The last couple of years have brought immense change and transition to the world of work. Employees have had to navigate hybrid work and home offices, blurred boundaries between work and home, all with the backdrop of a global pandemic, political and social turmoil, and general upheaval to what used to be business as usual. What may be the most drastic change the workforce has seen has been the mass exodus of employees leaving companies voluntarily, colloquially known as the Great Resignation. You may find yourself in a position to consider if you will join this watershed moment in labor market/employer relations as people are reconsidering their relationships with loved ones and corporations and making decisions on what to prioritize in droves. If things at work aren’t feeling as constructive, supportive, or viable as they were pre-pandemic, it may be time for a change. But the actual work of finding new employment can be brutal: reworking a resume to pivot within your industry, the time spent agonizing over cover letters, applying to roles that match your passions and skills with fair compensation can all be exhausting. It can often feel like a second job in addition to the one you’re hoping to leave!
Here is where a career coach can provide some invaluable resources and support. Coaching has become part of the zeitgeist in recent years with coaching platforms and practitioners popping up across the Internet and social media, but who are career coaches and what specifically can they do to help? A career coach is someone who has specialized training in helping and advising job seekers to hone various skills related to their careers. These can include written materials (think resumes, cover letters, and sometimes LinkedIn profiles), enhancing clients’ networking abilities, strengthening interviewing skills, and helping define career goals and aspirations. Finding and utilizing a career coach can help expedite the process of finding your next role, however it is important to understand that career coaches are not headhunters, therapists, or recruiters. They help coach job seekers be more effective in their search so that they get that offer letter sooner.
When is it time to enlist the help of a career coach? Depending on your goals, you may seek the support of a career coach earlier or later in your job search. If you are looking for a total career overhaul and switching into a new field, a career coach may benefit you earlier on in your search to help rework your resume so the disparate roles you had in the past still highlight relevant skills. If you are looking to advance in your current field to a leadership or management position but have not been getting those second interviews after a few months, a career coach can help assess where the hangups may be in companies pursuing you as a second round candidate. If you are trying to find a new job for the first time in a few years, a career coach may help prepare you for the job market before you even leave your current role.
Making the decision to invest in personal or professional development is rarely one that is taken lightly. If you feel that it may be time to invest in a career coach, take a few things into consideration when searching for your ideal coach. Find someone who you can connect with, who you feel comfortable sharing your concerns, expectations, and aspirations with. You will be paying for these services and for the sessions to be most effective, you as the client must be willing to open up, be honest, and put in the effort to make the most of what you learn. Consider how and where you best learn as well, does that mean that meeting in person is a must or are you comfortable with virtual sessions? Take some time before reaching out to write down what it is you are looking for support with and what goals you’d like to achieve through your coaching sessions. Once you have a picture of what you’re looking for, reach out to the coach you feel would be the best fit for you and get started!
