Introduction
Your career can have a huge impact on your wellbeing and serve as a major source of stress – whether it’s challenges with your colleagues, worrying about AI taking over your job, or finding fulfillment in your work. In fact, according to The American Institute of Stress, 80% of workers feel stress on the job, while 40% report that their jobs are very or extremely stressful (https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress#, 2023). These are alarming statistics! It’s no wonder that many people choose to get support from with career services professionals. These may include career coaches or counselors, life coaches, mentors, or even job search professionals, such as resume writers.
While you may be aware of what contributes to the stress you feel, how to overcome that stress may not be clear. Worse, you may feel helpless to stop it. No matter the clarity you have on your solutions, or lack thereof, it can get difficult to push through. Often self-doubt may even start to creep in. This is where a career support professional can come in and as a great asset. Whether it’s a career coach, life coach, counselor, or someone in between, there are many professionals who can help you alleviate these challenging times.
You may be asking yourself: can I trust a professional to help me? Is it worth the cost to hire someone to help me achieve the next step? Can I overcome these challenges alone?
I would not be surprised if you are hesitant or confused about how to get started. After spending more than 10 years as a Career Coach, I have heard countless horror stories about people working with professionals who claim to be able to help them elevate their careers, only to be left with frustration, despair, and a substantial hole in their wallets.
That said, there are many qualified professionals out there who can help you. This post aims to help you sort through your options to figure out which type of professional is best for your situation, understand how to find and vet someone, and give you insights on balancing your role and your counselor, coach, or mentor’s role in your success.
Signs that you need a Career Coach – or someone to help with your career challenges
Career success goes beyond securing a job; it’s about continually growing and also gaining fulfillment through the work you do, among other things. However, long gone are the days when career matters were solved early and people settled in with a company for the long haul. The generations in the workforce today have faced many unique challenges; on the plus side, we have a much easier time moving to different organizations and roles, especially with the ability for many jobs to be done remotely. In the world of careers today, there may be many instances when things seem unclear, prompting the question:
“Can someone help me?”
At multiple times throughout your career, support from a career services professional could be beneficial, and it’s possible more than one type of professional could benefit you with different challenges. There are many reasons people seek out support, and below are some common reasons. If you already feel strongly that it’s time for professional support, skip to the next section to learn about types of support. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but some very common reasons I have seen from support-seekers:
- You are losing motivation to work towards your goals
- You have been passed up for promotions or don’t see opportunities for growth
- You have identified a specific issue in your job search that is keeping you from getting hired – or – you have been job searching for months with no traction
- You’ve held multiple jobs, but still haven’t found your ideal career path
- You feel stuck – in your role, in your career, in your job search
- For any of the reasons above, or others not listed, you are unhappy, stressed, or anxious about your job or work environment
Choosing the Best Career Support
Recognizing the signs of a problem arising is the first step in determining whether professional support would be beneficial. Understanding the specific problems you want to solve is going to help you figure out who is best to help. It’s really important as you begin to identify different types of career support that you come back to the reason you want support – but more than that – to the problem you are trying to solve that is preventing you from achieving the outcomes you desire. This will help you have a great foundation for selecting the right individual to help you.
Career Counselor
Definition:
Career counselors help individuals identify their strengths, interests, and goals to make informed career decisions. They help guide educational and career paths and may be trained on assessments or other tools to aid in this process. The term “counselor” is often reserved for people who are licensed or certified individuals.
Common Credentials:
- Master’s degree in counseling or a related field, and supervised hours in practice
- Professional certifications like the National Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Certified Career Counselor (CCC)
When to Work With:
- When mindset is impacting your career advancement
- When facing uncertainty about career choices
- During career transitions, especially if you are just starting out or making a big change
Where to Find:
- Career centers at universities
- Private counseling practices
- Directories maintained by Professional association websites, such as the National Career Development Association (NCDA)
- Directories maintained by credentialing organizations, such as the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
How to Vet and Evaluate:
- Check for relevant degrees and certifications
- Read client testimonials and reviews. Sometimes clients will put testimonials on LinkedIn, so be sure to check there; ask for these if they aren’t available online
- Ask about their strengths, approach, and if they are equipped to help with your situation
Tip: some organizations use terms like advisor or coach, even when a person has more stringent credentials, such as a counseling certification. There are reasons for this, which may or may not include expectations for the role within that organization. Either way, when a career support professional has a counseling background, they are more equipped to help you understand and identify mental blocks that may be contributing to your career challenges. That said, if there are concurrent mental health concerns, the counselor may refer you to work with another counselor who will focus on those challenges, while you career counselor focuses on your job and career related challenges.
