{"id":3720,"date":"2014-04-15T01:07:43","date_gmt":"2014-04-15T05:07:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=3720"},"modified":"2014-04-15T01:07:43","modified_gmt":"2014-04-15T05:07:43","slug":"best-ways-to-find-a-career-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=3720","title":{"rendered":"Best Ways to Find a Career Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"square.forbes\"<\/a>Last fall, I had the opportunity to attend the Gerontological Society of America meeting, which brought together 3,600 researchers from around the globe to present research on the aging population. My agenda was to attend sessions on working in our 60s and beyond and the challenges and rewards if entrepreneurship and being your own boss.<\/p>\n

It was a little depressing, to be honest.<\/p>\n

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Many of the speakers were not terribly optimistic about the reality that faces people who want or need to continue working beyond 65. I get it. I know that ageism is alive and well in the workplace, but I also know that there are ways to fight back. And one of them is to find a coach to help you discover just what moves you can make, as I will explain in a minute.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Their gloom and doom made be bristle. I am squarely in the other camp. I see tremendous opportunity out there for workers who take their time to find ways to redeploy their skills from their first career, pursue lifelong learning to keep their skills sharp, and network aggressively\u2013mining who they know to find work that has meaning to them, and in many cases, has a lasting impact on others and making the world a better place.<\/p>\n

That work will be different for everyone. It might be bridge jobs that phase you into full-time retirement when you\u2019re ready or part-time ventures, or starting a small home-based business, but at the core of it is staying healthy and socially and mentally engaged-key benefits of continuing to work.<\/p>\n

And importantly, that work will allay the fear of outliving your money, by allowing you to continuing to add to retirement accounts and not have to tap into them too soon, so the funds can continue to compound and grow. And, certainly, those bonus work years will let you stave off taping into your Social Security, and, in essence, giving yourself a 8 percent a year bump in your payout when you do.<\/p>\n

That said, surveys like the recent one from the\u00a0Employee Benefits Research Institute<\/a>\u00a0indicate that workers say they will continue working after 65, but many don\u2019t-often because of health issues, perhaps, \u00a0or they\u2019re caught up caring for aging relatives.<\/p>\n

But a big reason is that many of the people I meet \u00a0have trouble envisioning what it is they can do, or have a passion and true desire to do, at this stage of life.<\/p>\n

So they freeze in place.\u00a0They need a plan of action.<\/p>\n

You can ask your friends, family and colleagues past and present for advice, but often I find it helps to get unbiased guidance from an outsider who is trained to observe, inspire and lead you to find your next act.<\/p>\n

If you know you need a change but are unsure of what to do, a career coach can help you set goals, clearly outline the steps to take you there, and motivate you to make it happen.<\/p>\n

I have personally used a coach to give me the kind of unbiased help a friend or family member couldn\u2019t. I found her through my dog. She and I met when training our puppies a\u00a0few years ago. While serendipity allowed me to meet my career coach, asking friends for recommendations is a good place to start. You can also do research online, where you\u2019ll find a slew of directories.<\/p>\n

