The Value of a Career Coach

“Make sure you have someone in your life from whom you can get reflective feedback”
Warren G Bennis
President of the University of Cincinnati.

There can be only one reason for not having a coach; not being able to afford one. It would, of course, be nonsensical to assume everyone has available cash to pay for a coach, career or otherwise.

So, what areas can a coach participate?

• Providing a fresh pair of eyes
• Eliciting for yourself a sense of purpose and personal philosophy
• Opening up an understanding of true aspirations
• Investigating the value and merits of the current situation
• Identifying the correct general direction
• Creating the career path, possibly in the current organisation
• Bringing clarity to the exercise
• Helping to create deep focus and concentration
• Developing personal confidence
• Identifying areas for personal development and learning
• Ensuring proper preparation (to prevent poor performance) PPPPP
• Considering all aspects of selection, including interviews and assessments

Deciding whether to use a coach and how to use him or her, means investing in yourself. The key word is investing. Yes it costs money but the payback, both financially and emotionally, may be great if you fully participate.

Your job is finding a job

You may be unemployed or faced with the prospect of losing your current role but, whatever the case, you must be totally focussed on the hunt for the next job.

This may well sound like the absolutely obvious, however it is not easy either psychologically or practically.

For many people their job is a significant aspect of who they are and having it taken away, for whatever reason, creates a fracture in that persona; it may take away some personal esteem.

One way to begin the process of dealing with this loss is to immerse yourself in the activities of job hunt. You need to apply yourself to it professionally and thoroughly. It is a project with a defined outcome, so what are;

• The plan?
• The timescales?
• The resources requirements?
• The support “staff”?
• The demands of the Government?
• The bank and other financial commitments?

Some people, for example, get out of bed early, prepare themselves as if they are going to work and behave as if this is now, and for the foreseeable future, their job; it is a psychological discipline and helps offset the inevitable inertia that comes from worry and frustration.

This approach has the added advantage of sending a message to the family this is the focus. You are not at home with nothing to do and therefore, readily available for household chores. Sharing any tasks is important but during the day you are working at securing your and their future. Explaining this to the family at the start of the process is crucial and will ensure their support and understanding. This is an issue for you all.