Career Coach or Career Advisor
Definition:
Career coaches focus on professional development, helping clients set and achieve career-related goals, enhance job performance, and navigate job changes.
Common Credentials:
- Professional coaching certifications, such as the Board Certified Coach (BCC), the International Coach Federation (ICF), and Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP)
When to Work With:
- Seeking career advancement
- Job searching
Where to Find:
- Online coaching platforms, like The Muse.
- Credentialing organization websites such as the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) or the Coaching Federation (ICF) that are the certifying organizations for the BCC and ICF, respectively.
- Professional association websites that also do credentialing, such as the National Career Development Association (NCDA), which is the certifying organization for the CCSP
- Career Centers
How to Vet and Evaluate:
- Make sure they have a certification, and take time to research the requirements of those certifications; you will notice that some may require more experience and others will require more education.
- Ask for references from past clients.
Life Coach
Definition:
Life coaches support individuals in setting and achieving personal goals, improving relationships, and overcoming obstacles to create a more fulfilling life.
Common Credentials:
- The International Coach Federation (ICF) or other life coaching certifications.
- Relevant training in psychology or counseling.
When to work with:
- During major life transitions – not necessarily career transitions, but certainly transitions that relate to or may impact your career.
- Seeking personal growth and development.
Where to find:
- Directories maintained by organizations that certify life coaches, such as the International Coach Federation (ICF)
- Referrals from friends or colleagues.
How to Vet and Evaluate:
- Same as other coaching professions – ensure they have a certification, and take time to research the requirements of those certifications.
- Ask for references from past clients.
- Ask about their specialties; “life coaching” can encompass so many things. Be leery of people who seem to be able to solve anything.
Executive Coach
Definition:
- Executive coaches work with high-level professionals, such as CEOs and senior managers, to enhance leadership skills, strategic thinking, and overall executive performance.
Common Credentials:
- Advanced degrees in business or related fields
- Expertise or experience in a particular industry
- Executive coaching certifications
When to Work With:
- Leadership development
- Navigating organizational challenges
- Seeking promotions
Where to Find:
- Executive coaching firms
- Leadership development programs
How to Vet and Evaluate:
- Verify executive coaching certifications.
- Look for a track record of success with previous clients, including reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers.
Resume Writer
Definition:
Resume writers create professional resumes that effectively showcase a person’s skills, experience, and accomplishments to enhance their job search.
Common Credentials:
- Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC) certification
- Former recruiters who are familiar with applicant tracking system (ATS) technologies
When to Work With:
- Job seekers aiming to improve their resume
- Career changers needing a targeted resume
Where to Find:
- Online resume writing services
- Career development centers
- Websites and online platforms
How to Vet and Evaluate:
- Look for certifications from reputable organizations.
- Review samples of their work. Look for attentiveness to detail.
- Check to make sure they are comfortable with your industry’s unique needs.
- Ask about their process and expectations of you, so you know how much time/effort it will be for you.
Mentor
Definition:
Mentors provide guidance, advice, and support based on their own experiences to help individuals navigate their careers or personal development
Common Credentials:
- Industry experience and expertise
- No formal certifications or education required
When to Work With:
- Early career stages
- Role-specific challenges
- Career advancement strategies
- When you want to work for a specific type of company or industry, where they have experience
Where to Find:
- Industry-specific professional associations with mentorship programs
- Within current or previous places of employment, or companies where you wish to work
- Facebook or LinkedIn groups that are focused on your career or industry
How to Vet and Evaluate:
- Assess their career achievements and credibility, especially as it relates to your career goals
- Speak with past mentees about their experiences (if it is a formal mentorship)
Several of these roles can help with the same challenges, and you might find someone qualified to help with all of them. For example, I know several psychologists who are qualified to help with assessments and mental health challenges, but they have specialized training and education in careers. As such, they are qualified to help with career issues. However, they may command a higher rate of pay than other professionals.