Hiring the right person to guide you along on this personal journey is not simple and takes legwork. There are countless career coaches touting their services with a variety of styles and philosophies, and winnowing down the field requires doing some due diligence.\u00a0The Life Planning Network\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a02 Young 2 Retire\u00a0<\/a>offer coach directories geared to midlife workers. I recommend both sites. Also you might want to tap into expert mentor advice viaPivotPlanet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are some smart ways to find a coach who is qualified:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Look for qualifications<\/b>. Career coaching is a self-regulated industry and emerging profession. Many coaches have been doing it for years without adding professional designations. But designations are a sign of some formal training and of adherence to general standards of professionalism. A good place to find a directory of coaches is the\u00a0International Coach Federation<\/a>. The organization awards a global credential, which is currently held by thousands of coaches worldwide. ICF-credentialed coaches have met educational requirements, received specific coach training, and achieved a designated number of experience hours, among other requirements. Two other helpful sites are the Association of Career Professionals International\u00a0<\/a>and the\u00a0National Career Development Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Explore the past career path of a potential coach.<\/strong>\u00a0Many so-called career coaches are more life coaches, who focus on esoteric life choices and may lack practical work world advice.\u00a0Find out as much as you can about their career path, both in the coaching field and in the regular work world. It\u2019s even better if they have been through a career transition or have a track record of working with people going through the process. Don\u2019t be bashful about questioning potential coaches on their level of expertise for your particular needs.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ask for at least three references.<\/strong>\u00a0Of course, no one is going to hand over the names of clients who didn\u2019t love them, but asking for references is an important step in your process. You never know what you might learn when you get someone on the phone. Plus it\u2019s imperative to know a potential coach\u2019s work style and how he or she succeeded with other clients starting a new career.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Say no to group sessions.<\/strong>\u00a0Find a coach who conducts one-on-one sessions. These can be in person, by phone, or by Skype, by Google+ Hangout, or by email, but you want his or her full attention. Phone sessions are commonplace these days, which in many ways is to your advantage. You aren\u2019t restricted to signing on with a coach in your town, and you don\u2019t waste time getting to and from meetings and making small talk.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Expect a free initial consultation<\/strong>. Once you\u2019ve narrowed your search, you\u2019ll want to interview a few candidates. Never agree to work with a coach without a trial run. This initial session should be gratis. If there is a charge for this meet and greet, pass.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ask about fees.<\/strong>\u00a0Rates vary significantly, anywhere from $50 to more than $200 per hour. Some coaches require a minimum number of hours. On average, coach\u2013client relationships last from six months to a year. You might sign on for one or two meetings to jump-start your new career course, or weekly or monthly meetings might suit your needs better. Some coaches will provide resources such as books and give homework assignments to prepare for future sessions.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Check out the coach\u2019s website.<\/strong>\u00a0This should give you insight into the coach\u2019s areas of expertise and what he or she has published. Search the coach\u2019s name on the web and see if\u00a0you find uncensored comments written by other clients. You can find coaches who have a blog via directories such as Alltop.com (search under \u201ccareer\u201d) or who are on Twitter\u00a0by searching WeFollow under #coach.<\/p>\n

Get a written agreement.<\/strong>\u00a0This is a business relationship, so treat it like one with a formal agreement that defines the duties of each party. Verbal agreements can be risky and leave both the client and the coach susceptible to unexpected misunderstandings.<\/p>\n

By working through these steps, you have a good chance of hiring a reputable coach. But there is one more thing. It comes down to something intangible\u2014a human connection.<\/p>\n

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You\u2019ll be doling out private details of your life, your dreams, your strengths and weaknesses with your coach. You have to trust the coach and feel comfortable laying it all before him or her. This is scary stuff , and you need a steady hand to hold from time to time.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the career coach you hire should inspire you, push you, and give you the inner confidence to step into the unfamiliar with the grace and strength that comes from knowing\u00a0deep inside that you are on the right path. Keep in mind that if you\u2019re unemployed, your local unemployment office may be able to set you up with free career counseling.<\/p>\n

Look for library, community colleges, and the alumni offices of your alma mater for coaching sessions and workshops.\u00a0CareerOneStop<\/a>, sponsored by the Department of Labor, offers coaching and special programs for military members moving into the private sector at various locations around the country. These could be small groups, but helpful nonetheless to get you moving forward.<\/p>\n

I was invited to attend the\u00a0Gerontological Society of America<\/a>\u00a0meeting with support from the\u00a0MetLife Foundation Journalists in Aging Fellows<\/a>\u00a0program, a project of New America Media and the Gerontological Society of America.<\/em><\/p>\n

Portions of this article were excerpted from my \u00a0latest book,\u00a0What\u2019s Next?: Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties and Beyond<\/a>.\u00a0Follow me on Twitter,\u00a0@KerryHannon<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m also the author of\u00a0Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy \u2026 And Pays the Bills<\/a>\u00a0(John Wiley & Sons<\/a>), available at\u00a0www.kerryhannon.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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