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Career transition at any stage of one’s career can be challenging, fraught with concerns about making the right move (and implications of making the wrong move); the process can feel overwhelming, and there can be a frustrating lack of ROI on search efforts. Moreso, it’s often a solitary exercise, and can be hard to do on one’s own. There’s a resource you may not have considered. In this series, we’ll provide an overview about career coaching, how to select a career coach, and essential components of the career coaching process.
Get out of your own head! How career coaching can jumpstart your job search right now.
Where are you in your career, where are you headed, and how are you planning to get there? Ever feel like you could use some coaching from the sidelines? You may see yourself in one of these scenarios:
Career Pivot: Julie feels fortunate that she landed in a career she really likes and she’s excelled every step of the way. But she dreams of doing something more meaningful, perhaps working for a mission-driven company. Is this the right time to make that move? And how could she make that big leap?
Interview Upskilling: Joe’s been able to score a number of interviews for jobs that seem pretty desirable. But he keeps getting knocked out in the final round. What’s going wrong, and how could he improve his batting average?
Career Exploration: Sam feels stuck in her job, not terribly discontented, but not thriving either. She wonders, “Is this the right job, the right role, the right career? And where do I go from here?”
Launching a Search: Steve is at square one: he was just laid off for the first time ever. He was thrown by the experience and now he’s feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of taking on a job search. Where to begin?
Engaging a career coach can help you figure out what’s working and what’s not, realize your professional potential and, ultimately, help you thrive in your career. Here’s how:
1. Gaining self-awareness and perspective. Most of us aren’t great at holding up the mirror and perceiving the attributes that are either hindering or helping. It’s part of being human. Lacking that perspective can lead to not doing as well in a job or just not feeling as fulfilled. Assessment, 360 feedback, and an expert listener can identify strengths and alignment with potential opportunities.
2. Designing and implementing a career action plan. When it comes to job search, many of us struggle to get out of the gate or just keep moving ahead. It helps to have clear objectives and goals, and someone holding you accountable. Achieving these goals both motivates you to continue on your journey while actually moving you toward a clear outcome--landing a job--thus giving you a sense of agency over your day-to-day as you move through your search.
3. Preparing and positioning you— especially in a challenging job market, you need a competitive edge, from a resume and LinkedIn profile that is professionally designed to score for the jobs you’re pursuing, to interview prep that sets you up for success. A big plus: the skills and tools you gain will benefit you long term, whenever you’re in job search mode.
4. Encouragement and support when you need it most. Job search can be hard and isolating. And there’s nothing worse than feeling like it’s not going well and you don’t know why. Coaching from the sidelines can keep you positive, productive and performing at your best— even if your sprint to that next job turns into a marathon.
Every day you spend trying to master the job search process yourself is a day spent not earning a paycheck (and/or feeling less than fulfilled and more frustrated). Better to find a way to move through the process efficiently and effectively, optimizing the time spent so you can make your next move quicker and with intention. From our experience, the investment you make in career coaching will be reflected in your next paycheck and beyond. From career-long materials, a blueprint for acing interviews, and a career path guide you can refer back to--there is clear, measurable value.
So what are you doing right now to get out of your own head and get in gear? Contact us for more information on our career coaching services. More here: Career Coaching Through Times of Uncertainty: An interview with Rachel Fagnant Fassler. Next Up: How to Select a Career Coach OR The Top Three Questions That can Clarify Your Career Goals.