Tag Archives: Career & Jobs

Working With a Career Coach – What Every Job Seeker Must Know

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In today’s tough economy, every job seeker needs assistance in landing his next employment opportunity in the most efficient and expedient means possible. The services of a career coach are targeted for individuals who are unemployed or in a dead-end job or are attempting to move up the ladder or re-enter the work force.

History

Career coaching as we know it today, developed its roots from corporate coaching of the 1980’s. At that time, large corporations saw their top performers experience professional growth and increased performance through the assignment of a life coach. This process benefited key executives across all levels of the organization. Since this time, Career Coaching has evolved to a service that is available to job seekers everywhere.

Working With a Career Coach

Any candidate who is contemplating a business relationship with a Career Coach should first be aware of how the process works. It is important to connect with a Coach who will best meet the job seekers needs. Initially, expect to have either a face-to-face or telephone consultation, to determine both short and long term employment goals. This is a critical appointment that provides the Career Coach with the background information necessary to assist their client. The Career Coach provides information about the candidate’s chosen career path, salary expectations, current trends in the industry, and provides advice on prospective target employers who hire for the candidate’s chosen position.

Services Provided

A Career Coach’s role is to train the job seeker to out-perform their competition in the job market. They routinely provide services such as career exploration, interview success coaching, setting up a strategic career plan, salary negotiations assistance, as well as advice in the initial career planning process. When a job seeker requires assistance in revising their resume, or additional career services, the Career Coach has connections in the industry they readily recommend. The average cost to work with a coach is between $75.00-$250.00 per hour.

Benefits

While the cost of hiring a Career Coach may seem like an unnecessary expense when unemployed or re-entering the workforce, the benefits of the relationship can be the difference between landing a position, or remaining on the unemployment line. The coach spends time preparing the candidate for interviews and meetings with prospective employers, and literally guides the job seeker toward success in the hiring process. Individuals who work with a Career Coach are far more likely to get in the door of their target employer, and out-perform their peers in the job market.

What to Look For

Before shopping for a Career Coach, it is critical to know how to identify a professional who delivers results. Look at the coach’s work experience, ask about their professional affiliations, determine their reputation in the industry, and ask for references before moving forward with any one coach. Always know the Career Coach’s fees in advance, and ask about any guarantees offered. Above all, speak with the coach before making a final decision, to see if this is a person you will enjoy working with.

Careers After 50: The Value of a Temp Job!

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Careers after 50: developing appropriate experience to qualify for a planned career.

You’ve researched and studied a variety of proposed new careers. After speaking to others working in the field you’ve narrowed your list down to one or two possible new careers. However, you’ve found both require specific experience that you need to acquire.

Other qualifications for a new career after 50, for example, can be learned through self-study, distance learning, formal education and working with mentors. However, now you have the dilemma of getting the necessary experience to qualify for new career.

Let’s suggest a way to put you in a position to successfully compete for job in the new changed career. You might want to consider working for a temp agency, to get some desired experience or to discover if the suggested career is right for you.

Ask around for referrals to the right temp agency. Some temp agencies are specialists only working with specific careers and industries.

Re-draft your resume to put your best foot forward depending on the career and job. For each career you might want to restrict only signing up with two or three temp agencies. As you progress and learn more about specific temp agencies you can adjust your focus so you are only working with the best agency relative to the planned career.

Make it a point to see the temp agency recruiter, have a face-to-face interview and learn all you can about their services. Don’t forget this is a job interview and you want to show the recruiter how you would present yourself to a prospective employer.

Find out in advance if you are required to show specific technical skills at the temp interview and spend some time brushing up on the required skills prior to the interview.

Do some research regarding prospective wages you might expect. You’ll probably be asked what wage range you would accept. Also, you should learn what possible benefits might be available.

Many times temp assignments can last six months or longer. Be sure to tell the temp agency the length of assignment you would accept.

If the temp job is in a career you wish to qualify for, you may leverage yourself into being offered a full- time position. Or you gain enough relevant experience to qualify for a full-time career with another employer.

Don’t expect that you’ll be immediately moved into a desired temp position. Continue to contact the temp agency, at least once a week, to let them know you’re available for placement.

So the value to you using a temp agency in qualifying for a new career after 50 is: (1) Gaining required work experience, (2) Possibly being offered a job in the desired new career, (3) Bringing in some income while you prepare to change careers, or (4) Finding out the new career is not for you so you can research additional opportunities.