Originally published Nov. 29th 2021 on Medium

‍

Do you feel a lack of fulfillment in your job? Are you unsure of the profession you’ve chosen or are considering a change in your career? You aren’t alone.

An unprecedented amount of workers are leaving their current roles in search of new opportunities, so many in fact, that this period in time has been informally dubbed the “Great Resignation.” In September, a record 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs, according to the Labor Department. Meanwhile, the jobs market is soaring, with 531,000 new jobs added in October. This gives employees searching for new roles the upper hand.

What exactly is a career coach?

Career coaches are development professionals who can help you adjust and improve your career path. They are typically experts in skills such as career planning, resume building, negotiation, interviewing and more.

While a common assumption is that a career coach is only helpful during a job search, Mary Olson-Menzel, CEO and founder of MVP Executive Search and Coaching, a firm specializing in executive recruitment, leadership development, and 1:1 and group coaching, believes the use of a business coach has moved well beyond the corporate job hunt and is useful for individuals at every point in their career.

Although the motivation behind seeking a career advisor seems straightforward, there are a number of different reasons to use a coach.

When to seek out a career coach?

With the shifting demands of a hybrid workforce and reprioritization of work-life balance, the need for coaching has only increased.

A coach can be practical for someone looking to pivot in their career, for those searching for more meaning in a role, for anyone currently out of work, or for someone looking to move up within their current company, she says.

How does career coaching work?

Olson-Menzel says in her practice, it’s important to start coaching off by taking a 360-degree view of who an individual is and how their career fits into their life.

“When we work with a client, we take a very, very deep dive into who you are: what lights you up, what gets you excited, what gets your head off the pillow when you go to work every day,” she says. “Then we look at the aspects of your resume and LinkedIn and social media profile, professionally.”

From there, Olson-Menzel says she helps her clients leverage both their own personal network as well as her organizations, to create opportunities for meaningful conversations and meetings.

What type of training does a career coach typically have?

Although career coaches hold different types of coaching certifications — like those offered by the World Coaching Institute or the ​​Career Coach Certification Program — Olson-Menzel’s advice for finding a business coach is to look for someone who has a lot of varied experience in the work world.

“When I look at someone, I would like to see a career coach who’s well rounded. Perhaps they have experience in corporate America. Maybe they’ve dabbled in fintech, maybe they’ve been in consulting…because that’s going to give them the breadth and the depth to actually be a very good adviser to what’s next,” she says.

Olson-Menzel also noted that many career coaches also serve as business coaches.

What are some of the benefits of a career coaching program?

One of the most important things in coaching is to help people see the possibilities around them, Olson-Menzel says.

“Many people go to work, and they have their blinders on and a coach will help you see the possibilities within your own company, and also in other organizations that you maybe haven’t even thought about,” she says. “So, it’s almost like a guide who helps you unlock the possibilities.”

How to find a career coach.

The best way to find a career coach is through word of mouth and referrals from friends, but you can also find great coaches online through networking websites such as LinkedIn.

“If somebody in your trusted network has had a really positive experience with a career coach, I think you start there,” Olson-Menzel says. From there, “do your research — look online at other coaches that maybe might resonate with you and your specific experience even more — then I would say, interview at least three and see if there’s a chemistry fit, one that makes you feel very comfortable and excited to go on this journey together.”

BluXinga’s coaching mission.

At BluXinga we look at performance holistically. Each individual is on their own journey of fulfillment. We believe that high performance begins with high job satisfaction.

We have added a coaching element to our services to provide individuals exposure to coaches and tools designed to help career enhancement.

BluXinga knows that the investment in coaching can increase job satisfaction and profitability while lowering attrition for companies and their stakeholders.

As a parting piece of advice, Olson-Menzel says most importantly, a coach should walk alongside you every step of the way throughout your career coaching journey.

Changing jobs and seeking career advancement is a major step. If you’re considering making a pivot in your career, a professional business coach can give you the support you need to open new doors, and take the leap.

‍