Why A Career Coach?

Do you know the real purpose of Career Coaches?  It may not be what you think.

Recently I read a few articles about career coaching, just to gain a little more insight on the topic and to update my knowledge on new skills or trends.  As I read these articles I thought perhaps there were a few things worth spreading the news to others.

To start off, I pretty sure we all have an idea of what a career coach does.  I sometimes get the impression that we kind of know what a career coach is, like the broad description of a career coach - someone who helps you select a good career or guides you to a better career.  However, I feel we miss the underlining purpose and description of how a career coach can influence someone.

To make the definition of a career coach comprehensible, a few synonyms are: Supporter, Motivator, Life coach specializing in work life, facilitator (facilitates your career progress), and adviser.  A career coach is NOT a counselor or therapist.  They look into your past briefly and find out what your present situation is like, but they are not going to dwell on the past or repair emotional or mental struggles.

A career coach focuses on where to take your career.  They implement a change for the better.  They assist you in career goals AND develop confidence within yourself.  A career coach is also an insider to many different ways to help you be successful.  They know about up-to-date strategies, techniques, trends, and venues that will benefit you.

In my profession, I have perceived that the biggest hold up for people to make career adjustments, whether that be a entry-level person or experience person, would be not knowing the know how to accomplish their goals.  I' m talking about a complete dumb struck on how to start.  No ideas or even a clue to know where to start.  A career coach would be that smart brainstorming buddy you want in your group because they have all the answers.

Let me close with a bit of advice: two minds are mightier than one.  Often times we find a way out of a hard situations because we confide with some else of our struggle.  Just talking to a trusted friend calms our nerves and brings about some unthought ideas for alternative outcomes. Use and view a career coach as a second mind to overcome your struggles and to generate new ideas.  And remember, view a career coach as a friend with expert career advice.  And do view them as a friend - they do find great joy in your success.