Finding a career coach

A lot of people email me questions about finding a career coach. The use of career experts is definitely on the rise but there are some dos and don'ts. This week I will focus on finding the right person and next week on how to get the most out of the experience. First, spend some time thinking about what you want to achieve and how much money you're willing to spend. Services include resume and cover letter writing, interview coaching, psychometric testing and career change advice. To find the right person, first see if anyone you know can make a recommendation. If not, use websites like the Australian Association of Career Counsellors www.aacc.org.au  and True Local www.truelocal.com.au  or the guide in our Job hunting advice section called "How to find professional help". Phone around and ask lots of questions. Ask resume writers and interview coaches about their success rate? Does the practitioner have knowledge of the particular sector that interests you? What is their experience and training? Are they accredited with the AACC? What can you expect to get out of the sessions? What methods or process do they use? You can also tell a lot by what the practioner asks you.You don't want someone giving you a spiel about their services before they have listened to what you require. A good practioner will not want to take you on if their service is not suited to your needs. Check costs too. It's perfectly reasonable to get this information over the phone. There are a lot of very professional people out so phone around and find the right one.