How to find the right Career Coach?

A career coach is someone who partners with clients in a process that helps the clients achieve their personal as well as professional potential. Basically, they act as guiding forces when it comes to a person or a professional standpoint. When it comes to your work life, being proactive is the best strategy. Having trusted counsel, such as a career service is the best bet used by executives all over the world.

What does a Career Coach do? 

Let’s address the first and most important question - What is a Career Coach? coaching services can provide you with a new perspective and a variety of tools to help you assess your situation and set goals.

Services related to your career can also serve as a sounding board for new, bold ideas, such as that innovative personal statement you're undecided about. Engaging a career coach is the start of an exciting journey since you will be experimenting a lot during your time together.

Coaches engage directly with clients at all levels in order to help them get the jobs they want, but the relationship doesn't always end there. Many professionals prefer to communicate with their coaches on an as-needed basis in order to gain career advice. This has been shown to be a great asset that can help you advance in your profession and be happier at work.

When do you need a Career Coach?

While we are on this topic, let us just highlight the difference between career coaching and career counselling. People may use these terms interchangeably, but there is a wide distinction between the two. 

Counselling is designed to assist you in deciding what you want to accomplish with your life. They can give personality tests to help you narrow down your career options. Clients' prior experiences are also taken into consideration by career counsellors. They may give you advice or tactics for landing the job you want, but it isn't usually their primary goal.

On the other hand, career coaching provides you with the methods and mentality to build action objectives and priorities for career growth based on your customers' current situations. They help and inform everyone who needs career assistance by taking a solution-oriented approach.

You may ask, “Why get a Career Coach?” Well, many individuals believe that hiring a career coach is only useful after you've submitted thousands of applicants and are desperate for work. While now is an excellent moment to hire a coach, these professionals can also assist you at other points in your career, which can include: 

• You don’t know what job you want to do and what you can do
• You are clueless as to how to position your skills in the context of a potential role
• You have not been able to get over your last negative job experience or have lost the confidence to make positive career choices. 
• You feel stuck at your place on the professional ladder.

How to find a Career Coach? 

Conduct a Research

Whatever you decide, you should conduct research on the top choices for a career coach. What about their LinkedIn profile? Have they been cited or recognized as a professional in reputable media? Look them up online—do they have a weblog or books you can read? 

This can help you get a sense of who they are and how beneficial they might be as your trainer. 

Check your Alma Mater

Another often-overlooked resource is your alma mater's career centre. Many universities provide support and services to former students or recommend external coaches.

The Internet

When all else fails, the internet can help you find a career coach online. On the internet, there is a plethora of information that can be perplexing. So, here are some parameters to base your study:

• Expertise and Background

Understanding of employer's perspective, and prior experience in recruiting or executive search. Also, someone who knows the importance of rebranding.

• Style/Approach

Some coaches have pre-determined plans and bundles, while others personalise services to your specific needs or charge by the hour. Interview several coaches to choose one that is a good fit for the position and working style.

• Knowledge/Education

Because job search trends change all the time, it's critical for coaches to stay on top of them. Choose a coach who keeps up with current events and has a good website where you may learn so much about the services they provide.

• Free consultation and an attitude of candour

Career coaching is an unfamiliar notion to many job seekers. Coaches should be open to discussions and provide a free consultation to guarantee they can assist you in achieving your unique objectives.

• Guarantees

Because each customer is different, the experience of one client may be vastly different from that of another. They should seek clarity concerning your goals and any quantifiable results you want from the partnership.

• Practicalities

Don't forget about the practical components of the coaching process, like the coach's place of work, timezone, scheduling system availability (weekdays only? ), pricing (fixed price? hourly? ), and payment methods accepted. 

Who is a good coach for me? 

You should be clear on what to expect from a career coach. There are three main questions that one needs to ask themselves during the process. 

First, What is the type of person you best work with?

Consider the professors, supervisors, mentors, counsellors, and other "coach"-like persons with whom you've previously collaborated. Who helped you go on to the next dimension by encouraging, inspiring, and motivating you? What characteristics did they all share?

Research is a very important factor here. Go through the academic and professional qualifications of your options of coaches. Look at their blogs, and social media handles. You should try to understand whether they are getting through to you or not. If you feel so, you may then book a meeting with them and proceed. 

Second, Why exactly do you need a career coach?

Most career coaches have experience working with people from a number of industries and understand how to counsel those with highly specialised skill sets. Most experienced instructors have seen a lot and have the knowledge and experience to guide you as well.

Having said that, it might often make sense to consult with someone who specialises in your industry or scenario. A number of positive reviews from people in various industries and sectors is a good sign while doing your research.

Finally,  How much are you willing to spend?

A personal question, but important nevertheless. 

It is up to you whether you select a highly specialized coach or to pay attention to the expensive end of the spectrum. Working with someone at a lesser price range could also be a nice way to dip your toes in the water if you're just looking for some career guidance and direction from a career specialist.

In either case, make sure you research, read reviews, or speak with previous customers, and make an informed selection.

How to prepare for a session with a Potential Coach? 

You need to determine if you'll get along with his or her teaching approach, and also whether your coach has the necessary abilities and expertise, as well as industry understanding to be an insider.

Forbes released a list of questions for career coaches before selecting a particular service. The question includes: 

• What is your coaching method?
• What tools do you use?
• What are the most common barriers to success and how do you handle those? 
• Do you have familiarity with and experience in my industry?
• What is your track record of satisfied clients?
• What outcomes are we striving for?
• How comfortable are you telling me I’m wrong?
• Who is your ideal client?
• What happens if we don’t click?

The advantages of expert career coaching are numerous. Professional career guidance can assist you in finding a new job, improving your leadership abilities, and achieving a better work-life balance. Your coach will keep track of your progress, encourage you, and monitor you to ensure you accomplish your career goals.

Collaborating with a coach will help you clarify your values and priorities at work. Together, you'll set targets in each aspect of life and devise strategies for accomplishing them. A coach will assist you in overcoming any challenges you may encounter along the way.

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