We have a number of terrific career coaches who work with NETSHARE on our weekly Ask the Coach call and supporting our members in a number of ways. Over the years I have come to appreciate what it takes to make a good career coach, and what it takes to distinguish between someone who is a true coach and someone who is an “enabler.”
When you are looking for career help, you need to seek out a teacher who can help you help yourself. You won’t find a good career coach who will do the work for you. You still need to do the work yourself, but a good career coach can guide you in the process, and help show you where you can be more focused and more effective.
For example, a number of executive job seekers struggle with the notion of creating a personal brand. How do they identify their unique value proposition and package it for use in their job search? An enabler will interview you and then provide a list of unique characteristics that they feel distinguish you from the pack and that you can use to sell yourself. A coach will provide you with a list of probing questions and force you to do your own homework to identify your own unique differentiators. You have to ask the hard questions yourself, and then determine where you want to go. Why would you pay someone else to tell you what to do or tell you who you should be?
Let’s face it, job search isn’t easy, and neither is the self-examination required to do it effectively. A good career coach will act as a guide, pointing you in the right direction and helping you reveal new truths about yourself, your capabilities, and where you can apply your expertise. A bad career coach will take you by the hand and lead you down the path they know, telling you what to do based on their experience and expertise, even when it won’t be a good fit for you in the long run.
If you are looking to land a new job or change careers, then you may be feeling a sense of desperation, particularly if you are unemployed. That sense of urgency often gets in the way of good judgment. It’s human nature to seek the easy answers and find a quick solution to your career problem. And it’s tempting to hire people who are willing to help you by showing you short cuts to reach your goal. Unfortunately, there are no short cuts in effective job search. If you are going to find a position that is rewarding and provides real personal and professional growth, then you will have to invest the time and energy to do the heavy lifting – define your personal brand, identify your unique value proposition, target companies who can use your expertise, build your network, and sell yourself into a new career.
An effective career coach can help you make the most of yourself, but they aren’t you, and they can’t make those critical life decisions for you. So when seeking help with your career, be sure you are shopping for a coach and not a crutch.
