The Importance of Having a Career Coach

A career coach is an under-utilized tool for most professionals starting their careers. And for those looking to level up When people try to climb the career ladder, what resources do they usually turn to? The internet, CV writing, and talking to friends. All great tools. But there’s one tool out there that gets underused all the time.

A Career Coach has the training to see how someone’s skills and personality will work well in a career. They work with you to build the skills you need to secure a job and climb the ladder in the field of your choice. You can have a coach that helps you find a job or a niche specialist that works in your field of choice. The coach you choose will depend on where you currently are in your career journey.

Think back to when you were 5 years old, dreaming about the job you’d have as an adult. Is that still what you want today?

Career coaching is a great tool because it provides detailed support that caters only to you. Career specialists understand that every human has varying needs to help them thrive.

The job of a Career Coach is to provide that specific support. They bring out the best in you for your professional life and guide you on the journey toward Career Success.  

But isn’t that cheating?

Not at all! Even industry titans seek coaching to navigate the murky waters of the corporate world. Everyone needs help to get where they want to go.

If you’re skeptical of career coaching and whether it’s right for you, here are some of the ways it can help you succeed.

Figure out YOUR career goals

Many think that to be successful you have to target the top rung of any company. And that working your way up means grueling decades of disheartening work. This is a common misconception.

That’s not the right move for everyone. The problem is, a lot of people don’t realize that they have the option to take less conventional paths to the top. And that the "top" doesn’t have to be the goal at all.

A Uvaro Career Coach will help you evaluate what you want in life and in your career. They'll work with you to make a plan for your career trajectory.  They’ll discuss what you enjoy about your job. They'll consider how much time you have to dedicate to progressing. From there, they'll show you what paths you might take to reach your goals.

Remember, you don't have to have a fancy executive title to be 'successful'. If climbing the organizational ladder isn’t your cup of tea, that's a-okay. Your coach will help you find the career path that makes the most sense to you. Capitalizing on your unique set of skills will help you land a role that best serves you!

Find YOUR dream job

Think back to when you were 5 years old, dreaming about the job you’d have as an adult. Is that still what you want today?

How many personality tests have you taken to try and find your perfect career match? Did you agree with it or did you, like most people, take one look and pretend you never did it? Did you look for a new test that was going to tell you you’re destined for one of the most incredible careers ever? What did that look like for you? Sorry, lots of questions.

Like when you were a 5-year-old, there seems to be little guidance for adult career goals too. You’re expected to know what you want to do by age 16 and start yourself on a trajectory to achieve that job.

That's great... If you’re one of the lucky few that go through life knowing what they want in a career and never waiving from it. For most of us, the reality isn’t quite so rose-tinted.

Most of us spend our adult lives hopping from job to job until we find one that’s fulfilling. But whether we’ve found a job or not, it’s still hard to know the best way to climb the ranks.

That’s where a good Career Coach comes in handy.

Step away from the BuzzFeed quiz

You don’t need to rely on career quizzes online that don’t know anything about you or your true potential. After all, quizzes have limits.

Instead, your coach can hear your skills, likes, dislikes, and goals to help you find jobs you might love. They'll help you experiment and dabble until it feels right.

Take into account a mixture of what you are looking for, what skills you need, and compensation types. Those will help you determine where you lie in the job market. And that’s the kind of information only a trained individual can get to the bottom of.

Improve your skills

Job hunting and job etiquette are a skill in and of themselves. But despite being such a niche skill to develop, it’s not one taught in school.

Beyond the basics, we’re pretty much left to our own devices when it comes to joining the working world. Luckily, Career Coaches are there to walk you through everything you need to know. From getting a job to asking for a raise, so you feel confident in your career.

One of the most important ways Coaches help with skills is to train you to go for jobs that you never considered. Looking for a job is daunting in itself. Looking at a long list of job specifications where you don’t quite fit the box can make you feel inadequate.

It’s the job of a career mentor to teach you the necessary skills to understand how to apply for jobs. Learn to prove your lateral experience even when you think it’s not relevant. They can guide you to take courses or learn other skills that give you the best chance to snag the job of your choosing.

In every job application, there are a range of skills that will help you stand out above the rest. But you’re only human and you can’t learn them all at once. You have to prioritize the skills you learn. This is another way a Career Coach can guide you through essential job skill improvement.

Finding the right job for you is a lot easier when you have someone there to support you on your journey.

Maintain a work-life balance

We’re told that knowing how to level up” at work is common sense. We’ve read our job description and responsibilities. "If we’re good enough at our job, we’ll get the career progression we deserve," we say.

Or at least, that’s what we're taught to believe.

The truth is, we don’t live in an ideal world where being the hardest worker in the room will guarantee a promotion. There are many external factors that can affect who gets picked for the next stage on the job ladder.

Managing expectations

Let me tell you a quick story. There was a man working for a fortune 500 company who had the best numbers on his team. He was always available to work overtime when asked and was agreeable. As he got older, he settled down in his personal life and had a kid.

One day, he had to leave work on time to get home and help look after his child. His boss told him he was up for promotion and that his dedication to the job” would be a factor. He put in extra hours at work for free and prioritized his work over his family. Spoiler alert, when a job became available for promotion, guess who got it. That’s right, not him.

At any company, this story is a more common occurrence in the US job experience than you'd think.

A Career Coach will teach you how to show competence AND set boundaries, without sacrificing your personal life. Because when you respect yourself and your time, others will learn to do the same, too.

Career coaching is affordable and there are many types to choose from!

If you think career coaching is out of reach for you, think again. At Uvaro, we provide affordable options to ensure you get the guidance you need to thrive in your career. Become a member today and get access to unlimited live Courses and Workshops while also taking advantage of our Career Coaching services.

Check out our Career Success Catalog and see how we can start your career journey in tech today!