For many, the prospect of hiring a career coach is as daunting as searching for a job – perhaps even more so, considering looking for a job is free.
The truth, however, is that hiring a career coach can result in getting a job faster and, even more importantly, finding a job that is more likely to evolve into an enjoyable long-term career. A career coach can help a person identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the job market and where a job seeker’s talents will be most richly rewarded.
The 5 reasons you should hire a career coach listed below are offered as a way to bring some definition to what these professionals can bring to your job search.
1. Job Market Expertise
Great career coaches are connected to the business community and have a nuanced understanding of the needs represented in the job market. They know what jobs drive local economies, and are on speaking terms with the people who are seeking employees for these jobs.
This knowledge benefits anyone looking for a job, but can be especially helpful for people who are new to an area and searching for employment. As many job seekers come to find out, it does matter who you know and a career coach can be a great place to start.
2. Talent Identification
A career coach should be adept at pinpointing the talents in others and be able to link these talents to needs in the job market. There is often a difference between what a person likes to do and what a person is good at doing and career coaches can help define and/or combine the two.
It’s very common for people to have trouble identifying their own strengths and weaknesses. Giving yourself an objective and honest assessment is difficult, and a professional third-party opinion can really shed light on what you have to offer a potential employer.
3. Professional Development
This is an area where career coaches can really earn their fees, by educating clients on what they can do to improve on the skills sets they already possess and where to get the necessary training to snag a desired position.
A career coach should be honest when addressing whether you have the necessary skills to be competitive in the market for a particular position; however, it’s also important that you know when that level of competitiveness is attainable with a reasonable amount of preparation or additional education.
4. Resume Construction
It’s true that there are thousands of free resume templates available online, in books and in resume-writing guides of all types. The difference between these resources and a career coach is that the coach will likely have tips on formatting and presentation that suit particular local/regional employers.
A brief foray into the hiring process for federal employment, for example, can demonstrate how specialized resume writing can get. It is difficult to anticipate what an employer expects when it comes to resumes, and a good career coach can help you craft a more competitive resume product.
5. Interview Training Practice
Many people find it awkward asking friends or family to conduct practice interviews, and these arrangements can be less helpful because of the familiar relationship and simulated feel of the experience.
Career coaches can provide you with objective and unpredictable interview training that can gear you to think on your feet and expect the unexpected. This medicine-ball approach to interviewing can bring you to a point where you feel that any interview is manageable, because you’ve been trained to handle the most challenging of environments.
In Summary...
There is no question that a career coach can be an invaluable investment in the process of securing employment. It is important, though, that you shop around and ask questions to find out which coach provides the services you seek and is a good fit for your job-seeking needs.
This article was written by Justin Davis who writes for Teacher Certification Degrees, a resource site for individuals who are interested in learning how to become a teacher
Latest Comments