Ever find yourself stuck in a career rut, grappling with office politics, toxic co-workers, or just questioning if you’re on the right path? Maybe it’s time to consider the potential game-changer: a career coach. But before you dive into the world of coaching, let’s break down what it is, when you should consider one, how to choose the right coach, and whether it’s worth the investment.
Understanding Career Coaching
A career coach is like a thinking partner, working closely with you to navigate the twists and turns of your job or career. They’re not a mentor you get for free; instead, you pay for their scheduled coaching services. Unlike mentors, career coaches focus on bringing out your best self at work, helping you discover latent talents, skills, and energies that might be holding you back.
What areas can Career Coaches help with?
Coaching can help you if you’re looking to tackle immediate issues, from coaching you through a job search to refining your job goals, polishing your application materials, advising on effective networking, and even guiding you through interviews and salary negotiations.
They can also help if you’re looking to build soft skills, enhance your business performance, navigate complex office politics, or just thrive at work in the long run.
When Should You Hire a Career Coach?
Considering the time, effort, and money involved, it’s crucial to know when it makes sense to hire a career coach. While there’s no right or wrong time, common scenarios include feeling unhappy in your current role, recognising areas where you could improve, needing help with difficult conversations at work, feeling rusty in the job application process, working in a toxic environment, or experiencing burnout.
How to Find the Right Career Coach
When vetting potential coaches, ask how they stay updated on industry trends and best practices. Look for a coach who challenges you rather than just validates and coddles. Sometimes, a fresh perspective from someone who doesn’t look like you can be a game-changer.
Cost of Career Coaching
Career coaches typically charge between $100 to $500 per session, with rates varying based on experience, specialisation, and geographic location. Keep in mind that coaches often offer multi-week or multi-month packages, so it’s not just about hourly rates.
Is it Worth Investing in a Career Coach?
Before shelling out your hard-earned cash, consider whether you’ve exhausted other avenues of support, such as free mentorship or community resources. If you’re ready to put in the work and struggle with procrastination, a coach can provide the accountability you need. Evaluate the return on investment by weighing the potential benefits against the cost of staying in an unsatisfying job or being unemployed.
You have probably heard the saying,” If it’s worth having, its worth working for it”.
Coaching won’t do the heavy lifting for you, – for coaching to work, you must be ready to step up. However paying a coach will increase the chance that you’ll do the work, make the effort, and start seeing results. You will benefit most from a career coach if you are ready to improve, evolve, and grow.
In the end, the guidance and support of a coach may be just what you need to move your career to the next level or solve professional challenges; the catalyst for unlocking your potential, helping you thrive in your professional journey. It’s not just about spending money; it’s an investment in your growth, both personally and financially.
What’s the return on investment?
Look at it another way, what does it cost you to stay at your job, especially if you’re lacking career growth opportunities , underpaid or under-appreciated? What is the cost not only to your bank account, but to your mental and physical health? If you’re unemployed, or working in a job that is draining you, what is the cost of staying in that situation for another few months?
With this in mind, consider whether it’s worth spending a few hundred dollars or more on a coach if the coaching helps you find a more fulfilling job that also pays more money. Career coaching clients often enjoy significant pay increases. In many cases it can be as simple as leaving for a new company or industry.
Warren Buffet’s wisdom echoes this sentiment, “Investing in yourself is the best thing you can do. Anything that improves your own talents.”
So is an increase of $20,000, $50,000 or even $100,000 a worthwhile return on investment? the guidance and support of a coach may be just what you need to move your career to the next level or solve professional challenges. It might just be the push you need to thrive in your professional journey.