Understanding the information I provided above, in addition to identifying where you are struggling the most and the goals you want to achieve can help you find the best support for you. The key is to identify areas where would benefit most from professional guidance and choose the support services that align with your unique challenges. In the next section, we’ll cover pros and cons of getting professional support to help you evaluate your current situation and determine why you might or might not be ready for external guidance.
Special notes
*Some credentials require more education than others, while others require more experience, or “clock hours.”
**I left out other types of professionals, such as therapists or psychologists – but do understand that there are more professionals than the list I provided. Deeply understanding your needs first will help you figure out if you need to go beyond this list.
Tip: think of career support professionals as you would general practitioners (family doctors) versus specialists (doctors who specialize in specific problems): while someone may be eligible to help you, they may not be the best person for the job. Understanding where the majority of their experience lies is key. It’s probably not helpful to hire a career coach whose focus is college students if you are a seasoned professional – unless they have direct experience with clients like you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Getting Career Support
There are a whole host of advantages to getting support, but it’s not without limitations. Carefully consider each of these as you decide what is best for your situation.
Advantages
- Speed of change could be propelled
- You may have the ability to learn foundational tools that can help you with future challenges
- An objective sounding board could be incredibly useful, especially as it’s easy to get overwhelmed, overthink, or have biases
- An accountability partner can help you stick to your commitments
- They may have helped others in very similar situations and found solutions that more commonly work better than others.
- Their network and industry connections may open doors to opportunities that might be challenging to access independently.
- Guidance from experts can help you make better-informed decisions, especially when exploring new career paths or industries.
Disadvantages
- The cost of services can be high
- The time it could take to find a professional who is the right fit – you may feel you could be spending that time working on the solutions to your challenges
- Stepping out of your comfort zone could be uncomfortable
- It can be a huge commitment – while this isn’t actually a disadvantage, it IS something to be highly aware of
While it looks like the pros outweigh the cons substantially, the factors in the disadvantages are often very significant; if you are unemployed and struggling with a job search, money and time are two things you might be quite short on. Finding the balance between your immediate and long-term needs, as well as what you can resolve versus where your time is best spent with a coach, can make a meaningful difference in your approach to getting career support. Last, if any of these disadvantages concern you, call them out in your consultation so you can talk through them.
Tip: maximize both your money and time by first having a strong understanding the problem you want to solve. This is foundational to every decision that follows, including identifying alternative resources and knowing when to use them.
“If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” Albert Einstein
Balancing Career Guidance and Self-Reliance
Career success often requires a delicate balance between personal initiative and the guidance of a career support professional. While taking charge of your career is crucial, recognizing and effectively utilizing the role of a career support professional can make a significant difference in overcoming challenges and achieving long-term success. Let’s explore how to strike the right balance between your role and that of your career support professional.
Understand Your Role
- Create a roadmap for your career journey by setting clear goals and defining your professional aspirations.
- Identify your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement to make informed decisions about your career path.
- Continuously seek opportunities to learn and develop new skills to stay competitive in your field.
Leverage Career Support Professionals
- Recognize the expertise of career coaches or advisors in providing industry insights, strategic guidance, and personalized support.
- Utilize their knowledge to navigate complex career decisions, plan for advancement, and address specific challenges in your professional life.
Collaborate
- Leverage professional support to supplement your efforts, especially when you face complex challenges and uncertainty.
- Lean on different professionals based on your challenge. Here are a few examples:
- A career counselor for goal clarificationA mentor for a career transition
- A career advisor when seeking tools to help with your job search
Check-in and Adjust Routinely
- Schedule regular check-ins with your career support professional to assess progress and address emerging challenges.
- Be open to adjusting strategies based on evolving career landscapes and personal aspirations.
Seek balance to harness the collective power of personal initiative and expert guidance. By understanding when to lead and when to seek support, you create a dynamic partnership that propels you towards your career goals. Collaboration between your efforts and the insights of a career support professional can pave the way for sustained success and fulfillment.
Conclusion
Navigating your career path is a dynamic process that requires self-reflection, strategic planning, and, at times, external guidance. By proactively engaging with the resources and support available, you position yourself for long-term success. Whether a career counselor, coach, or even mentor, there are many options based on your needs. Remember that your journey is unique, and the decisions you make today can shape a fulfilling and rewarding career tomorrow.