CAREER COACHING

Career coaches help people search for a new job. As a result, they are
often hired by individuals who are dissatisfied with their current job
and want to find something better, or by parents who want to help a
child identify a career path and get help with job search techniques.
With layoffs and downsizing commonplace, career coaches are also
often hired by companies to assist workers in finding new jobs. This
type of career coaching is often referred to as outplacement consulting.
The coaches may help displaced employees prepare a resume, re-assess
goals and values, or practice interviewing techniques. The company
usually provides the coaching as part of a severance package.
Career coaches work with their job-seeking clients every step of the
way, from exploring job options, to helping them write (or writing for
them) their cover letter and resume, to practicing for job interviews.
Career coaches generally are experienced in matters of human
resources, personnel, hiring and employment policy. Many are former
school guidance counselors, have worked at employment or temporary
agencies or were business owners.

2.3.1 Exploring Career Options As with other branches of coaching, not all career coaching clients will
know exactly what they want at the start. They will generally have
a basic idea that they are unhappy at their current job, and anxious
to explore alternatives. They might have always wanted to work in a
specific industry, but aren’t sure how to get started. Discovering the client’s strengths and weaknesses is the first step. This
can be accomplished by various assessments, or by simply having
clients list what they like and don’t like to do, or the best and worst jobs
that they have ever held. After discovering what they like to do, clients
can then come up with lists of what types of jobs would allow them to
do that.
Next, they need to find out what kinds of companies to approach. Some
questions to ask the client can include:
• Do you prefer large, small, or medium companies?
• In what geographic area would you most like to work?
• Do you primarily want money, job satisfaction, or security?
• Do you prefer working with people, information, or things?
• Do you prefer a highly structured environment, or do you like to
have more flexibility?
• Do you like working on team projects, or do you like to work
independently?
• How do you typically get along with co-workers? *How well do you delegate responsibility?
• What hours would you prefer to work?
• How far are you willing to commute on a daily basis?
• Do you prefer working on location at the place of business, or do
you prefer working remotely (e.g., work from home)?
There are many excellent career assessment tools you can use with
clients to help them identify career options. Some tools are free, others
— intended for professional use — require a subscription. Among the
best-known of these are:
• Strong Interest Inventory
• Holland Code Career Test