Can a career coach help me find my dream job?

The short answer is that of course no-one can wave a magic wand and pluck your dream job out of thin air!

However, there are steps you can take personally to increase your chances of finding the role you want, and a good career coach can guide you, mentor you and help you to maximise your potential.

In my experience, everyone will question their career choices at some stage. Sometimes there is an event which prompts this, the Covid pandemic being a good example, or perhaps it just the thought that there must be something better out there. Don’t worry though, you are absolutely not alone.

The problem is not so much that you are at a crossroads, but more about knowing where to turn for assistance. Colleagues and friends may be an option as long as you can be assured of good, impartial advice and assuming they have the knowledge to help. Recruiters know their market, but they do not work for you – their client is the person who pays their bills, so they do not necessarily have an interest in helping you make the right decision.

A career coach could be the best option for you, and you will be in good company as the industry has grown substantially from the days when coaching was something offered only to senior management or C-level colleagues. There are now a large number of excellent, qualified career coaches offering their services at all levels with varying specialisations.

So, what can a coach help you with?

An honest sense check of where you are and where you want to go

A good coach with comprehensive knowledge of your sector will be able to assess your career to date and will work with you to understand the pathway ahead. A coach is an independent and non-judgmental sounding board for you and will be able to offer advice and clarity on your direction. They have no vested interest other than working with you, so this is invaluable.

Accountability and a way forward

A coach will help to give you structure and a career plan with specific milestones. People have a tendency to let things happen to them in their careers rather than planning – a coach will make you accountable for your actions and will motivate you to be intentional, rather than waiting for the headhunter to call with a big job offer.

Optimise your chances of securing the right job, not just any job

A coach will help you to understand your strengths, weaknesses, motivations and values. Many people either follow the money or follow the title without thinking about the other aspects of the role., sometimes really fundamental things like the location or travel requirements. These should be front and centre when you look at your career or you are setting yourself up for an unhappy experience rather than a sustainable long-term career.

Guide you to find your own way

A coach does not tell you what to do; a coach should empower you to make the right decisions yourself. Coaching is a voyage of guided discovery and gives you the skills to navigate personal career challenges with a sense of perspective. A true coaching partnership will allow you to assess your career, give you direction and motivate you to boost your performance in the future. If you come to the table with an open mind and the willingness to work hard, then career coaching can make a real difference for you.

If you would like a confidential conversation with a Career Coach, please call Mercury Coaching on +44 (0) 20 3633 1549