Making the Leap: Seven Reasons Why a Life Coach is the Secret to a New Career

Posted on April 04, 2023 by Christine Dunning, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.

Are you burned out?

Tired of being tired?

Frustrated with the state of education?

Ready for a change?

As a teacher, you’ve likely dedicated your life to helping others learn and grow. You’re passionate about what you do and you want to make a positive impact on the lives of your students. But what happens when you start to feel like you need a change? Maybe you’ve been teaching for years and you’re starting to feel burnt out, or maybe you’re looking for a new challenge. Maybe you are a new teacher, and you’ve found that teaching isn’t the dream job you’d hoped it would be.

Whatever your reasons, if you’re considering a career change, hiring a life coach could be one of the best decisions you ever make.

A life coach can help you clarify your goals and priorities.

Teaching is what I call an “obvious” career.

The public certainly doesn’t know or understand everything a teacher does within their work day, but they do understand the basics. At some point, all of us were taught, and we remember what it was like to be inside a classroom.

But now it’s not working for you, whether you’ve been teaching for a while, or you are in your first few years.

It’s time for a change – but how?

When you’re considering a career change, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the options out there. You might feel like you’re not sure what you want or what you’re capable of. A life coach can help you get clear on what you really want and what’s most important to you. They can help you identify your values, your strengths, and your passions, and use that information to guide your decision-making.
A life coach can help you create a plan of action.

What’s the first step? And the next one? What if I do it wrong?

Once you know what you want and what’s most important to you, a life coach can help you create a plan to make it happen. They can help you set goals, break them down into manageable steps, and create a timeline for achieving them. They can also help you identify any obstacles that might get in your way and come up with strategies for overcoming them.

A life coach can help you stay accountable.

I call it the “GO” button.

Trying to make changes on your own can be difficult. You find yourself questioning not just what you are doing, but the whole process.

A lot of teachers feel stuck in the unknowns: what should I do? When should I start? How do I even begin?

I’ve found with my clients that by hiring a life coach, they give themselves permission to start.
Sometimes it’s all about taking that first step.

In addition, hiring a life coach to gently propel you along the way helps you stick to the tasks at hand.
Making a career change can be a long and challenging process, and it can be easy to lose motivation along the way. A life coach can help you stay on track by holding you accountable to your goals and commitments. They can check in with you regularly, offer encouragement and support, and help you adjust your plan if necessary.

One note: it CAN be long. I’ve had people find new careers within the first month of working together. Some of that’s luck – but some of that is up to you.

A life coach can help you manage your mindset.

Should I? Shouldn’t I? What if…?

Making a career change can be scary, and it’s common to experience self-doubt and fear along the way. A life coach can help you manage your mindset and overcome any limiting beliefs or negative thought patterns that might be holding you back. They can remind you about having a growth mindset (it doesn’t just apply to our students!) and cultivate resilience and perseverance.

A life coach can provide a fresh perspective.

One of the best things I can do as a coach is to see any issues from a different frame of reference.
When you’re too close to a situation, it can be hard to see things objectively. A life coach can provide a fresh perspective and help you see things in a new light. They can ask questions you might not have thought of, challenge your assumptions, and offer insights and ideas you might not have considered.
A life coach can help you navigate the job search process.

You’ve jumped on board and now you are ready to proceed. Now comes the practical stuff.

How do you:

Search for jobs

Change your resume

Write cover letters

Get references

Prep for interviews

If you’ve only done these in the educational sphere – you might find it to be radically different in the business world.

Once you’ve decided to make a career change, you’ll need to start looking for new job opportunities. This can be a daunting process, especially if you’re not sure where to start. A life coach can help you navigate the job search process by providing guidance on things like creating a resume, networking, and interviewing.

A life coach can help you make a smooth transition.

I’m ready!

Now what??

Finally, a life coach can help you make a smooth transition from your current career to your new one.

They can help you manage the logistics of the transition, such as giving notice at your current job and starting at your new one. They can also help you manage the emotional side of the transition, such as saying goodbye to your students and colleagues, as well as adjusting to your new work environment.

They’ll also help you work on transferring insurance, pensions and other details you may not have thought about.

One last thought: as you search for a life coach, consider looking for someone who specializes in teacher transitions. Regular career coaches are quite helpful, but they may not be aware of how different it is to teach in a classroom versus work in an office environment. You might want to find someone who has been there, and understands the process.

Are you ready for a change?

Let’s make it together.