A career coach guides you through a four part process to identify a suitable career direction. This process includes assessing yourself, imagining your ideal future, researching career ideas and plans, and launching your career plan.
Assessing your self
The first phase is self assessment. A career coach uses a variety of exercises and questionnaires to clarify what you value, to identify what you are passionate about, and to create an inventory of all of your transferable skills. Another commonly used tool is the Myers-Briggs type Indicator. The MBTI helps you identify your preferred work environment. By the end of this phase, you will have a list of Career Ideas is to research.
Imagining your ideal future
The second phase is imagining your ideal future. A career coach helps you map out your preferred Career / Life Plan. With all obstacles removed, you set aside limiting beliefs and perceptions in order to discover what you really want for your career and life journey. The Plan becomes your compass and map for the career journey.
Researching career ideas and plan
The third phase involves researching your Career Ideas and preferred Career Plan using on-line resources as well as talking to as many people as possible in your fields of interest. A face to face meeting is the best way to get a glimpse at what the career is really like, what kind of people work in the area, and what kind of training might be required. Along the way you will meet interesting people and make useful connections for current and future job openings.
Launching your career plan
During the last phase, the career coach helps you prioritize all of the information to decide on the most suitable career path and to do the backwards planning so that you know what you need to do to move forward. Now you are ready to launch your Career Plan by taking action steps such as: upgrading your high school credits, volunteering to gain more experience, revamping your resume to feature your transferable skills, conducting a pro-active job search, enrolling in further education, contacting an employer about training on the job or finding a mentor to work with.
Related to career coaching
• 10 interview bloopers you should avoid
• Skills inventory
