Career coaching is an interactive process of exploring work-related issues — leading to effective action — in which the coach acts as both a catalyst and facilitator of individual and, in turn, organizational development and transformation. Career coaches connect people with their passion, purpose, values and other critical aspects of their ideal work. They help their clients learn to manage their own careers — whether they work for themselves or for an organization. This empowers the client as they face the typical 5-10 career changes in their life, so that they can continue to grow personally and professionally through their work. They also facilitate the client’s process of developing and implementing a job search or business start-up plan to activate the client’s Authentic Vocation™ 
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Career Coaches:
- Connect people with a deeper level of motivation than “just a job;” clients discover their passion and purpose to guide their decisions, empowering them to choose work they love, make a good living and still have a balanced life
- Distinguish themselves from career counselors and consultants by building capability in the individual client and getting results in real time, which leads to creating proficiencies, not just the ability to overcome deficiencies
- Probe for openings that lead to long-term developmental opportunities rather than providing just a “quick fix”
- Create effective coaching interactions by listening, providing feedback, asking powerful questions, and modeling
- Remove blocks to career progress, including such developmental needs as communication, interpersonal skills, lack of clarity, limiting beliefs, incomplete awareness of marketable skills, lack of purpose and more
- Improve clients’ ability to market and sell themselves in the job market regardless of economic conditions
- Increase individual potential for career growth and future earning power
- Assist clients in becoming “career self-reliant,” taking control and ownership of their own career development
- Enhance their clients’ job satisfaction through the discovery of their Authentic Vocation™
(Copyright © 2003-2005 Marcia Bench and Career Coach Institute; Reprinted with Permission by Trustworthy Coaching®. All Rights Reserved.)
