Any experience with career coaches? Would they help me?

[Fireyflies]

I'm facing redundancy from a small organisation in a very specialised role. I'm 52, and had not seen this coming - I'd expected to stay in this role until retirement. I could afford to retire early, and had planned to do so at some point - but wasn't expecting to do so quite yet. Finding a new role seems daunting, there are limited similar roles and I've not always enjoyed large corporates (which is where most of those roles would be). Considering freelancing, but less confident on the sales and networking angle. Also considering a total change to pursue hobbies and interests in a paid or unpaid capacity.

Has anyone used a career coach in similar situation? Could they help me figure out my next steps?

these days id only use free ones, there are websites and now with ai you can copy and paste your cv and use that and so on, theres a few main job sites or use the direct company sites for different roles

basically start updating your cv, generall two pages or more if needed
then join a site eg glassdoor

then read though different roles for your skill set and area and then begin applying for different roles

It depends what you want

When you have a big shift happening and you need some external help / space to process it or nudge to change mindset and have someone hold you to whatever you said you would do it can be really helpful

I would suggest you ask the company to pay for it as part of your package perhaps 4-6 sessions max (as also want to give yourself a deadline to move on)

I had initial chats in person with a couple, one I gelled with but she was nearly £300 quid a session so I am slogging it out alone for now as I'm in a similar position to you.

Following with interest.

Thanks. Am aware it's possible to ask the company to pay (they might). £300 a session sounds a bit steep though!

I worked with a brilliant coach for 6 months after redundancy two years ago. She really helped me to figure out what I wanted, what I was good at and how to pitch myself. She came highly recommended from other women. Not cheap but a worthwhile investment and she has a brilliant network of women she had worked with and links us all up when useful. I found the support really helpful.

I think mine were £250 a session and that was probably 4-5 years ago, so £300 if it clicks for you is not unreasonable

I had access to a career coach as part of my redundancy package. He was not great. However, I used one some years earlier at reduced rates through my union, and he was much more useful.

It now appears there are some local projects via the job centre, as mine has referred me to one for free interview coaching. For women only too. I'm not sure if it's useful, but will give it ago and report back.

Hi, I hope you don’t mind me asking — what was it that you felt was missing from the career coaching? You mentioned it wasn’t particularly helpful, and I’d be interested to know what you would have found more useful or what you felt you needed at the time.

Career coaching is going to look at things like:

• What are your current qualifications and skills?
• What things do you like doin, what are you goid at? *What things do you really not want to do?
• Do you have any limitations in terms of physical ability, location, language, etc?
• Are you prepared to, to get other qualifications,?
• What financial risks can you take? Do you have dependents to support? Do you have a financial cushion of any sort? What are your financial commitments and what income is the minimum you need to cover things?

Another of things you can think about by yourself, and then once you've got to a point where you're thinking, I want to move into some sort of art education/animal rescue/high finance/whatever, then you could find a career coach can help you refine the details of how to get there. I think it helps to have some sort of goal, rather than a vague, "I need a change, but I need money coming in."

I’ve am your age have recently had one session with a career coach and have another scheduled.

I used AI for some coaching to begin helping me clarify my own life goals and values.

I then engaged a coach to help me wade through the options, gain clarity around what matches best then make a plan to get there.

Based on what my coach has shared, this process ends up going beyond career and into whole life.

I am interested to hear more about what others have experienced.

I have twice and it was part of my redundancy package each time.

The first one was great.
The second one was ok but nowhere near as good.

The one I found good rewrote my CV for me, pulling out some USPs,
and helped with focusing on my strengths.

You need to have a good rapport with the coach. The first coach was quite firm but fair.

With the second one, I felt like she was only doing it for the money.

There were things like training and group sessions and those were good, but again, the first one was far better than the second.

Could I ask which AI you used? It's the big questions of what I want to do and whether to work at all I need to figure out first I think. More specific ones around how to get there would be later

I used co-pilot but any of them will do for this.

My questions are very similar to your own. Do I continue in current role, ask for part-time, look for another role or consider consulting. Lifestyle, personal goals, aging parents who live far away are all factors.

I asked it about what coaches do and even what I could get out of AI vs a personal coach, also. I don’t need resume help, but big picture strategy and goal setting.

It’s expensive but my first session was really eye opening. And amazing to have some one truly interested and curious to talk with me about my career and life. I’m working with a woman my age who has a li bf history in a similar field. We are a good fit.

I’m the same age as you, and I’m currently going through a career transition. My employer paid for a career coach as part of my exit package. I couldn’t take the cash instead, so I decided to give it a try.
It’s actually been much more helpful than I expected. It’s helped me redefine who I am professionally and clarify what I want from the next stage of my career. I wouldn’t say it’s been life-changing, and I probably wouldn’t have paid for it myself—it cost around £4,500 for 10 sessions—but it has given me much more confidence in my abilities and in re-entering the job market.
If you’re genuinely unsure about what you want to do next, I do think it’s worth doing. That said, I’d definitely try to get your organisation to pay for it.

This isn't my understanding of career coaching at all which is more focused on a big shift that you didn't see coming, lots of people change sectors and need a lot of help with CVs, competencies, help with linkedin and interviews etc.

OP I'm seriously considering it as I think some professional help would be really beneficial.

I agree @aCatCalledFawkes . It's all good and well to say 'Use AI' or 'You could do that yourself', but I got insight and input that I'd not have used if I'd done that because I'd not have been objective. I'd compare it to something like hiring an interior designer instead of using AI/doing it myself.

I had pretty much as you describe in the way of advice from my sister last night. She’s seems to think I haven’t thought of AI or that I just needed a cheaper boost in moral. It’s so unhelpful when you aren’t the one going through it.

£300 or more per session is about right. I’ve had sessions with a career coach (family friend) who has her own business doing this for head teachers. I would say this. Be very clear what you’d like help with. Some are better than others.

@Fireyflies could you negotiate with your employer to fund a few sessions as part of your redundancy? Even if they pay for 4-5 sessions and you pay for any following that, it will be quite a help financially.

given you're at a tricky age in terms of securing new employment they may be able to justify it as part of your package.

Yes, I might try that. I had a go with copilot today (as someone up thread suggested) and actually found it surprisingly useful at helping me think through what I wanted in terms of redundancy/leaving arrangements, and also on figuring out next steps.

I hope you find the career coach helpful, @Fireyflies and you get some ideas on where you could take things forward from here.