Career or Life Coaching - Six Career Situations in Which Coaching Would Be an Excellent Investment

Over the past decade, the job market and virtually every industry has been transformed.

Many workers have struggled and continue to struggle with downsizing, mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and job searches that last more than a year. Ten years ago, most workers could handle their own job search with perhaps some assistance from a resume writer or an outplacement firm. Now the job search industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and coaching is major aspect.

Despite the changes in the job market and job search strategies, many job-seekers are afraid to admit that they may need some help and guidance from an outside career professional. They think of asking for help as a sign of weakness or a sign of defeat. Or they are deterred by the price of such services. A professionally prepared resume and career coaching may be beyond the budget constraints of many individuals, especially since many job search career specialists (particularly in major cities) do market themselves to those at the executive level.

Despite the cost, using a career coach or a life coach could be the smartest decision a job-seeker makes. Coaches can offer new directions, perspectives, and ideas, as well as expand thinking and encourage brainstorming. In smaller cities and on the Internet, there are coaches who charge what many job seekers would consider reasonable prices.

So who might benefit from coaching? Career or life coaching may be a valuable investment for "workers" in the following six career situations.

1. Getting no results in current job search

Workers (employed or unemployed) who know what type of position(s) they want but are getting no results in their current search would do well to make use of a career marketing or job search coach. These coaches offer short-term services to help individuals develop, implement and manage a job search campaign. This type of coaching focuses on defining objectives (e.g., type of position, type of industry, geographic preferences, salary requirements, quality of life issues) and then developing a step-by-step job search action plan. With this plan the job seeker is better market themselves, optimize their networking, and be held accountable for completing each action step they have set.

2. Concerned About Being Downsized

Short-term career counseling would also be beneficial to employees who are concerned about being downsized in the future, as it will help them develop job-search-action plan ready if or when the downsizing occurs. Having a plan can be a major stress reducer.

3. Changing Career Direction

Some career coaches are now specializing in career management. The career management coach focuses on broad issues related to an entire career - the past, the present and the future. The support is long-term and comprehensive, often focusing on personal and introspective issues. A prime candidate for a career management coach is an individual who, for whatever reason, wants to change his/her career direction and is uncertain about his/her objectives. These individuals need to explore, discuss and evaluate their value, their skills and where they want to be in their careers.

4. Moving into Management

An individual moving into a management position may also be a good candidate for a career management coach as a career management coach can serve as confidante, adviser and career strategist.

5. Career Planning after 50

Working with a career management coach may also be of value for an individual over 50 who wants a plan for how to continue working in a meaningful job until they are READY to make the retirement decision. Some career coaches are trained to help people with "ReCareering". (a late-in-life career change that is not just a job change, but a move to a completely different career path to pursue a passion, make a lifestyle change, make more money, launch a business, or transition to retirement)

6. Burnt-out, Unhappy, or Frustrated with the Job

Those who are burnt-out, frustrated or unhappy in their careers may want to work with a career or a life coach. The burnt-out, frustrated, and unhappy include those who:

- have lost their enthusiasm for their career,

- are stuck in a career they never wanted in the first place,

- have discovered that their values and their employer's values do not match,

- feel their job is meaningless; that they are nothing more than a cog in a giant machine,

- have been passed over several times for promotions.

- feel overworked, overwhelmed or overburdened

- are considering starting their own business, because they are frustrated with employers

Life coaches and career coaches are known for the ability to ask the powerful questions. Insightful and challenging questions accompanied by encouragement and empathy may help individuals take action on these work-life issues.

Mary Ann is a Career/Life Coach, Resume Writer, and college instructor. She is the owner of Career Development Services, http://www.career-development-services.com and has a new website http://www.MyLifeMyWorkMyWay.com which addresses the career issues of those over 50.

Are Free Career Services a Good Investment?

New Career Search Needs More Than Free Services

Finding a new career is not an easy task. A major mistake can be made by not realizing how much money will be lost if the task is not approached professionally. Along with the loss of money is a loss of self-esteem, loss of control, loss of identity, loss of independence. This often leads to anger and depression. Hoping to help the situation, many schools, public interest groups, companies that are downsizing, governments, and government retirement guidance officials offer free career and employment services. At first glance it would seem that a person seeking employment would be wise to invest their hopes in these free services. Another option is to place your career in the hands of a recruitment firm. We believe that, unfortunately, using any of the above approaches is not the preferred investment strategy; here's why.

The Hard Facts About Finding a New Career at Free Agencies

Being unemployed, the salary lost can net at least $3,000 per month for professional people. Do the agencies assess the cost of the individual being unemployed? Is there a sense of urgency?
Recruitment agencies have thousands of applicants on file. The numbers are very similar for most other 'free' agencies because their success depends on a shotgun approach. The more resumes they have the greater chance they have of filling a position. The less chance you have of finding a position.
The average time to gain employment with these agencies is not a statistic that will be readily shared with you. Yet it is of primary interest, especially since it is costing you $3,000/mo. to remain unemployed.
Ask the service provider if the jobs obtained by the successful candidates were satisfying career positions. Chances are, they do not maintain these statistics either. Yet, since we are talking about your career, it is very important that you know.
It is unlikely that these service providers have statistics about whether their successful candidates are earning more than they expected. Salary is a very personal and emotional matter. Most candidates need assistance to get the best possible income package.
Once the assisting agency has landed you the job many think their work is done. There is no follow-up support during the important work adjustment period or if difficulties at work arise.

A Different Approach to Using Free Career Service Agencies

While we can't speak for every career coaching or counseling company, we can give a few examples of our own experience to the seven points above. Having said that, respectful career specialists cannot guarantee a job because there are simply too many variables to control; but coaching firms can refer to their past statistics.

Costs of being unemployed can range from $3,000 to $10,000 per month net. The cost of career coaching services at about 1 to 2 month's lost wages is at the lower end of this range.
A second point is that over 90% of career coaching candidates report finding a job faster than with any previous means. There are examples of people spending two years on their own looking and then finding a job within two months using the career coaching methods.
An examination of our current files reveals an over 90% success rate.
Statistics show that the average time for clients to gain employment with career coaching is 11.2 weeks. Naturally, some people take 2 weeks and others take 22 weeks. A competent career coaching company will share these statistics with you.
The business should focus on creating a match between you,your skills and a challenging, self-satisfying opportunity.
Career coaching companies exercise techniques that help the candidate earn more money, based on an appreciation of human behavior, a clear understanding of when to act and when not to, all combined with plain common sense. A good career guidance company will negotiate an extra amount, which easily justifies the cost of the coaching service.
When you accept a job after working with your career coach you will have spent sufficient one-on-one hours together to form a respectful bond. Sometimes that bond will last a lifetime.
Career-coaching companies are paid by the prospective employees. Naturally, you should become the primary interest. While commercial enterprises often approach career coaching companies for talent, a career coaching company should not accept payment from the commercial enterprise - thus, avoiding a conflict of interest. Many gratis placements are made this way.

Summary

Finding a new career can be very difficult. With a professional approach to finding a job you can save money, time and possibly a lot of frustration. The proper career guidance services can lead you to finding a job or career that you enjoy much sooner than expected.

Good luck and good hunting.

Bill Caswell is a co-founder of Career Coaching International and continues to coach those candidates seeking career coaching services.

He was previously a co-founder and CEO of an e-learning company. Bill established his information technology company in Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax, Seattle and Guadalajara, Mexico. He sold it in 1996.

Bill provides career advice free of charge at his website http://www.ccinternational.ca