Are you unhappy with your present position? Have you made several unsuccessful job applications? Do you doubt if your professional choice is the best one? Do you wish to completely change industries? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to hire a career coach.
Experts in career planning, résumé writing, interviewing, and negotiation are career coaches. While you may only look for a new job or change jobs sometimes during your life, these specialists are always assisting job searchers, so they are aware of the most recent hiring procedures.
Also Read: How Student-Teacher Relationships Can Impact a Child’s Future
We consulted career professionals to find out all you need to know about career coaches and when to employ one.
What does a career coach do?
According to Rachel Bitte, founder of RB Consulting, having a career coach is fundamentally similar to having a brand awareness team.
These experts are aware of how to highlight your professional experience’s strongest points and present it to prospective employers in the most favourable light, Bitte stated. They have expertise in network development, career planning, motivational approaches, and, most crucially, resume writing.
Vicki Salemi, a career specialist for Monster, states that job coaches often have considerable backgrounds in hiring or human resources.
They can assist you with many different duties, she explained. For instance, while working with my clients, we consider their long-term professional goals, what they are presently doing, and how their next position can help them get closer to their ideal position.
According to Salemi, coaches hold their clients accountable in order to keep them on track while they search for their next position.
When to hire a career coach
Many people believe hiring a career coach is only worthwhile after you’ve applied to hundreds of jobs and are in dire need of one. Finding a coach now would be a terrific idea, but it’s not the only time they may be helpful.
“Getting an outside view from a professional can be tremendously useful whether you’re just starting out and unclear of which road to follow, trying to pursue a new interest, or you’re ready to graduate to the next level,” Bitte said.
Salemi advises employing a career coach prior to really needing one.
If you’re considering quitting your work but aren’t sure, Salemi advised hiring a career counsellor. Being proactive is crucial. Don’t wait until you feel like you loathe your job so much that you can’t tolerate coming to work.
Salemi clarified that not all career coaches provide the same services. While some coaches specialize in pay and benefit negotiations, others might provide assistance with a future interview.
How to find a career coach
The most effective method of finding a career coach is via recommendations from friends. However, social media platforms like LinkedIn are another place to locate excellent trainers.
Bitte added, “Finding a professional coach is not always simple.”A recommendation would be [better]… However, it isn’t always a choice. As a result, to find someone you can trust with your professional welfare, you’ll need to do some research and sift through social media and Google.
If a job coach requests a significant upfront cost, according to Lauren McAdams, career counsellor and recruiting manager at Resume Companion that is a huge warning sign.
Always pay a career counsellor by the hour, she said. This keeps you from becoming long-term trapped into an unimpressive service and guards against fly-by-night businesses.
Anyone seeking guidance may benefit from working with a career coach, but not everyone can afford one. If hiring a professional is out of your price range, you may become your own coach with a little dedication and guidance.
“You can figure out your objectives and plan out your own roadmap to make them happen by employing some easy methods like taking stock of where you [are], getting input from a group of confidants, and keeping yourself responsible,” Bitte added.
How much does it cost to hire a career coach?
The cost of engaging a career coach varies according to their experience and qualifications, area of expertise, success rate, and location of their practice, much as the rates many professions charge. An experienced career coach, such as a published author, will be able to charge more than a coach who is not well-known or respected in their industry. High demand or competitive industries may also see greater fees for career coaches.
Career coaches often charge $75 to $150 per hour. The cost of more popular career counselling services may range from $250 to $500, and on rare occasions much more. The cheapest choice may not be the greatest option when selecting a career coach. Before you commit to pay any money, ask the coach if you can speak to any of their previous customers.
What kind of training do career coaches have?
The majority of career coaches lack a specialized qualification. Instead, many have developed into industry leaders and chosen to sell their expertise in order to aid the next generation in pursuing occupations that they are enthusiastic about.
Despite the fact that certain colleges provide certificate programmes in job coaching or career counselling, such a credential is not a guarantee of a career coach’s quality. More significant than any qualification are their résumé, area of specialization, and recommendations.
What are some pros and cons of hiring a career coach?
Pros
Valuable industry experience:
Your initial investment of a few hundred dollars will more than pay for itself if you locate the proper career coach. Good career coaches have extensive industry expertise or years of recruiting experience, which offers them a distinct perspective. They may assist you in starting your own company, obtaining the position you’ve always desired, or even getting a promotion.
Streamlined job application process:
You’ll achieve the outcomes you’ve been hoping for with the support of career coaches, often in a fraction of the time it would have taken if you had continued to make errors on your own. The main benefit of hiring a career coach is that they allow you to benefit from other people’s errors. In some cases, they were even the ones who created the errors, but they always managed to overcome them.
Cons
Pricey rates:
The hourly charge for a career coach may be expensive, even if it is an investment and their knowledge could be worthwhile. Depending on your need for it, the price can be worthwhile. For instance, are you seeking employment or just wanting to change from your existing position? The $75 to $150 an hour might become a harder pill to swallow as a result.
Scammers:
Keep in mind that not all career coaches are what they appear if you’re considering employing one. Many coaches have little to no expertise in the sector they claim to be specialists in, despite the fact that there are many credible coaches that can assist you with a job transition, interview preparation, resume rewriting, and more. Before making a financial commitment, research a potential coach’s history and independently speak with former students. The simplest approach to prevent hiring a fraud is to use references.
How do you prepare for a career coaching session?
Once you’ve located the ideal career coach, find out from them what you need do to be ready for your session. Each career coach is unique. Some people may expect you to have questions ready. Others may request that you bring tangible items, such as your most recent résumé or an outline of your professional objectives.
Think about your intended results and the connection you want to establish with the career coach in advance if your coach allows you to choose the course of the session. Write out your objectives, then consider what has been holding you back from attaining them on your own. Share all of this information with your coach, and throughout the session, if you’re unsure about what you’ve been missing, ask them for advice.
How do you become a certified career coach?
Start with a successful career in a cutthroat field if you want to become a certified career coach. Your career coaching will benefit from your success in your chosen area since you will have the resources job seekers need to succeed. Many career coaches simply engage in coaching as a side business to their lucrative careers. However, if you’re prepared to retire, a second job as a career coach can be excellent, particularly if you take pleasure in supporting others.
Consider switching to a career counsellor rather than a career coach if you haven’t previously found success in another field. While the majority of career coaches operate individually, career counsellors sometimes provide the same services while working for bigger institutions like high schools, community colleges, nonprofits, or prison reentry programmes. Career counsellors help younger individuals or those who have had difficult times rather than working with professionals attempting to advance to executive positions.