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.

So Many Career Choices - How Do You Decide Which Career is For You?

You're not satisfied with your current career. You've done some research, and there seem to be so many exciting possibilities! How do you decide what is right for you? Here are five important factors to consider when choosing a new career.

1. Your Interests

When deciding on a new career path, one of the most important considerations is knowing what you like to do. Your career should reflect your interests. Many people just like you find themselves in jobs that are boring or do not relate to their passion. With the right training, you could leave that dull job behind and get started on a career that you love. After all, if you have to work nine-to-five every day, why not spend the time at a job that is rewarding?

2. Your Lifestyle

Different careers require different time commitments. For example, long-haul truckers must spend days away from home, and are often alone. Cosmetologists work closely with the public, and interact with their clients. Graphic artists often work from home and have flexible hours. The career that you choose should fit your lifestyle. You may want to consider your family commitments, whether or not you enjoy travel, or if you want to work directly with the public or behind the scenes.

3. The Skills Needed For Your Chosen Career

Having a passion for a certain career is one thing... being qualified is another. You may be working in the job you have now simply because you had the skills the employer wanted-but the job has nothing to do with your personal interests! Be honest. Do you really love your job? If not, then you should consider getting trained for the career that you're passionate about. There's no reason to spend year after year in a dead-end job that doesn't interest you when there are many opportunities to get career training.

4. The Job Market

The fact is, in today's global economy certain careers are growing quickly and others aren't. This doesn't mean that you should choose a career only by its expected growth-but you improve your odds of getting hired when you're trained in a career field that's growing. Education-For-Careers uses the very latest U. S. Government Department of Labor statistics to bring you the inside scoop on which careers are hot. Check out the numbers and see which growing career best fits your career passion!

5. Expected Earnings

Money isn't everything... but it's very high on the list! Some people are happy with low incomes (think starving artist), but most of us want a good paycheck that gets bigger every year. Some careers pay more than others, and the pay rate often depends upon the level of training. According to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Digest of Education Statistics 2005, a person with an associate degree can expect to earn nearly 25% more than someone with a high school diploma alone. A person with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn nearly 60% more than someone with a high school diploma or GED. That's real money!

When you think about a new career, you'll want to consider these five factors that will affect your decision.

Thinking about training for a new career? http://www.Education-For-Careers.com can help you compare colleges. Get information about career training programs, online education, financial aid opportunities, job placement services, and much more.

7 Criteria for Deciding Which Career Test Is Right for You

"I used to feel depressed at work, hate my boss, and was sometimes so bored that I actually fell asleep at my desk!" --- career test taker

If this sounds like you, then it's probably time to consider changing jobs or careers. But before you can make your career change, you need to figure out what you want to do.

One of the best ways to get clear is to complete a career assessment. Yet there are literally hundreds of career tests out there. Is a career test the same as an aptitude test? What about a career personality test? This article clarifies the differences and presents 7 criteria for deciding which career test is best for you.

#1 Career test vs. personality test

Is the assessment specifically designed to provide career guidance?

Personality tests only tell you about your character traits whereas a career assessment gives specific career advice. Of course, it helps to know whether you're an extrovert or an introvert and perceive by sensing or intuition. Personality tests such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Enneagram are quite useful as background information. Making the leap from simple awareness of your personality type to specific career strategies is very difficult, however. If you want a new job or career, it's better to take an assessment that is specifically geared to providing career guidance.

#2 Specific vs. general

Does the career assessment give concrete recommendations that you can use immediately rather than vague observations that are open to interpretation and not actionable? Aside from the change itself, the hardest part of changing careers is narrowing down your choices. But if you don't get specific, you won't be able to take action. A good assessment should not be general like the astrological horoscopes in the newspaper.

#3 Motivation rules: why motivation is a better indicator than aptitude or personality

Does the career assessment measure motivation?

Motivation is a far better career indicator than skill or personality because what you like to do is what you WILL do and what you will get very good at (if you aren't already). Why force a square peg into a round hole?

When you base your decisions on what motivates you, you'll probably feel much more fulfilled, and be much more successful, too.

#4 Where's the beef?

Even if you're a vegetarian, you'll want "meaty" results! A good career assessment should include hard data, as well as sufficient detail and explanation to help you interpret the results.

#5 Do you believe it?

