If you are new to job hunting or feel like you are just getting nowhere with your search, it might be a good idea to enlist the support of a career coach. A career coach can help you devise goals and offer advice and support on your resume, cover letter and your approach to job hunting. They can also help advise on any elements which might be affecting the success of your job hunt and potential obstacles to get over. There are many career coaches out there and before you spend your hard-earned money on one, take the time to ensure they will be the right one for you.

Research

With the help of social media platforms such as LinkedIn, you can research career coaches and check their recommendations. There are many people who will claim to be a career coach but will not have anything to back these up, so take the time to do your research. You can also ask your network if they can recommend anyone who might be suitable.

Experience

It is important to check that the career coach has relevant experience. You would expect a career coach to have worked in recruitment for a number of years or at least in a training, coaching role. If they don't have this type of experience, it is probably best to try someone who does. Otherwise, they won't be in the best place to offer you the right advice.

Consultation

Prior to signing up with a career coach, ask them if they will do a free consultation with you. A professional career coach will be happy to do this, so if they refuse, move along. It is important that the career coach has some insight into your industry and that you can build a rapport with them. If the connection is missing, you probably won't get much out of the career coaching. Everyone is different and we can't get on with everyone so make sure your career coach ticks the boxes for you.

Flexibility

You will only need the career coach for a specific amount of time until you feel ready to go at it alone, so your career coach should offer some flexibility. If they try to tie you into a set duration, this probably isn't going to be the best approach. The career coach should be able to offer flexibility to suit your needs.

Trust

Make sure your career coach is a trusted one as you will be letting them know private and personal information. You may want to take up references or have a look at their website and find out if they have any testimonials. The more information you have, the more informed your decision will be.

Price

The cost of the career coach is also an important factor to take into account. It might be worth researching prices online, to make sure you are getting a good deal. You can quite easily end up paying over the odds if you don't do your research.