Making the Most of Career Counselors
and Coaches
by
Marty Nemko © 2006
You’ve chosen a career counselor or coach. Now, how do you make the
most of the sessions?
1. When you set your first appointment,
ask if there’s some homework you could do in advance of the session.
(I send my new clients a probing new client questionnaire.)
2. Ask if you can tape record the session.
You’ll find that you’ll get more out of listening to the tape than
from the session itself. That’s because, at home, you have more time
to reflect on the questions, you’re not trying to impress the
counselor with your answers, and you can play the tape for another
person who might offer a useful perspective.
3. Be concise, even in answering
open-ended questions such as, “Tell me about yourself.” Practice the
traffic light rule. During the first 30 seconds of an
utterance, your light is green. Your counselor is paying attention
and what you say is probably important. During the second 30 seconds
of an utterance, your light is yellow. Your counselor is
increasingly likely to be getting bored and what you say is less
likely to be important. At the 60-second mark, your light is red.
Yes, there are occasional times you’ll want to run a red light, but
you’re usually wise to stop or ask a question.
4.
Open up. As mentioned above, it’s natural to want to come off as
smart and together. But if in fact, you don’t understand something
that’s said, or you’re really a basket case, tell your counselor or
coach. Otherwise, he’ll proceed on false assumptions, which will set
you up for failure. For example, if he gives you a homework
assignment, and in your heart of hearts, you know you’ll
procrastinate it, by all means, say so. The counselor will change
the assignment or better help prepare you for that assignment. For
example, if a counselor asks you to make 20 cold calls to
prospective employers and that terrifies you, say so. He’ll role
play with you, perhaps even write a script for you, or urge you to
practice first with a trusted friend. But if you simply nod and
accept the assignment, you’ll likely not do the homework and return
to the next session with your tail between your legs, or cancel the
session and stay stuck.
5.
Be open to the coach’s or counselor’s ideas. Many clients merely
want their own thoughts supported, but chances are, if you picked a
counselor you like and who specializes in your situation, her views
are worth serious consideration. Of course, don’t be afraid to raise
a concern about a suggestion if you have doubts about it.
6.
End the session by summarizing what you got out of the session and
then asking the counselor/coach if you missed anything.
7.
Ask for concrete homework. Yes, you should be doing work between
sessions.
8.
Before starting the homework, listen to the tape, perhaps with
someone you trust. Take notes. Perhaps revise the homework based on
what your heard. After all, this isn’t like school, where you have
to do what the teacher says. Here, you’re in charge. But then do
that homework.
9. If after listening to the tape, you’re unhappy
with the counselor/coach’s work, decide whether you think offering
feedback will likely result in a good-enough second session, or
whether you should cancel and find another counselor/coach.
Remember, if you google “career coach” or “career counselor,” you’ll
find hundreds of career pros’ websites. And, you can always do
self-coaching or
co-coaching.
The San Francisco Bay Guardian named Marty Nemko “The Bay
Area’s Best Career Coach.” His columns and an archive of his
National Public Radio San Francisco show plus excerpts from his
book, Cool Careers for Dummies,
which, in the Reader’s Choice Poll was rated the #1 most useful
career guide, are free on www.martynemko.com.
Copyright 2006 Marty Nemko, all rights reserved
