Should You Hire a Career Coach?

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The need for career coaching doesn't stop after you get the job. What about coaching people through their first 90 days, particularly those in management or executive roles? And even people that have a job often reach a point of burn out, dissatisfaction, or boredom and work with a coach to get a different perspective on their situation and create an action plan to get out of their funk. I also coach people in creating exit strategies from a job they find themselves trapped in. As a career coach, I am not just another resource for getting in - I find myself in the role of sounding board, cheerleader, brainstorming partner, and accountability partner, just to name a few.
Tai Goodwin
The Career Makeover Coach
www.careermakeovercoach.com

Tai of DE 8:58PM February 02, 2009

GL -
The answer to this question is YES, YES and YES - assuming you want to get the best job possible!
Hiring a career coach can be the difference between getting the job and NOT even getting an interview. ..
Would you pull your own tooth? Wire your own home for electricity? Do you cut your own hair? Most would say “no.” If it is important (involving our health, safety or appearance), we hire an expert.
The same principle should apply when job seeking. Your career is one of your most crucial financial investments. Whether you are actively engaged in a search, underemployed or unhappily employed, it makes sense to consult an expert as you embark on your search for a new job.
So many job seekers waste their time with inappropriate or bad materials. They keep sending the same (unsuccessful) resume to employer after employer and blame the economy or age discrimination for the lack of interest in their candidacy.
Other job seekers "network" incorrectly by simply asking everyone they know if they know of a job...If only these misinformed job seekers learned how to really harness their network!
Do you need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to learn how to find a job? No, but having an expert in your corner can save you time, money and sanity.
Miriam Salpeter
Keppie Careers, www.keppiecareers.com

Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers of GA 3:23AM January 29, 2009

I hope people contact you for some help. Your advice would be so helpful to so many, who are now just ciscovering just how difficult this job searching can be.
Use www.linkup.com btw. What a great way to find un advertised jobs.

gl hoffman of MN 11:36AM January 23, 2009

For 2 reasons:
1.) Job search has changed substantially in the last 2 and 5 to 10 years, with the Internet changing the process often - but not making it easier or quicker. It is STILL changing, morphing into something else.
2.) If we're lucky, we don't have a lot of experience finding a job.
So, why would we be good at it when we don't have much practice and it is changing as we speak.
A job search support groups and/or a qualified professional career coach can be critical to the success of a job search. Most people do NOT know how to find a job, and if you think about it, it's not surprising.
I run an employment "portal" Website, and I'm always getting email from people saying, "Find me a job." Doing what? Where? No hints or insight. They expect me, a perfect stranger (well, maybe not "perfect"), to know what they would be best suited for and every job that's open that they might fit. EH?
Finding a job is hard work, and you can't find something when you don't know what you're looking for.

Susan P. Joyce of MA 12:13PM January 22, 2009

Does Tiger Woods have a coach? You bet he does!
I have worked with 100s of people as a career coach from college students to CEOs. People need an outside perspective from an objective and knowledgeable person to stay focused, accountable and motivated.
Job search is one of the most difficult things people do. It is 1000X more difficult than working. A coach provides direction, support and insider knowledge. Especially today with the new social networking approaches good Career Coaches know how to effectively search for jobs.

Eric Kramer of PA 8:49AM January 22, 2009

@Jerrine - Just because you know doesn't mean you do! I know a lot of things as well! I know that those Ding-Dongs and Ho-Hos are not good for me but it does nothing for being on a diet!

CK of FL 7:23AM January 21, 2009

I am sure you are in some demand. Great comment.

gl hoffman of MN 5:50PM January 20, 2009

I am a career coach and many of my clients are young adults. I have also supervised many community and national service volunteers. Most young adults today are armed with fabulous technology skills and abilities, but lack experience and perspective. A career coach can give a more highly developed perspective to those that are willing to "try on" approaches beyond the knee-jerk "I already know how to do this" response. In addition to developing communication skills, career coaches can extract out the strengths and skills of the young person and find the intersection of how those strengths and skills are needed and used in the marketplace. Just as important, they can help identify what holes need to be filled to be the best candidates possible, especially in today’s environment. We do not teach this in our high schools, colleges or universities. The benefits are numerous: focus, self-knowledge and understanding the environment give an edge.

Jerrine Regester of AK 4:51PM January 20, 2009