7 Key Benefits of Finding a Career Coach

Searching for alternate career paths? Still not clear about what course to take?

Or, are you trying to find the links between your skills and interesting work?

Time to get a Career Coach.

Finding a Career Coach. Source: Pixabay

Value of A Career Coach

There was a time when I would not have bothered to do this myself but with my years of consulting in education , I have come to value the help and hints and prods and ideas of the Career Coach.

Looking back, I know I would have explored other paths had I sat down with an outsider looking in at my particular bag of skills and attitudes who could helped me puzzle through my personality.

Why a Career Coach in High School

After graduation from high school I really had no clue about what direction to pursue in University. All I knew was that I was expected to go to College or forever have my parents in complete social embarrassment.

I figured I would take the general courses first until I am clear about my career path. However, when I went to register, I found out I had to specify a specific program so in panic, I just followed my friend who enrolled in Engineering.

I knew I could take any course so there I was, planted in Engineering.

Benefits of a Career Coach. Source: Pixabay

Career Coach Can Help Establish Direction

OK? I really hadn't done much research on Engineering. Little did I know, there was more Math than I cared for and I did not really want to stress myself for Math which I had no inclination for.

So, second semester came. I got outta Dodge before I flunked.

My other friends were in Education so I went for it. It did not challenge me. It did not engage me but it gave me more time to have fun so I kept on being in the Program.

I finished it but did not even bother to attend my Graduation. I did not value it and I most certainly had not found any direction.

That would have been the next best point to get a Coach but I did not think of it. I tried teaching for a year but I became frozen in boredom. Pity the poor kids! It had no meaning for me.

A nun had at me and suggested I volunteer in a remote area of the country to help others while I tried to sort myself out.

Maybe an epiphany awaited me. And guess what, I found some meaning. But I kept living my life not really happy with the career I chose. I kept searching for involvement but they all became series of activities.

I don't know what your experience has been. I envied friends who knew what they wanted. I felt bad for friends who knew what they wanted but could not pursue it for lack of resources. There I was frustrated and lost.

Do away with "Could have Done"

Today, I look at some of the careers and I tell myself, I could have done that but they will always be roads not travelled. No regrets.

Life has been good but I really believe if I had found a career counsellor then, I would have found a different path earlier and not taken half a lifetime of stumbling around before I landed my plane.

Get a Career Coach Now

Do you want this to happen to you? If you get can get a career coach now it could really make a difference to your life.

Your school may have one available and will give you coaching for free. If Mom and Dad have a few bucks, let them know what you're thinking and locate a career counsellor in private practice. Just do it.

Benefits of a Career Coach

Here are some of the benefits the Career Coach will bring to your life:
   1.   Help you gain insight into your personality and the career that best suits it

   2.   Show you career options that often may not be part of your body of knowledge

   3.   Clarify what these careers would require of you so you know what to expect

   4.   Enable you to narrow your choices so it is easier to decide

   5.   Help you make realistic decisions on the career to pursue

   6.   Assist in choosing the school which can challenge and help you grow in specific careers

   7.   Give you confidence in deciding the Career to pursue

Remember, the Career Coach will not make the decision for you. She, or he can only assist you in clarifying your choices and give you some solid ground in an ocean of choices.

One meeting may not be enough. Go until you are confident, that the career compass is pointing in a direction that could work. Then dive in! Try it.