Is the career assessment scientifically valid? An effective career assessment should have a high predictive reliability. Such things can be measured statistically. Anything over 95% is quite good.

Statistical validity is important for a number of reasons. Obviously, you want to feel that the assessment provides an accurate picture of what motivates you and you don't want to be misled by grossly inaccurate results. But another point is that when the results are believable this provides a boost to your self-confidence. In my case, I was relieved and encouraged to see from my results that I had chosen the correct career path. It was a kind of confirmation or validation: "Whew! What a relief!"

Remember that ultimately it's up to you to decide whether a set of results makes sense or not. However, it helps to use a highly reliable assessment.

#6 Can you get from A to Z?

Are additional tools available to help you take your results and develop a clear career roadmap for yourself?

Honestly, a lot of people take career tests and get brilliant insights. Unfortunately, many of these same people are never able to turn their insights into results. What's needed is a support infrastructure of materials and people to help you apply your results over time.

#7 Is it fast?

Even in the internet age, there still are a lot of tests that you can only take on paper. It takes 30 minutes or even over an hour to take the test. Then you have to wait while the test is scored and processed. You may only get your results after several days or weeks.

Personally I prefer career tests that I can take online and that give me my results immediately.

Conclusion

A career test is just a tool and just one step on your career change journey. Nonetheless, it's worth spending some time to understand what types of tests are available and which is best for you. Just remember that even the best career test is only a tool. It's up to you to take charge of your own career.

Paul Arinaga is a career coach and owner of [http://www.fast-career-test.com] Visit [http://www.fast-career-test.com/sample.htm] for a free sample report for the Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP) or a pdf version of this article.

How to Decide Which Career is Right For You

Whether you're a college freshman about to leave home for the first time or an experienced worker who just got laid off, deciding which career is right for you can be a daunting task. With so many to choose from, how do you know which career will be a good fit, which will bring you the most personal fulfillment, and which will allow you to pay the bills?

When you're choosing a career, it helps to think about a variety of factors, not just how much money you'll take home at the end of the day. Check out these top five 5 career decision-making factors:

Career Decision Factor #1:

What do you like to do?

This is probably the most important factor to consider, because if you don't like what you do, you could very possibly end up hating your job and quitting within a few years to do something else.

If you're feeling stumped about which job is right for you, consider your personal interests, passions, and hobbies and how you can turn one of them into a career. Do you love animals and science? A veterinary technician career might be perfect for you. Are you more of a people person with an eye for fashion? A career as a fashion buyer, fashion merchandiser, or sales rep might be the way to go. Make a list of your favorite things and use our career profiles page to find careers related to that interest.

Picking a career that plays to your natural talents and interests is key to long-term success. As H. Jackson Brown, Jr. said, "Find a job you like and you add five days to every week."

Career Decision Factor #2:

What industry is right for you?

Picking the right industry can be just as important as picking the right job. Different industries grow at different rates, and can therefore offer different opportunities for growth and advancement. Finding an industry that fits with your career needs can ensure your happiness at work, as well job security for the future.

Healthcare, for example, is an industry that is growing by leaps and bounds, and it's not just for nurses and doctors. Growing healthcare facilities are in need of communications specialists, computer technology experts, and human resources professionals, making it a good industry for a wide variety of career professionals.

Career Decision Factor #3:

What degree is right for you?

As you consider different career choices, you may also want to consider the educational and certification requirements that accompany different jobs. Think about how long you want to be in school, what you'd like to study, and how much you're willing to spend on your education. These factors can be a good guide in helping you find the right career.

Consider a career in medicine, for example. Maybe you've always dreamed of being a surgeon, but spending thousands of dollars (literally) and 11 (or more) years in school doesn't sound right for you. There are many other healthcare careers, from nursing to physician assistant to EMT, that will allow you to save lives without investing that level of time (or money.)

Career Decision Factor #4:

Where do you want to live?

Where you live can also affect your career. If you want to be a financial trader, for example, you're most likely going to need to live in a large city close to the markets. But if you want to be a social worker, you may actually have better luck finding employment in a more rural area.

Before you choose a career, think about where you want to live. Are you a city person or a country person? Do you want to live somewhere warm, or do you want to be close to your family? Once you have a good idea of where you want to live, do some research and find out which careers and industries offer opportunities in that state or region.

Career Decision Factor #5:

What kind of lifestyle do you want?

