Category Archive: Career Development

A Career Transition Coach Can Help

Posted by Henry Barbey

If you are looking for a career transition coach, you are not alone. More and more people are finding they need to change careers for many reasons.

Your reasons could be changes in technology or in the economy. You might have made the wrong decision to begin with. You might be bored, dissatisfied or simply unfulfilled.

Coaches help people discover their reasons for wanting to change. They ask pointed questions to help people figure out what is missing.

Once people figure out what is missing from their current careers, they need to create some plans. Coaches sometimes have their clients write out a blueprint of their life goals.

Starting over is not always easy. It is scary to take a different path. One of the things that coaches give their clients is encouragement.

It is much easier when you have help. You might think of your coach as a partner, someone to walk down your new path with you until you are ready to go it alone. One of the scariest parts for many people is feeling alone.

There could also be an easy path or at least one that is easier than what you might be thinking about. A little more education might be necessary but there are many careers that are complementary to each other.

Some of the things you learn about in career coaching are the complementary opportunities. There could be fields that you could transition into without having to get a completely new degree. You might already have the education you need.

You might be unsure about what you want to do with the rest of your life. You might need some clarity.

We start talking about what we want to be when we grow up at a very young age. We sometimes lose sight of our childhood goals as the years go by. A career coach might help you remember your childhood passion.

On the other hand, it could be the job you thought you would love as a child has become boring or unfulfilling. One of the human fundamental needs is to participate. Participation often means giving back to the community. Not all careers allow us to participate fully.

Everyone has unique gifts or talents. There are things that you do better than anyone else. Are you using those talents?

The answer is probably not since you are looking for a career transition coach. There’s no better time than right now to get started with your new life.

Career Planning and Development Strategy

Posted by Henry Barbey

Career planning and development is a process that can be intimidating. Whether you want to do something different or you need to make a change because of changing technology and job opportunities, there are a few things you should do right now to improve your chances of success.

Research

Research usually involves defining what it is you want to do and whether or not your choice is realistic. Let’s say you have decided to fulfill your lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian.

Once you do a little research, you will learn that veterinary school takes years to complete. There are only a few veterinary schools in the country and competition for the seats available in those classes is fierce. So becoming a veterinarian at middle age might not be a realistic choice.

On the other hand, there are plenty of other jobs and businesses that involve caring for animals. People love their pets and they spend a lot of money on them. With a little research, a middle-aged animal lover could find a realistic opportunity and learn how to take advantage of it.

The internet is a great source of information and it’s free. Of course not all of the information you see on the internet is honest. Some of the career advice you see is skewed. Even when it is honest, the information is not personalized.

If you find you are having a difficult time deciding what you want to do, a professional counselor or career coach can help. One of the things coaches can help you create is an educational plan.

Get Educated

You may be able to make a change without getting additional education. There are careers that overlap in terms of educational requirements.

On the other hand, you might find that what you want to do is quite different from what you have done in the past. In that case, you will need additional education. Don’t be afraid to sign up for college courses at your age. You will find students of all ages in today’s colleges and universities.

Get Experience

Another thing a career coach can help you do is figure out how to get some experience in your new field of choice. Employers want experienced employees. You might not want to spend years climbing the corporate ladder in order to get experience.

With careful planning, you should be able to get the experience you need while you are getting the education you need. You might even have some applicable experience that you are overlooking.

Get Help

Most people are very happy after tackling the process of career planning and development. Those who are happiest are the ones that got professional help right from the beginning.