Career coach - has anyone used one?

mariposa687 · 12 May 2017 at 5:15PM

I'm considering using a career coach. For the past 5 years I've been working in administrative roles which aren't what I want do with my life. At the time I took the roles as it was what was available at the time and I didn't think about the future too much. The trouble is I don't know what else I can do with my skill set. Even if I did I wouldn't know how to get there. I've considered a few avenues but a lot of them involve a Masters degree which I can't afford. I could accept getting a loan for tuition fees but I don't know how I'd pay my living costs whilst studying full time.

I'm fortunate in that I don't have a mortgage or family of my own to consider yet. I really feel like I can't figure it out on my own. I go round in circles. So I'm considering using a career coach to try and help draw out my strengths and possible future career paths. It is expensive so I wondered if anyone has used one before and whether it helped you?

I know I'm capable of more but I feel like I need someone to give me a push. I once had a boyfriend who just knew he wanted a certain career but I've never felt like that and I wonder how people figure it out.

bugslet · 12 May 2017 at 5:47PM

Yes, pretty much for the reasons you outlined.

I did a few tests, had them evaluated and it was fascinating. You should know yourself, but I was in a real can't see the woods for the trees place and being able to identify strengths and weaknesses and what types of roles would suit, was really helpful.

I used a lady that runs a company called amazing people.

mariposa687 · 12 May 2017 at 5:57PM

Ok, that's really useful thanks. That's exactly how I feel, like I can't see the wood for the trees.

bugslet · 12 May 2017 at 6:04PM

Some things you know about yourself, like I know I'm not a detail person, what I didn't realise was that I'm good at reading multiple articles and books and then being able to pull them together to produce a single article.

Good luck!

skint_chick · 12 May 2017 at 6:08PM

If you end up going down the masters route then a lot of universities offer part-time options so you can still work full-time or part-time during the course. I've done this twice and it's possible to get top marks and still have a life if you're organised about it. You also need to consider how you will get work experience in your chosen field - do you need to do volunteering, get some work experience for a couple of weeks and take time off your current job to check it suits you, or can you do an admin role in a different field that offers career development.

It's hard to know what to do with your life, and just because you choose something now it doesn't mean you will always be in that field, so try not to think of it as a life plan, just the next 5-10 years of your career. Could you ask your boss for an appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses? This might be very different to what you think they are, and also give you some ideas for how to develop your skills.

Also some companies offer mentoring schemes - which are not just useful to see how you progress in your current company, but also to give you an idea of transferable skills that are needed in every senior role and how you can develop these. I only found what I loved doing through volunteering, then took it forward into qualifications, and have now got a successful freelance business alongside a part-time regular job to give me the best of both worlds.

DonnaElmore · 17 April 2019 at 10:08AM

I hope you managed to get a good life coach to help you out. But honestly, I wouldn’t say it’s that “expensive”. As for my experience from working with the best career coachbefore, every cash I spend was worth it. Plus, the rate I got was pretty reasonable for the coaching I received and the results. And by looking at your situation, hiring a life coach might be the best action you could take. Whether it’s about pursuing a Master’s Degree or determining what career suits your strengths or skills, these experts can surely help you out.