5 Reasons to Hire a Career Coach After Graduation

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Kaylee Houde, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.

Ahoy there graduating students! It is April, and that means final exam season is upon us. I know that the last thing you want to be thinking about is the hefty job search ahead of you, but do note that while exams last a month your career lasts you a lifetime… or at least a few years until you burn out, realize you hate what you’re doing, and try again. Want to avoid the burn out and start off with a career that is actually aligned with who you are as a person?

As we know, life is not always a linear path. There are twists and turns along the way. (Which is not always a bad thing). However, one thing is for certain, a Career Coach is a short-term investment for a long-term payout: “Choosing a path aligned with your work-life goals, your purpose and your values,” oh and also having the resume, cover letter, and interview skills to actually get yourself there.

While only YOU are the master of your own life and destiny, a Career Coach can assist you in the self-discovery journey and in tailoring your documents to reflect your authentic self. Through the power of solution-focused questioning a career goal will seem like a cake-walk and your job search goals will be realistic and attainable.

For example, what happens when you go to the gym? Maybe you work out your abs every day for 30 minutes and sure, eventually your six-pack will start to form, but maybe not very quickly if you do not add diet and cardio to your regime. What does a Fitness Coach do in these circumstances? They keep you accountable and build a personalized plan to help you reach those goals FASTER and STRONGER. Career Coaches do the same thing, but for your entire career.

Here are 5 reasons why you should consider investing in a Career Coach after graduation…

(1) Align your goals with “end goals” versus “means goals”

The number one concern for students that I have worked with is this, “What if I do not get a job! I need to pay my bills and I need to be able to afford my life!”

Yes, this is true. However, if you have had a part-time job or even worked on some school projects you already have some transferrable skills to work with.

What coaching will help with is working around this fear associated with financial freedom and look beyond that horizon to what you really want. By focusing not on the immediate fear-based goal, but on the long-term life that you truly want to live, you can make some powerful choices in the short-term to build a life aligned with your true self.

Don’t just “get a job”, build your dream life from day one.

(2) Get specific and get noticed by hiring managers

The second most common thing I hear working with my clients is this, “I am keeping my options open, that is why my resume is also open.”

While it is great to keep your options open, what the Hiring Manager hears is, “I am not sure what I want, or how I add value.”

In a competitive world where the Recruiter reviews 300+ resumes to shortlist candidates, it is not enough to just put a piece of paper in their inbox. It needs to be tailored to the job posting, be written in the industry language the Recruiters and Hiring Managers already speak in (yes, their jargon), and be results focused.

If you cannot show me in the first 3 to 5 sentences that you meet or exceed the expectations and requirements of the role, I have already moved on to the next applicant.

(3) Boost your job search confidence

One of my clients had just graduated university during an industry lull and was nervous about finding her first job. She was able to secure an interview after applying across the country, and she was super nervous going into it. Instead of winging it, she called me.

After working through her fears, practicing her stories, and building on the feedback provided… SHE GOT THE JOB!

She came back to tell me how coaching helped her feel confident not in just what she was going to say, but how she was going to say it!

Working with a Career Coach can be a very empowering process, building your confidence as you approach topics such as interviews, networking, salary negotiations and/or promotion conversations!

(4) Approach the hidden job market like a pro

Have you heard of the hidden job market? It is this magical place where at least 60% of all the jobs that exist in the world are not actually posted on job boards.

“Excuse me, did you just say NOT on job boards!?”

Yes, you heard me correctly.

The job search process has evolved. Recruiters and Hiring Managers do not always have time to sift through the hundreds of resumes they get from posting on a job board. Instead, they use search engines to target people on LinkedIn that already have the skills they need. Instead, they rely on word of mouth and referrals. Instead, they rely on you to come to them as job seekers.

In other words, start networking! Working with a Career Coach can help you tailor your job search plan to target organizations that have a culture aligned with your values and will help you develop your elevator pitch to actually approach these organizations effectively.

Stop applying to the black box called the Internet, and start making some human connections!

(5) Feed yourself for life, not just for today

Every Career Coach has a different model and a different brand. Make sure you look for someone that “fits” with you even once you have decided a Career Coach would be the best next step in your journey.

My Career Coaching model uses solution-focused coaching techniques and open ended questions to inspire my clients to cut through the chaos and define their directions, helping them find work-life alignment that still pays the bills.

I live by the quote…

“Give someone a fish, and you feed them for a day; but teach someone to fish, and you feed them for life.”

I balance coaching and advice giving to empower my clients to “feed themselves for life,” as the resume, cover letter, interview, and networking coaching provided in my packages is a skill set you can use any time you are looking for a new job, find yourself between opportunities, or are ready for a promotion.

So, what are you waiting for? Spend 30 minutes to build a plan that will support your entire future!