Many individuals believe that career coaching is only useful after you have applied for dozens of applications and are in desperate need of a job. While it would be a good time to find a coach, they can help with many other career crossroads. Particularly after reeling from major life changes such as returning to work after having kids. They can also be just as valuable for helping clients make the most out of their job and the opportunities at the company he or she already works for. 

If your game plan is to send out resumés and hope for the best, you’ll quickly find that the old ways of approaching this kind of challenge aren’t working today. Whether you’re a graduate, changing careers, stuck in a rut, looking for a promotion or re-entering the workforce. The right time to get a career coach is when you’re not making the progress you need to make in finding the dream career you truly want. 

While career coaching may focus on career advancement or the development of certain abilities, you will also find ways to do more work that you benefit from and eliminate the habits that make you unhappy at a job. It may require the help of a professional to get there.

Signs why you need a career coach 

• To learn more about yourself and your strengths, so that you can better articulate them to an employer.
• For that “push” you need to work harder on your search (not all of us are self-motivated).
• To develop needed skills in the job search such as networking or interviewing.
• To obtain a better work-life balance or deal with issues related to promotion or success in the workplace.
• Help to figure out what career will utilize your biggest strengths, and offers you the right balance of personal satisfaction, financial compensation, and time flexibility that you need to enjoy your life.
• Your path to success isn’t clear. Some sectors have so many subsectors and functions that it can be difficult for job seekers to figure out the optimal path.
• To improve your resume and cover letter. The power of your resume lies not just in the message but in how you communicate it.
• You don’t know your own potential. This is possibly the biggest reason to use a career coach. Your capabilities go beyond what you learned in college or in your last couple of jobs, but you may not realize it.
• You’re not a cookie-cutter candidate. Your work experience may be valuable but varied. Your skillset may be strong but eclectic, and your overall trajectory difficult to parse in the cookie-cutter language of human resources in a large corporation.

For all these reasons, getting a coach may not be a luxury but a very smart career move.

How career coaching career can help you when you’re applying

A career coach can accelerate your job search. Hiring a career professional often can reduce the time it takes to get back to work. These days, people over 50 frequently spend twice as long as younger ones to get hired.

They shorten your time between positions. A coach will help you to transition faster by implementing job search processes and solutions that have been proven to work. Career coaches have the expertise you need to cut out the uncertainty about what steps to take next and where to put your time and energy. Learn how to approach hiring managers in a way that makes you stand out as the top candidate.

They identify & leverage your strengths. Career coaching will give you an edge over the competition by gaining an understanding of your professional strengths and core competencies. A coach works with you to create a tailored marketing strategy. This will help you stand out in this competitive market and grab the attention of headhunters and hiring managers. You will create a polished and concise resume and cover letter, and a LinkedIn profile that conveys your successes, competencies, and achievements to targeted employers and sets you apart.

They help you network more effectively. Develop new opportunities by nurturing existing relationships. Your network can be of great value in helping you accelerate your success if they knew how they could help. A certified coach provides the expertise you need to create a compelling elevator pitch and devise a targeted networking plan.

How career coaching can help you during the interview

They teach you how to answer tough interview questions. Executive recruiters ask complex in-depth questions. Breaking down potentially awkward and challenging interview conversations before you are across the table from hiring managers can reduce stress and anxiety. Intensive Interview Coaching is critical to ensure your answers are tailored to the hiring manager’s needs. It makes the difference between a good interview and a successful job offer.

They can teach you how to negotiate a higher salary. Negotiation starts before you walk into the interview. Everything makes an impression about who you are and what you’re worth. Through career coaching, you will develop the skills to confidently negotiate the salary and work conditions you want.

They keep it all relative. Your coach will ensure that you are telling the right story through your bio, resume and LinkedIn profile. They will also help you sort through various possible opportunities and prioritize the ones that could generate the most results.

They hold you accountable. Often, we get busy and let our deadlines slip or lose contact with the inspiration that we had when we first set a goal. A coach will keep those objectives in mind for you and make sure you remain on track to reach them. 

Invest in yourself

A career coach can show you how to invest in yourself. A financial investment in your career coach will be an expression of your commitment to yourself. Even if you’re on a tight budget, spending the money can light a fire under you. It will make you more focused and more directed because the clock is ticking and the coach’s meter is running. Then, your commitment will be palpable to everyone from networking allies to recruiters and hiring managers

By working with a coach you’ll get crystal clear on your values and your priorities both at home and at work. Together you’ll set goals in each area of your life and map out ways of achieving these. A coach will help you overcome any obstacles you may face on your journey. For more information on the benefits of coaching, visit Upskill Coach and start shaping your future.