Why Everyone Needs a Career Coach….Yes, Even You

In a world where we have access to almost every piece of knowledge known to man at our fingertips, coming to the realisation that you might not know everything can be a rough one.

I found myself coming to this stark reality two years ago after leaving my job and having absolutely no idea what I was going to do next. Each morning I would wake up, pep myself up that today was the day things would turn around for me, and slowly feel the enthusiasm waiver as hours passed and my phone didn’t ring with new work opportunities.

What I had been doing so wrong, was assuming that because I was an expert in my field (recruiting) I knew all there was to know about getting work in recruitment and how to build the career I wanted. Noticing my struggle, a friend put me in touch with a career coach. A suggestion at which I scoffed at first, ‘Me? I don’t need a career coach! I’m not a high flying CEO or someone with a butler, I can do it alone’.

To my complete surprise, working with a career coach completely changed not only my outlook on the work I wanted to do, but the work I could do if I pushed myself, and the person I could be if I made the most of my natural abilities.

After my experience, I’ve been an adamant supporter, promoter, and downright fanatical fan of great career coaches and what they can do for you. I could go on and on about the upsides of a career coach for everyday job hunters, but to not take up too much of your time I’ve compiled the top 7 benefits of career coaching below.

1.    ‘Career’ is just one part of it.

Career coaches don’t just work with you on your professional aspirations or map out a career plan. They work with you on yourself. After all, you can’t take your career to the next level unless you’re willing to take yourself there too. Career coaches approach your current circumstance and where you want to go holistically, taking care to work with you on every element of what makes you an asset to the world around you.

2.    They’re for everyone.

The idea that to work with a career coach you need to be ‘big time’ is a myth that needs dispelling ASAP. Career coaches work with anyone who’s building a career, which ends up being most of the human population. From university graduates getting started and needing direction, to senior executives looking at how to make an impact next; career coaches are there from beginning to middle to end.

3.    They’re not there to be nice to you.

Career coaches aren’t there to nod along and agree with you. While friends and family might think that every idea you have is a great one – a career coach is the sobering voice of reality and accountability that we all need. A career coach challenges you to think differently about yourself and your prospects, and pushes you to be a better version of your professional self to reach your goals.

4.    They bring a fresh set of eyes.

We are the ones stuck in our own heads every day. Our own judgement, preconceptions, and fears can cloud our judgement and impact our decisions in ways we don’t fully understand. How incredible is it to have the opportunity for a fresh set of objective eyes to help you make sense of your situation. Career coaches are as invested in your success as you are, and bring the incredibly rare gift of a bias free, empowering perspective to what lies ahead.

5.    They provide the safety of a compass

In a never ending stream of job titles, position descriptions, cover letters, interviews, blog articles, people’s opinions, and your own consciousness – information about what to do next in your career can be completely overwhelming. Why not block all of it out, wait for your weekly catch up with your career coach and get objective, researched, and thoughtful direction from someone who’s entire career is built on helping you build yours.

6.    A personal, non-judgemental, sounding board

Need help navigating a complex decision? With a career coach, you’ve got a private, personal sounding board ready to bounce ideas back and forth until you’re comfortable you’ve made the right one. We’re all likely to encounter a career decision that we feel is make or break. What better way of sleeping better than to make that decision with the helping navigational guide of a career expert.

7.    They turn you into the person you are in your cover letter.

A career coach is there to guide you through every part of the next phase of your work journey. That means from building your confidence in what you could apply for or do, to working on a killer portfolio or resume, to nailing your interview. Working with a career coach turns you into someone that you yourself would hire or trust with your business on the spot – all because they do it for all of their clients, or they wouldn’t be successful.

We need to start looking at career coaches like we look at our own resumes. A completely necessary part of our working journey, and an instrumental tool in presenting yourself to future employers or clients. Career coaches make a living by helping their clients achieve their dreams, and are waiting to help you achieve yours.