Different careers come with different levels of commitment and expectations. Doctors and lawyers, for example, may take home some serious paychecks, but they're also expected to work long, irregular hours and devote a majority of their lives to developing their practices.

Teachers, on the other hand, also have a lot on their plates, but are able to enjoy nights, weekends, holidays, and summers with friends and families.

Before you choose a career: think long and hard about what is most important to you. Do you care so much about your career that you're willing to sacrifice personal and family time for work? Would you prefer to have a less demanding career that allows you to travel, be at home with your children, and pursue other interests?

By finding the balance between work and personal life that's right for you, you'll be sure to start a career that keeps you fulfilled both in and out of the workplace.

Noel Rozny writes the bi-weekly career blog mypathfinder for the myFootpath website. myFootpath is a resource to help you in your search for a college, degree program, career, graduate school, and non-traditional experiences. Visit www.myfootpath.com to start your college or degree program search.

The Teen Dilemma - Which Careers Are Right For Me?

My heart goes out to Teens these days, because of the greater complexities and challenges modern day life brings. My sympathies also go out to Middle Age Career Changers, because some of them may be as Confused as Teens about which careers to choose next.

This may be because Midlife Career Changers have limited career exposure working at only one career their entire working life. If a teen has had one job or none, in my estimation, there is not much difference between the average teen and someone in his midlife contemplating changing careers - both may be confused when it comes to choosing new job choices.

There are so many more choices, pressures and distractions to contend with, compared to when I was a Teen. The hard question is - If you do not know what you want as a Teen, how do you sift through all the Confusion and decide which Career, or Teen Jobs to choose?

How do you even decide what Temporary Job you Want?

this is probably the million dollar question. So, what do you do if you are totally confused about who you are, and do not know what you want to do for a living for the next twenty, thirty or forty years?

Number one rule, and advice is - If you are feeling this way, for the time being, do not make any hasty decisions, nor big lengthy commitments with your future - Stand back, let things crystallize a bit, and take another look at your whole Career Enchilada Dilemma. Do not put yourself in a pinch to make any life changing major decisions, when you do not know for sure they are the right choices. Anyway, you have a lot of time on your hands, because you are young - so what is the hurry?

When I was a Teen, there was a Path laid in front of me through DEFAULT. This was the easy way - For me to follow within a Family Tradition. It made me a living, and I have since retired from it. But, There was this HUGE drawback - I never found myself through my Profession.

There are the fortunate others who discover their Passion through their Careers. I always wanted to be among these LUCKY ONES.

I chose to travel the KNOWN path instead of the UNKNOWN UNCHARTED PATH, because it was time proven and safe. I chose the conservative choice. If I would have Loved what I was doing, my choice would have been the right one. But, I did not - The Job was just there for me to take. I chose the short term easy way out solution. Unfortunately, The Profession brought forth neither joy, nor passion. All it did was make me a consistent living.

Yes, I survived physically, paid my bills, bought what I wanted and all that, but psychically and spiritually I paid a hefty price in the long run quality of living my life.

This is the PART of life I do not want you to miss out on. It is the Career Part, where you match your natural born talents to the Career that Matches who you are.

I do not want you to miss doing for a Living what you are PASSIONATE about doing.

Of course, to learn what you want, it is important to learn what you do not want. This may take a little trial and error on your behalf - and a little discomfort. Being that you are young, and relatively new at the career game, you may have to test the waters a bit. This means that there may be a series of jobs you will have to try out, so that you learn what job conditions and duties you must have in your ideal career choice.

You need to know what YOUR own Career Requirements are...Ask yourself, What do I want in a Career?

If you do the career you love, the quality of your life will immediately skyrocket. And where there is job happiness, your personal life will profit greatly from it.

The Passion for your Job will spill over and Flood your personal life.

To be honest, finding your True Passion as it relates to a Career is not necessarily the easiest way to go in the short run.

I am living proof, because it was so easy to choose the Wrong Career, rather than get to know myself well and search for a Career that Matched who I was.

The Path to where you find your Ultimate Dream Job may be a path whereby you walk alone. On this Career Search Path, it is very narrow, and there is room only for ONE - ONLY ROOM ENOUGH FOR YOU. Often, the only way you can get to know your inner core personality is through being alone. Do not worry, Life will test what you are made of and force your Personal Growth upon you.

