Career Coaching 101: Finding Clarity & Confidence in Your Next Move
By: Katy Byrtus, Sr. Recruiter
Picture this: you’ve unexpectedly found yourself on the job market, you can’t remember the last time you created a resume, and you’re just not sure where to start. A friend of yours suggested you connect with a recruiter, but you don’t really know how to answer the question of what kind of work you’re looking for. Who can you turn to?
Good news! Career coaching is an excellent place to get your job search plan in place and help prepare you to speak with recruiters, hiring managers, and those in your network about your search.
Think of these coaches as someone in your corner that’s not only knowledgeable about the job market, but also understands you, where you’re coming from, and helps you identify what it is exactly you’re looking for and how to communicate your value for those opportunities you’re going for.
While recruiters are a great tool in the toolbox for your search, they aren’t necessarily there to help you define what you’re looking for or assess what you’re qualified for. That’s where a career coach can come in, though! You might think of a recruiter as a professional matchmaker, helping connect companies to candidates for their open roles.
Who is Career Coaching for?
Career coaching is for anyone and everyone! The career coaches here at HR Annie specialize in supporting you along your job search, providing practical tools, tips, and tricks to help you get to where you’re headed.
Plus, you’ll get insider advice from recruiters who are actively hiring and who work with hiring managers and teams daily. If you’re feeling stuck in your search or aren’t even sure where to start, we can help!
Career coaches can help:
- New graduates who are unsure how to translate their education into a career path
- Career changers looking to pivot industries or roles
- Mid-career professionals feeling stuck or unfulfilled
- Job seekers re-entering the workforce after a break, like caregiving or a relocation
- Executives or leaders seeking clarity on their next move or leadership development
Whether you’re launching your career, navigating a transition, or aiming for a promotion, career coaching meets you where you’re at and can help you move forward with clarity and confidence!
What is Career Coaching for?
In addition to providing practical advice, career coaching also helps build confidence, uncover gaps in understanding, and teach applicable skills for your job search.
Growing up or in school, when do we ever learn how to search for, apply for, and interview for jobs? Never, but now is the time.
Coaching can help you clarify your career goals and the value you bring to an organization by creating or refining your personal brand, perfecting your resume for the roles in which you’re applying, leveling up your LinkedIn, and crafting an elevator pitch that packs a punch.
Coaches can also help you practice and prep for upcoming interviews and salary negotiations, provide tips for networking strategically and building meaningful professional relationships, and are excellent accountability partners in your search!
It’s not just about getting a job; it’s about finding the right job for you, where you can show up as your best self. Think of coaching as your personal roadmap builder, helping you navigate the job market with purpose and direction.
Where & When Does Career Coaching Happen?
Here at HR Annie, most of our sessions are virtual and can accommodate those with busy work schedules, offering time outside of the 9 to 5, if needed. If time allows, we’d love to meet you in person if you’re local to Portland and looking for that!
We are flexible for what your needs look like, and outside of one-on-one sessions, we occasionally provide group workshops and learning events, and can provide support over email to review resume edits or provide insight outside of scheduled sessions. No matter where you are, we can meet you there, both literally and figuratively.
Why Would I Want it?
Today’s job market is tougher and more competitive than ever. As recruiters, we are experts at hiring and have the insider track of what hiring managers are looking for in candidates, and we’re eager to share it with you in a coaching capacity!
Coaches help you save time by avoiding common job search mistakes, gaining clarity on what roles align with your strengths and values, crafting strategies to stand out in a crowded applicant pool, and leveraging insider knowledge from recruiters who know what hiring managers want.
We help you to feel supported and less isolated in your search, providing encouragement and perspective.
In today’s world where job searching often feels overwhelming and impersonal, career coaching brings strategy, clarity, and a human touch. You don’t have to navigate this alone; coaching brings clarity, encouragement, and a plan.
But don’t take it just from us, here’s what a recent coaching graduate shared after landing their new role:
“My coaching sessions with Katy at HR Annie were tremendously helpful in my job search process. Not only did the sessions provide resources and insights into best practices for the job search, but I also found them a helpful source of motivation to stay on top of my goals. Katy was excellent at hyping me up, helping me acknowledge my career strengths, and encouraging me to reach out and expand my network.”
Curious to learn more? Reach out today to book a free, introductory call with one of our Coaches and Sr. Recruiters, Katy Byrtus:
