[ad_1]
If you want to make a change in your professional life, hiring a career coach can help you clarify your goals and identify possible obstacles. He or she can also offer valuable information and specific steps to help you get to where you want to be.
Finding the perfect career coach from a sea of ​​more or less qualified people can be a challenge. To get the most out of career coaching, the Better Business Bureau offers the tips below.
How to hire a career coach
Before hiring a trainer, consider the following points.
• Find out if you can benefit from coaching. If you’re unhappy with your current job, just starting your career, or want to make a complete career change, you may be a good candidate for coaching, advises Indeed.com, but you need to be prepared to move on. work and make changes. If you are not sure that you are ready to make major changes, the benefits you get from coaching will be limited and hiring a coach may not be worth it.
• Know what you need. Not all the coaches you meet will suit you personally. It helps tremendously if you already know what your needs and issues are. Struggling to land the job of your dreams? Maybe you’ve hired a professional resume writer before, but find job interviews tough. Are you planning a total career change? Do you already know where you want to work and what position you want to occupy? Or are you just stuck in a professional rut and not sure how to get out of it? Be clear about your answers before consulting a coach. This way, you will be able to know if their experience and skills match your personal needs and goals.
• Ask for references. One of the best ways to find a great career coach is to ask for recommendations from someone in your personal or professional network. If someone you know has been successful in using a career coach, ask them about their experience and get the coach’s contact details. If you don’t have an acquaintance who can recommend a career coach, try checking with local colleges or universities. Find out if they recommend career coaches to their graduates. You can also check with the International Coaching Federation or the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.
• Review free coaching materials. The best coaches have a decent website and keep up to date with current career trends. Take a close look at each coach’s website and social media. Read the free content and ask yourself if you find the material motivating, LinkedIn recommends. Your goal should be to work with someone who inspires you to make big changes and gives you the tools you need to take action to achieve your biggest goals.
• Choose a coach that matches your needs. Determine if the coach has direct work experience in the industry or position you are pursuing or has worked with other clients in similar areas successfully. Then find out if the coach tends to take a flexible or structured approach and decide what works best for your situation and personality. Most coaches offer free brief consultations where you can learn more about them and their coaching style. Make sure a coach is upfront and up front with you about how he or she works – a coach should also make sure you are a good fit.
• Ask lots of questions. To get the most out of a relationship with career coaches, you need to ask questions, recommends Forbes. Find out how they plan to help you, what success looks like to them (i.e. is it some sort of tangible result or is it based on changes in your attitude, level motivation and your feelings?). Ask about their past experience, especially if they have success stories to share about the people they have coached in your industry or position. Find out how they give feedback and / or criticism, and what you will need to do during your time working together. It is especially important to ask the coach what their process is. It should be clear and easy to explain for the coach. Answers to questions like these will help you get to know the coach better and determine if you are well suited for coaching sessions.
• Keep your expectations realistic. The truth about career coaching is that you will still be doing most of the work. To get the best results with a career coach, you should expect to update your own LinkedIn profile, revamp your resume (although the coach can review these things for you), and handle any interviews you have. professional manner. A coach will teach you how to do these things well, but only you should be the one doing them.
• Beware of red flags. Career coaches who just want to make a sale may require you to sign a contract with them immediately. Instead, ask for a consultation before signing any contracts. Most coaches will offer you a few references to contact upon request. Always contact these people about their experience. If the only reviews a career coach can offer are public testimonials on their website, that’s another red flag. Finally, any deal or guarantee that sounds too good to be true probably is. Promises of employment within a certain number of days or introductions in a very exclusive field are usually not trustworthy.
If you’re looking for a job, read the BBB Study on Job Scams and get tips on hiring a professional resume writer. Avoid career coach scammers by reading “10 Steps to Avoid Scamsâ€.
For more information, visit BBB.org/ScamTracker.
[ad_2]
