Did you know……….that January is the month people look to change jobs according to Glassdoor. Indeed a report from the London School of Business and Finance, reveals that almost half of all workers in the UK want to reboot a career or job. So is it time take stock and rebooting your career in 2020?
The LSBF Careers Report found that, as well as the 47 per cent of workers who would like to change career, 21 per cent of workers are looking to move careers in the next 12 months. Workers are aiming for increased salary prospects, better work-life balance and improved job satisfaction. These were the main reasons for wanting to move. So its fair to say a career reboot is something in many people’s minds as they enter 2020.
Indeed, nigh on a quarter of British people (23%) in employment revealed that they regret their current career choice. There are higher figures for younger workers – 30% of 25-34 year-olds regretting their current career.
Stick or Twist?
However, many people are unwilling to move jobs owing to a number of factors they feel hold them back. The biggest factor being the lack of financial security (29%). Not knowing what to switch to and fear of failure were also two major obstacles for changing and rebooting your career. The infographic from London School of Business and Finance can be found here
So the facts and figures speak for themselves and clearly not everyone is a happy bunny in their jobs, especially as we enter a new decade. The question is how do you break the inertia and get January 2020 off with a bang? How do you set a career strategy in motion that will give you the best chance possible to move you career forward? Read on to find out how to kick start your career for the better.
Finding that Career Coach for Rebooting your Career
Career coaching can mean different things to different people. However, the way we manage our working lives can affect us all in many ways. Mainly financially and our sense of fulfilment and satisfaction at work and in our careers. Thing is, if you are in a position to think about support to move your working life forward, how on earth do folk know the quality of the coach? Hopefully, this short article will help you with your career choices, and help to start to reboot your career in 2020.
Good the Bad and the Downright Ugly
There are a number of organisations that advertise aggressively to help you manage your career. Some charge huge sums of money to give you the benefit of their experience and resources. I have been unlucky enough to have the benefit of an outplacement service. In one sense it was sold as a positive programme of honing my employment skills, one-to-one coaching and re-jigging my CV etc. The 12 month contract with the career management agency, that sadly resulted in no interviews, employment leads or investment in the client. I had a few printed sheets with “tricky interview questions” and a list of web-based job sites to search – and that was it! The consultant was more interested in getting his lunch than helping me move forward. A horrible experience I would not wish anyone to go through.
So in the light of all that, I have put together a few questions you might want to ask yourself and the coach before you employ them to support you to help you with your career
- What track record does the coach have and what are their qualifications? You need to know that the coach has a background in employment, recruitment, business and coaching. Most of all that you can work with them. Who have they helped before and how did they support the person find the life at work they are looking for? Lastly, are they qualified to deliver a confidential and structured service – ask them about this to be confident about the service on offer?
- Are they members of recognised professional bodies such as the British Psychological Society, Careers Development Institute etc, with recognised codes of ethics and guidelines to protect you and your well-being?
- What areas of career coaching do they specialise in? There are many colours of coaching available from the life coach who may have had minimal training toward coaches who have years of education, continual professional development and experience in careers, business and employment. If this is what you are looking for then look for a coach specialising in this area.
- Can you access a variety of ways to get the support you need i.e. telephone, Skype, email, face-to-face? Some coaches and agencies only work 9-5, does that suit you? Spend time getting the coach and the type of service you need.
- Do they offer a confidential & complementary career scoping meeting? You need to be sure the coach and the methods are right for you. You want to feel confident that your coach can help you with your issues and to help you solve them. So most career coaches of substance will offer you this initial complimentary career scoping service. They will also make their fee structure transparent with no hidden extras
- Lastly, can the coach guarantee results – well frankly no. It all depends upon a number of different factors such as how much work you (as the client) is prepared to put in and if you trust the coach. I can’t think of many coaches that will guarantee you will be in the job or the career you want just by waving a magic wand! So be prepared to put some work into your personal and professional development.
These are just a few questions to ask your prospective career coach. Remember that coaching is all about relationships. If the relationship doesn’t work then find one that does. In the end, it’s your career and as you are seeking out a career coach it highly likely you are ready for change. Change that will help you to be happy, fulfilled and contented in a career that suits you now.
Lastly……….
I know it all sounds a little onerous and that it’s a bit too much hassle to search out and engage a competent, experienced and qualified career coach. Though if you are one of the 47% looking to change your career in 2019, it’s a small price to pay to change your career & life for the better. The reassurance is that when it works, career coaching will energise and give you the support necessary to achieve your future career goals and aspirations.
