The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential”. There are so many different types of coaching out there, ranging from fitness coaching, life coaching, mental health coaching, relationship & family coaching, business coaching, and many more. At Kejar Kerjaya, we provide career coaching, where we aim to support jobseekers in navigating the job market and helping them to land their dream job.
When talking about career coaches, one of the first things that comes to people’s mind is that “Oh, you can help fix my resume, right?“
But, in reality, career coaches do more than just tweak your resume or fix your grammar in your cover letter. Here are 4 ways in which working with career coaches (like us!) can help you in your career development and journey.
#1 Career coaches help you to properly define your career goal(s) and find ways to get there.
For most people in the job market, the goal is simple: I want to land a job. However, when working with a career coach, they will help to explore your interests and background to clearly define your career goals. Perhaps it is to be on the senior leadership team for a multinational company or to run a successful fashion business.
Whatever your end goal is, your career coach will work with you to come up with a personal career plan that can help you get to your destination. For most people, the first couple of jobs that they have may not necessarily be their ‘dream‘ job. However, that does not mean that you would not get to learn anything that can potentially benefit your career in the long-run.
#2 Career coaches can help you to gain clarity.
Working with a career coach would involve a lot of self-reflection, as you need to really understand your strengths and values. This can ultimately help you in your career development as you strive to find opportunities that are best-suited for you. If you are looking for a job (either your first job or a new job), a career coach can help you to define exactly what you are looking for in a job.
Your career coach will help you to have a much better understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses, and how your interests align with the roles and careers that you have in mind. They can also suggest new areas or companies that might be suitable for you, thus helping you to explore other opportunities that you may not have thought about.
#3 Career coaches provide feedback and suggest ways for improvement.
Maybe you have been applying for jobs but have not been unsuccessful. Or perhaps you have been attending various job interviews but never managed to secure that offer. A career coach can help to provide feedback on your performance so far and help you to find ways for improvement. And, yes, this is where the resume reviews and interview preparation come in.
A career coach will go through your resume with you and ensure that your resume is tailored correctly for the role that you are applying for. When you have a job interview, a career coach can also help you to structure your answers and prepare accordingly. This can help you to better increase your chances of a positive outcome from your job search.
#4 Career coaches can help to build your confidence.
Sometimes we all need a little push, and working closely with a career coach can help to give you that much needed confidence boost to further grow in your career. This can range from being more confident in your own skills and experiences or stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something new professionally. They can also help you in discovering and building your personal brand.
Working with a career coach, especially as a fresh graduate or a young professional, can also be beneficial as you get to practice speaking and talking about yourself and your goals in a safe environment. This will ultimately help you to build your communication and networking skills as you grow your career.
What a career coach can NOT do for you.
However, it is important to note that there are a few things that career coaches can not do for you, such as:
- Promise that you will land that particular dream job
- Promise that you will get a particular salary
- Apply for jobs on your behalf
- Write a recommendation letter for you
- Write your resume/cover letter for you
At the end of the day, a career coach will work alongside you to help you find ways to achieve your goals. They will not force you to make any decision, nor will they tell you exactly what you need to do, as the decision ultimately lies with you. However, a career coach will help you to explore your options and help you in going through them so you can make better informed decision about your career journey.
Are you feeling stuck in your current job? Or are you currently having issues with your job search? Let’s have a chat on how we can help you develop your career!