How can you coach someone through a career change?

In addition to the tools for identifying technical capacity and skills, it is also necessary to understand emotional maturity and mental blocks that can put the career change project at risk, and address them to make the transition more assertive.

Many people considering a career change don’t know where they want to go - just that what they are currently doing isn’t that. The difference between running to (something you want) and running from (that which you don’t want) is made clear when you break down the values that will make that decision clearer. If you really know you need work life balance, then you won’t consider a grinding 80-100 hour work week. If you know you won’t be happy in xyz industry, then don’t waste your time consider such opportunities and focus elsewhere.

One exercise that resonates well with many clients is called the "life crafting," or "odyssey" exercise, from the book Designing Your Life (Bill Burnett/Dave Evans). This exercise asks a client to imagine three possible scenarios their life (career!) can take from this moment: one scenario as if they were to continue their current career path, one as if their current path were made unavailable (a "next best thing" scenario), and one "no limits, wave-a-magic-wand" scenario...a high dream. This can really help a client get into a space of creativity and possibility...and some clarity around what their next best step might be.

Start by being CURIOUS. Begin with the end in mind and ask lots of questions on what success truly looks like. Move at their pace thru the process by setting up some mini goals en-route to their success. Important to remember the journey as well as the destination, it gives and breeds confidence. remember that INACTION is an action and ensure that you guide them to action by asking great questions. Establish what the steps are in between each goal and gain agreements on them. Celebrate the small stuff daily. Essentially listen empathetically, be curious, ask brilliant questions, have the right mindset, take actions, build some skills and celebrate where you can. failings will happen but these are opportunities to learn

I always implement an active listening approach for my clients to determine their overall current situation, future goals, and ambitions. The dialogue that is needed should be conversational. This will help assess their readiness for a career change. I have written a lot about the SWOT analysis to discover their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to self-reflect on the probability of a successful transition into a new profession.

My approach to career exploration is very practical. I begin with an assessment of their professional experience, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and salary requirements. I try to help clients explore career options that are within their current transferable skill set, as most people do not have the time or resources to invest in re-education. If a skill gap is identified, a shorter-term training solution to professional development may get a person to their next career goal cheaper and faster.

Change is always an opportunity. I ask people to step back and try to remember what they dreamed of as a kid. Where did their imagination take them? This can unlock the doors to many new directions that might remain hidden under the "burden" of thinking practically as an adult (however necessary that is). The goal isn't necessarily to do what you used to dream about, but to uncover the underlying themes of those old dreams. So, at 50 it's too late to be an astronaut, but the underlying theme that drives you might be "exploration" or "discovery" and that might lead you to open a speciality tourism business, focused on sites associated with the space race. Something like that are the things I like to help people to unlock.

In my experience, leveraging the coach to “figure out the best career for me” has become a common mindset among new mentees/students. Lack of awareness about potential options is usually not the issue; lack of willpower to research all the options individually to see which suits best is the real gap. A good coach understands this, empathises, and works collaboratively to explore skills and figure out the best options, instead of giving a list of options based on his/her understanding of candidate.

I stick to my conversational approach with most of my clients. I have realized in most cases they come with an expectation and the answers usually rest with them. I am merely a coach, a guide. I primarily check with them about their commitments, and immediate responsibilities. Then, the conversation goes towards their passion, values and experiences. I perform a SWOT with them to help them get self-aware.

Preparing for change can be exciting. It's an opportunity to take stock and reignite and repurpose past plans, make new ones and build a vision of the life you're wanting to create. The the on the ground stuff of life kicks in. How much do I need to earn? What skills need developing or learn? What support systems do I have in place? What or who do I already know? The seeds may already be there waiting to be nurtured.

Creating a plan is one thing, but measuring how enthusiastic your client is about following can shed light on whether we're on the right track or more modifications or more thought is needed.

So you've made a decision. I like the question 'For this to be true, what needs to have happened?' Sounds basic, but a project plan like process helps to make sure the basics are covered and there's room for things to unfold. A roadmap has many routes and planning and prep help you get there depending on the timing, resources and finances.

Planning will not work unless you are clear with what you want and have enough motivation to do it. A strong and sound decission will need to come beofre a plan.

In addition to providing emotional support, I believe that helping my clients identify and align their transferable skills with their new careers can boost their confidence and marketability during the transition. I encourage them to reflect on their past experiences and demonstrate how these skills can apply to the fresh career path they're pursuing.

Having someone independent in your corner is gold. Transitioning has it's moments, whether it be self doubt, obstacles, resistance or interference. Having a mentor to be your support, your cheer squad or sounding board. Often others tell us what we want to hear or put road blocks in the way. Having independent guidance who sees the whole picture can make a massive difference. No matter what stage I'm at or where I'm going, I have a mentor. Someone who's a step or more ahead to push where needed or calm the chaos has helped me immeasurably.

With such a changing world of work globally, and the growing impact of technology and flexible work upon job roles, creating a realistic time goal to achieve the career change is a must. Acting as a sounding board and offering reassurance during times of inevitable self doubt is a must do for any coach.

There are so many things to learn when you are creating a change. Using your plan and what you can monitor, find ways to better yourself. The more background knowledge you have, the better. It is always good to learn enough so that you know what you are doing. Then the next step is to keep implementing whatever you have learned. There will be so many books and podcast that you can learn from in any field of study. Be open and curious of the learnings ahead.

Building self-awareness in your client is I believe, the number one skill to develop when the goal is a career change. Confidence is the most common skill lacking among all my coaching clients regarding of age, tenure or gender. Beginning the career change process through self-discovery enables us to understand our own values, preferred communication and behaviours, and the environmental and or biological influences that shape our personality. We are then more easily able to understand the schemas that impact our self regard and ability to grow and progress at work.

Getting through my career change, the things that really kept me going were my values. In the face of adversity, I thought about them.

A career change is always challenging especially in the early phase of joining the new company. A coach can help to identify behavioral pattern that works against the candidate and through that, suggest alternatives to enhance the candidate's acclimatization into the new company culture and responsibilities. As a coach, it is also important to guide and encourage the candidate to stay focused on doing the necessary steps so that they can achieve their set milestones step by step.

Make sure you have a good belief about yourself, nothing can hinder a change like a toxic belief about self. Beliefs such as: I'm not good enough, who do I think I am so that I can change, etc. A simple question to ask for this belief is: Does this belief enhance my life and make me the best version of myself? If No then ask your self: What belief do I want to have so that this change is beneficial for me and makes me the better version of me?