Just like a professional athlete trains every day to be the best player at his or her position, you should prepare yourself for career success. This can mean different things for workers in varying fields. The main goal is to brush up on defining and marketing your personal brand. You may know what you bring to the table, but if you can’t explain it to a recruiter or hiring manager, you’re less likely than a more prepared candidate to get the job. A professional career coach can walk you through identifying and developing your key strengths and then guide you through the process of spreading the word.
Why Get Coached?
U.S. workers had an average job tenure of 4.6 years in 2012, the last year for which figures are available. That’s up from 3.7 years in 2002 and 3.5 in 1983, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means workers are entering the employment market less frequently, maybe creating some = rustiness in interviewing, relationship building and networking skills. A professional career coach can help you target and overcome your weaknesses. The outside perspective that a coach brings can help uncover marketable strengths that you may not have previously considered. A coach can also serve as a great source of motivation, holding you accountable for updating your resume, attending career fairs or networking with the right groups. You may find that hiring a coach gives you a whole new outlook on searching for and securing new work.
How To Choose A Coach
The professional coaching industry is active. A simple online search will identify numerous coaches with varying levels of experience and certifications. The first step to career improvement is finding one who can legitimately help you. Doing so will involve a little homework on your part. Just like choosing a car technician, a physician or home contractor, it’s up to you to vet and verify your potential coach. Ask for qualifications and customer testimonials. Review your prospective coach’s website and see how he markets himself. If he doesn’t do an
effective job of quickly explaining his value, how can you trust him to make your shine?
