d like to advance your career with a promotion at your current firm, working with a career coach can be a good choice. Your career coach will get to know you, your work, and the company you work for. Your career coach will offer objective feedback on your current performance.
Then, working with you to sharpen certain skills you already have and introduce you to others you haven’t yet mastered, your career coach can advise you on how to have the best chance for advancement in your current company.
2. You are ready for a new opportunity at a different company
If you have decided it is time to seek employment in a new environment, a career coach can help. Career coaches stay current about industry trends and develop relationships with hiring teams at various companies. They can help you locate potential new employers whose values, salary structure, shift availability, and other offerings appeal to you.
3. It’s time for a major career change
When it’s time to make a major pivot in your professional life, a career coach can help you in your transition. You and your coach can discuss your desire to change industries and work together to create a plan. Career coaches can help determine the strategy for your career pivot and advise you on the tactics you’ll need to advance in a new direction.
Career coaches can also assist you in crafting the job inquiries, cover letters, and resumes you’ll need as someone stepping from one business environment to another.
4. You want to improve your job application skills
Career coaches are good resources if you are looking for a job but are uncertain of your job application skills. Career coaches know how to think like employers and will share best practices for writing inquiries and cover letters, updating your resume, and preparing for interviews. Hiring a career coach can help you tailor your job application to be attractive to your potential employers.
5. You want to establish a career path
If you look at your job history and realize you have changed jobs without a clear strategy, you can use a career coach to help you take a more structured approach to your professional life. A career coach can provide an objective view of yourself as an employee and assist you in defining your career objectives. Career coaches can advise you on long-term career paths and recommend courses of action—including training and development—to help strategize your vocational future.
6. You want to match your application to current hiring systems
A career coach is an excellent resource if you have been away from the job market or have not looked for a job in some time. Most employers take advantage of cutting-edge technology to assist them in identifying high-quality candidates for their open positions. A career coach can introduce you to how an applicant tracking system (ATS) works.
If you aren’t connected to job search and professional development apps and websites, a career coach can help you understand how hiring teams use them and how you can use them to your advantage. Career coaches are knowledgeable about hiring trends and use their contacts to find out what employers are looking for and how they are recruiting applicants to fill open roles.
7. You want to proactively manage the job application process
Career coaches work hard to direct you in the most efficient ways to stand out from other applicants. One benefit of their expertise is helping you avoid the challenge of not hearing back from an employer after you have applied for a position.
8. You are ambitious
If you already have a definite plan for your career, a career coach will help you optimize that plan. Career coaches know how to objectively evaluate your goals and make recommendations for setting milestones and creating timelines for accomplishing your career goals.
Your career coach will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, assist you in developing a structured approach to your career path, and support you in implementing planned steps to evolve your career.
Tips for finding a career coach
When looking for a career coach, consider these tips:
Ask your networks
Inquire among your personal and professional networks and visit professional networking sites online. Ask for recommendations from people who have had success using career coaches.
Check with alumni groups
Get in touch with area colleges and universities to see if they can refer you to career coaches they recommend to their graduates.
Search coaching organization sites
Associations like the International Coaches Federation (ICF) and the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARCC) have online search functions listing their members.
Check their references
To make sure you’re hiring the best coach for your needs and goals, request at least three references from each coach you are considering.
I hope you find this article helpful.
