Usually, two career counseling sessions are needed for clients to identify alternative work and career options that appeal to them. Some clients will opt for a third coaching session to get advice on how best to be included in their resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile. If you don't know what profession or job will bring you satisfaction, a coach can help you consider possibilities that could stray from your previous experience or that you hadn't considered. Start your coaching relationship with an idea of what you think you need from them, but be open to their advice on what other measures can make you more successful, such as an exercise in values to ensure that you will feel satisfied in a new job, guidance based on assumptions about your abilities or professional progress, and executive presence training for interviews.
As a career counselor in New York, I have had the pleasure of working with more than 7,000 professionals from almost every type of position, in almost every sector (examples from industries are offered). Others will want you to bring tangible materials, such as your current resume or a list of your professional goals. If your coach allows you to determine the direction of the session, imagine in advance what results you want and what relationship you want to have with the professional coach. I have developed and refined a concrete 3-step process that has helped thousands of people identify attractive work and professional options in two training sessions.
Like the fees charged by many professionals, the cost of hiring a professional coach varies depending on your experience and credentials, the field of specialty, the success rate, and the location of your office. When family or friends try to help you narrow down your options, their suggestions may be based on what they've seen you do in the past or on what is “the easiest career or job to advance,” not necessarily on what you like best. If you're not sure what career direction to take, if you have little idea of how to get anywhere, talk to a coach and see what they can do for you. If you decide that you need a professional coach, there are five things to consider when choosing the one that's right for you.
Some people, especially people with high incomes, accept an initial wage cut so that they can make the transition to a new job and career that are more satisfying in other important ways. Lauren McAdams, career advisor and hiring manager for Resume Companion, said it's a big red flag if a professional coach asks for a large down payment. My career clarity counseling program will work for any college graduate (with any level of work experience) or for college students who live in an urban area and are willing to make the effort to complete an evaluation and then research the work and professional ideas that I recommend. A professional advisor can help you determine what experience is relevant to the position you're applying for and to simplify your resume and LinkedIn profile with a message that allows you to attract the attention of recruiters.
