The answer to that question is–it depends. Are you an HR professional with a ton of experience in recruitment, interviewing, salary negotiation and looking for ajob in HR? Chances are–you don’t need a coach–you’ve already got it covered with your own skill set. However, if you are a professional who seems “stuck” in your career or you recently experienced job loss–the answer is: yes.
Let me first explain the differences between a Career Coach, a Career Counselor, and a Career Consultant.
A Career Counselor typically works in more academic environments, has a background in psychology and usually at least a Master’s degree. Also, a counselor has the ability to administer a number of different assessments to determine aptitude for different occupations. Most job seekers in transition will not find this beneficial, as needs may be more immediate to secure employment.
A Career Coach approaches working with someone from more of an emotional perspective, helping individuals overcome the devastation of job loss or to work through destructive behaviors that are preventing them from moving their lives forward. Coaches–who are true professionals–have been certified by ICF, the International Coaching Federation or other certifying agencies. A Career Coach will often work with an individual for 6 months to a year to assist with a transition. However, many career coaches are not professional writers–which means they do not have the skills to write a professional resume that will get the phone to ring…
A Career Management Consultant usually works with an individual on a short-term basis to navigate him/her toward employment–much more quickly. As a Career Consultant, I am a professional writer and senior-level HR professional with expertise in resume writing and professional development training. During the initial consultation, I always assess whether or not an individual is in need of more in-depth coaching. If so, I refer them to one of my colleagues who is an executive coach so they can work through what are often “jumbled thoughts” about their career direction. As a Career Consultant, a typical client engagement is less than three months. The reason? Career Consultants work with individuals who have a clearer understanding of their job search objective, time frame, and have specific industries in mind. Consultants do help individuals with career transition to other occupations and industries, too, however it is a faster process for career transition. In using myself as the example, I’ve worked in leadership and HR for over 20 years, and I have the unique skill set to quickly assess someone’s skills, behavioral competencies, and identify other occupations and industries they may be suitable for.
To learn more about working with a Career Coach, Counselor, or a Career Consultant–give me a call. I’ll be happy to help!
Until next time!
Natalie Ivey
Natalie Ivey is the founder of Results Performance Consulting, Inc., a firm that helps individuals and organizations through Career and HR management consulting and professional development training. www.rpchr.com
