What is a Career Coach: Do I Need One?

You don’t like your job, you feel stuck. Someone suggested you speak to a career coach, but now you’re even more confused! What even is a career coach, and how do you know if you need one?

Today I will be helping you to make a solid decision. Whether you want to start your journey towards a career that works for you. Or whether to continue to doubt whether you’ll ever find a job you actually enjoy. ;)

The thing is, career coaching is NOT suitable for everyone. That’s the truth. 

Here’s some of the most common questions I get asked by people considering getting help to figure out the next steps in their career:

What does a career coach do?

So I’m going to make the assumption that if you’re reading this you’re not that happy in your job. A career coach helps you figure out what work you would actually enjoy doing. If you’re happy in your current job, you probably don’t need a career coach.

They look at what’s not working in your current job. Explore what has and hasn’t worked for you in your career up until now. Then help you put together a plan to move into a career that works for you.

A good career coach will help you make the most of the things you’re great at; tap into your passions and show you how your work could better align with your values.

Do I need a career coach?

No. And yes.

You don’t NEED a career coach. Career coaching is not essential. Honestly, there’s some great books you can buy that help you become your own career coach.

Having said that (come on, you knew there was a but coming right?!), to become your own career coach, you will need to be really disciplined, really organised. And in all honesty, it will probably take you longer to get to where you want to be.

Working with a career coach is worth considering if you’re feeling stuck in your career, with no idea what to do instead. It’s useful for people who know they need a career change but feel completely overwhelmed at the idea. It is something that I’d recommend for someone who feels everything they’re trying just isn’t working.

How do I know which career coach to hire?

I recommend you find someone who has a qualification that is recognised by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Coaching is an unregulated industry; it’s very easy for people to set themselves up as coaches, some of which are incredibly talented at what they do, some of which are not. Find out what qualifications they have and ask to speak to a previous client.

Look for someone who gives away really good resources for free. Read their blogs (you’re off to a good start!), watch training they have posted on social media, download any free resources on their website. This will give you a really good idea of whether you like their style and their approach. It will also show you that they really want to help, rather than just wanting to make lots of money.

I suggest you hire a coach that has a proven system to help clients reach their goals. If you’re about to go on a journey, you want to know how long it’s going to take, and what you will get to experience on the way.

Finally, it’s a good idea to speak to a coach before you sign up to work with them. Get on the phone and see if you’re a good fit. Career coaching happens over several weeks – you want to make sure you get on! You don’t need to be best friends after the first call, but you want to feel comfortable chatting to them. It’s a good sign if you feel excited.

3 reasons why you should work with me

I help career changers find a career that ticks all the boxes so you can start seeing work as something to enjoy, not endure.

I know of so many people who have felt stuck in jobs they don’t like for years… but they never got round to doing anything about it because they weren’t sure how to make a change.

After talking to some of my favourite clients, I have come up with the 3 main reasons career changers choose to work with me. The reasons might surprise you.

#1 You don’t know what you don’t know!

If you know you hate your job, and wonder if you’re on the wrong career path, but feel totally overwhelmed with the idea of a career change and have no idea where to start… it makes sense to hire a career coach.

I’m about to get a new kitchen (woop, so exciting!), which involves knocking some walls down, and moving pipes and blocking up doors. Am I going to youtube it? Am I going to read some blogs online and figure out how to do it myself? NO WAY!! We’re going to pay an expert to help create the end result that I’m picturing in my head. We’re going to pay an expert who has loads of experience helping other people with this kind of thing. He is professionally trained who knows what he’s doing!

If you’ve never made a career change, it can be really helpful to have a guide. I am a Certified Life Coach (I trained with iPEC) and Licensed Career Coach (I trained with Firework™, the UK’s leading career coaching programme) and I have experience helping career changers just like you, make the journey you’re about to make.

Here’s some feedback I got after working with Patrick:

“I used to feel worried about exploring a career change but after working with you I no longer feel uncomfortable or ashamed about looking at a new direction for my life. Thank you for creating space to think, and plan helpful action points for the next steps to take.”

#2 You can’t afford not to, it’s your career at stake!

I often have the conversation with potential clients who tell me they can’t afford to work with me. I get it, I really do, working with me is an investment. It’s an expense that seems like a non-essential.

Money is a personal thing, no one really likes to talk about it, it’s a bit awkward to discuss isn’t it. Do me a favour, have a quick think about how much you spent on your last holiday? How much did you spend last month? How much of it was on non-essentials? Things like Netflix, wine (debatable whether this is an essential I know!), getting your nails done, buying food out rather than making it at home… you get the idea. Those things might be a quick fix, but presumably you were still stuck in a job you hate?

Please know this about me: I am not a pushy person. I only work with people I genuinely believe I can help. 

Sometimes we feel we can’t spend money on ourselves because it’s selfish, and deprives our family of something they might need. Just have a think about how much it’s costing you emotionally, physically, maybe even financially by staying in a job you really dislike. What is it costing your family? Remember, you spend a lot of hours at work!

Emma had this to say after I worked with her:

“Talking with Lydia helped me understand that I wanted a job that involved designing and creating. This gave me the chance to consider careers that I had only thought happened to other people! Speaking with Lydia was insightful, incredibly useful, and good fun!”

#3 It can actually be quite a fun process

When I first started my business as a career coach, I spent a lot of time doing market research, finding out what other career coaches do, how much they charge, how they help people etc.

I won’t name any names, and I really don’t want to be rude, but I found a lot of career coaches were pretty dull. To the point where I really considered whether career coaching was right for me. Do I have to take myself that seriously to be successful?! Thankfully not. If you have ever watched my Instagram reels, you’ll know I’m quick to laugh at myself.

Career planning can be overwhelming and hard work, but I do everything I can to make the process as fun as possible, while getting you where you want to be. In the words of Mary Poppins “In every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap! The job’s a game!” 

Sarah shared this feedback after some coaching with me:

“Lydia’s perfect balance of friendliness and professional guidance made speaking to her come with incredible ease. I left our first session feeling like I could achieve anything and the only thing that had ever held me back was myself.”

What do you reckon? Do you need a career coach?

How much do you want a career that works for you? What is it costing you to stay stuck in a job you don’t like? What impact is it having on your life?

I’m here to walk this journey with you if you want some help… and maybe a bit of fun too! 

Every month I offer a limited number of FREE career coaching sessions – click here to book your slot!

I look forward to chatting with you. ;)