It is Only you that can know what Career is a best fit for your personality, interests and values.

In other words, No one can decide this for you - Not family, friends, Career Counselors. Not even Career Tests can.

Pursuit of that illusive quality called CAREER PASSION and what it really is can only be defined by what it means for you.

Furthermore, What you define your passion to be now, may change tomorrow, or in Middle Age.

People Normally change careers a few times or more during their working lives. This is a common phenomenon.

Changing your mind is probably inevitable when it comes to choosing Careers, or even being within one. But, this is OK. Life is full of change, and Teens seem to weather change better than older people do. Usually, the younger one is, the easier change becomes, and the more welcome it is.

I know that I can never reclaim my Youth again. But, I know that I can start from where I am at any given moment, utilize what personal tools I have at my disposal at the time, and direct my Career in any direction I want.

This is true no matter how old, or how young you are.

Remember that you can take a break, look around, and re-evaluate your life, and judge if you are living it the way you want.

Call This taking a self inventory and general appraisal of self, and asking relevant questions about whether you are happy with your life and career direction.

It is the way to evaluate whether what you value and are interested in is still valid, or if you need to modify something about you, your wants, needs, or your life direction.

I know that As a Teen, there will be Questions without Answers within your life, such as...

* Why am I here, how did I get here, and what is my purpose?

* Where is my life heading? What am I going to do with the rest of my life?

* You are young and may not know what you want to do as a Career. But, this is OK, you have a lot of time to research and decide later.

* You may simply lack enough experience in life in general to know yourself well, what you want, and your Ideal Career Choice.

* But, You learn something NEW about you every day.

* And, You may not even have had your first Job yet.

* So, If your first job is, or was flipping Burgers, it may not tell you what your Dream Career is, but it may tell you the type of Job Duties you do not want to do in your next job.

* Furthermore, even if you do not know what you want to do, because you have not done much yet, you can know what things you do not want to do, because you may have done at least some of them already. Therefore, next time you will Avoid those Jobs with Duties you do not like to do.

* You may have this feeling inside at a gut level that you belong somewhere, but can not figure out where it is you belong.

* Believe in this feeling in your gut, and allow it to guide you, but temper it with reason, logic and common sense along the way.

* You can take a Career Aptitude Test to find out what you have the career aptitude for doing.

* You can also take a Personality Test to see which career clusters blend in with your personality.

* If you weigh what you Subjectively believe about yourself and your abilities against what those Validated, Researched Career and Personality Tests suggest to you for Career Choices, this combination approach can make some Career Choices start Ringing True for you.

* What you keep hearing inside and outside yourself, can be a sounding board for verifying the validity of those things you KNOW to be true about YOU.

* Until you find your True Calling in Life, there will be a restfulness inside you that will not go away until you finally connect to a Career that evokes your Passion for it.

* A good paying job may be a short run solution for the pocket book, but it could turn out to be a SOUL DESTROYING job in the long run.

Oftentimes, one finds his way through life through a series of steps he makes - One foot after another with no planned direction. In other words, experience usually becomes your Ultimate Teacher and Master, but not necessarily your Best Friend.

Taking the plunge and trying out a job part time, because you think you might like it, could be the KEY that will lead you closer to knowing what your Dream Career choice is.

One step at a time, one job at a time, and even one FAILURE at a time, will lead you closer to that Occupation which you will have the Aptitude and Passion for doing Successfully.

You will discover what things you like and do not like in a job through the light of experience. Hopefully, and most important, you will Discover those duties you love to perform daily over and above all others.

Once you know more about what kind of Career Personality you actually have through knowing yourself better, then the various Career Tests or Teen Quizzes may become more helpful to you. You will learn to RECOGNIZE which career suggestions (That They recommend to you) are the ones you should research, and possibly consider choosing.

Finally, To Discover ones Dream Job, One has to Know Himself well.

Family, friends, Career Guidance Counselors, taking Career Tests and the experience of Life Lessons through the passage of time, can offer useful, but essential insights about YOU.

These INSIGHTS serve as REFLECTIONS of what you already know about YOU.

Steve Humphreys

http://www.career-test-for-teens.com

Key to ideal career discovery is self-knowledge. Find, develop, and plan your career choice with our self-help resources. Teens, career changers, or job searchers will find helpful advice and articles about career tests, resumes, interviews, and more. Let us help you find your dream career on your journey.

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