“If I were you, I would just stay with your employer.”
“You need to be paid more than what they are offering.”
“Just leave. You can find other jobs.”
“Hand out your resume to everyone you meet. Sooner or later, you’ll land a job.”
This is just some of the advice you’ll hear when you’re looking for a job. There’s enough information and advice on career issues to make your head spin, yet most people wait until they have exhausted all their resources before seeking a career-development professional.
Career guidance often comes from colleagues, bosses and family members who have long employment histories and have “been around the block.” Their wisdom and experience can be very helpful, and the benefits of their mentoring can be immeasurable. In fact, it helps to have your own board of career directors with whom to brainstorm ideas and goals throughout your career.
If you find yourself needing more insight and guidance than friends or coworkers can provide, reaching out to a career coach or counselor can be a good investments of time and resources, but do your homework and find out more about career professionals and what they can offer.
It’s easy to be tempted by those who promise to find you a job. The truth is, a job search takes a lot of effort, and no one can interview or prepare for you. Beware of those who take advantage of your job-search fatigue and claim they can find you a job. The old saying, “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is” definitely applies here.
The National Career Development Association offers a good explanation of the services career counselors provide, and this can serve as a set of questions to ask when seeking a career counselor. Career counselors have to meet certain educational requirements and pass a licensing test. A new credential now sets standards for those who are in the field but do not meet the requirements for a counselor: the career development facilitator.
There are coaching programs that meet strict criteria and provide education and training for the latest coaching and job-search techniques. Many universities are offering coaching accreditation as a way of setting standards for the career development field.
Your career is a big part of your life, and it’s typically where you spend the majority of your time. You’ll probably change jobs 3-7 times over the course of your career and each move takes thought and planning. Working with a career-development professional might be one of the best investments you can make.
What are your thoughts on using a career development professional?
