Finding the right career coach to suit your needs is easier said than done, especially as there are so many people practicing now.

A starting point has to be in clarifying why you would like the support of a coach; perhaps it is to make a change in your career or to move forward in your current career, perhaps you are going through a major change process at work or having difficulty with your line manager.  Whatever your reason, it’s worth doing some research and digging around talking to a number of coaches to make sure you find the right one for you.

An effective coach will put you in the driving seat; they will actively listen and ask questions rather than giving you information, as you go on a journey of discovery to look at where you are and where you want to be.  They will have the experience to support you in finding the right direction and address your needs.

In the main, career coaches help in one of three ways and depending on your needs, it is important to ask questions and check out if your chosen coach can provide this support:

• Exploring a career change

It may be that you are no longer motivated by your chosen career path and have a desire to do something different.  A career coach will support you in identifying your strengths and how you can make use of them as well as discovering the things you enjoy.

In this case, check out their track record of helping people in this way, how they will help you to identify the right career path for yourself and what if any assessments they use – ideally they should be using assessments recommended by the Chartered Psychological Society and the person administering should have BPS level A and B qualifications.

• Support with searching for a job

Looking for and applying for jobs can be a lonely and extensive task that requires motivation and some insight into where to look for jobs and how to market yourself effectively.  Having someone to support you through this can make it more bearable, helps you to stay focused and to ‘see the wood for the trees.’

When checking out a suitable coach, remember to find out what experience they have in this area, what successes they have had in the past and how aware they are of networks that will help you to find out where the jobs you are looking for can be found.

Managing your current career

It may be that you are happy with your chosen career path but want to move to the next level and so need support with increasing your profile and highlighting your capabilities.

Before deciding on a coach, check out what skills and capabilities they have to help you increase your profile and market yourself within your organisation.  If you need support with identifying a programme of study to enhance your CV, again ensure that your chosen coach has the right knowledge to be able to give advice on this.

Don’t forget of course to establish that they work to a code of ethics, that what they have to offer will meet your needs and that you are clear about what their services will cost.

Julie Gordon heads up the team at cHRysos HR Solutions, an organisation specialising in the delivery of HR and Leadership-related training, professional qualifications, as well as HR and business consultancy services. With over 20 years’ experience in learning and development within the private and public sector, Julie’s key strengths are now in the management of the learning and development process and in work-based learning. As well as working in industry, Julie has held various academic teaching posts and has published journal papers in the field of learning and development.

For further information call 01302 802128 or email [email protected]