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Career Coaches Can Offer Support To Jobless Boomers

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 22, 2009

The recession has turned into a boom for career counselors. And boomers are responding, as they find themselves out of work for the first time in years. Many spent their entire life within a single industry and wonder what they can do next and who will hire them.

If you're considering hiring a career coach to help you through an employment change or to switch careers, here's what you can expect:

•Coaching can offer short-term help or lengthy hand-holding. Expect one-on-one sessions to tailor advice to your situation.

•Expect to deal with your emotions first. Counselors say their first task is often to help clients work through denial about being jobless and the misconceptions that they'll soon be rehired by their old company. A tip: "Put your thoughts in writing for 20 minutes a day for 20 straight days," says Dallas career coach Pam Venne. "You've got to clear your mind before you can represent yourself well to potential employers."

•Expect a lot of self-evaluation. Career coaches usually put clients through a battery of self-assessment tests to discover their interests, skills and strengths. They may also ask you to get feedback from relatives and friends.

•Anticipate paying for one-on-one service. Hourly fees can range from $75 to $150 or can be a flat rate that can run up to several thousands of dollars for high-level executives.

For advice on finding a coach, contact the National Career Development Association. The group's Web site is www.ncda.org.

When shopping for a coach, look for certified career counselors. You can find a list at the National Board for Certified Counselors' Web site, www.nbcc.org.

Make sure you ask these questions: How do you charge? Are you a national certified career counselor? Are you a member of a national or state career counseling professional association? What special training do you have?

The Dallas Morning News

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