What is career coaching?

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Career coaching can help you to unlock options if you're wanting to change roles or even your whole career, but you don't know where to start. Unfortunately, I don't have a magic wand to tell you what you should be, or how you can get there, but depending on where you are on your career change journey, I have a range of tools to help you to consider and narrow options, test the water, and take the plunge.

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What typical topics do you see in career coaching?

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My clients often come to me with a quiet sense of unfulfillment, or a feeling of being rudderless.

 

Sometimes, they started their career on a particular trajectory, and they feel it's no longer the right pathway for them. Others want to see if the career they dreamed of as a child might still be a possibility for them. Some are looking for a better work-life balance, or to combine several passions into a portfolio.

 

Some are crystal clear in what they want to achieve next; others are at the very beginning of their exploration, and therefore a little woolly. That's fine - I'm very used to helping people unravel their thinking!

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"Sarah was my coach over a period of several months and I would not hesitate to recommend her services. I found Sarah to be methodical, professional and highly skilled as a coach. But, more importantly, I also found her to be kind, warm, funny and an exceptional lister. I learned a huge amount during the process of working with Sarah, where she was able to coach me on a number of professional and career-related issues, always taking a holistic approach to various discussion points. I was able to navigate some particularly challenging work scenarios thanks to Sarah's coaching."

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How can I get the most out of coaching?

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Because of its nature, coaching relies on both of us to bring our energy, motivation and commitment. I can't wave a magic wand for you (as much as I would like to!), so you'll need to engage in the process and make time to work on the actions you set for yourself. We can discuss what's realistic in our sessions.

 

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Where will coaching take place?

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Normally, we'll have coaching online via MS Teams. I'm based in South Manchester, UK, and if you're nearby we can meet in your offices, grab a coffee, or even go for a walk. Travelling longer distances is possible where it suits us both.

 

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I have additional needs - how can coaching work for me?

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If you have any requirements which may aid your enjoyment and success with coaching (such as assistive technologies, interpreters, extra-long sessions etc), please let me know and we can work together make sure you get the most out of your coaching experience.

 

​I've coached people with a range of mental health conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression) and people who are neurodiverse (e.g. ADHD). I am not a counsellor, and coaching should never be used as a substitute for therapeutic or medical support. However, coaching can sometimes be a useful complement. We can discuss this in strict confidence.

 

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How many sessions will I need? How frequent will they be?

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With career changers, 6-12 sessions over 6- 12 months is usually enough to take you from your initial thinking and scoping phase, to being crystal clear about your next steps (and hopefully even have a new opportunity lined up!). Of course this varies depending on your context. We'll have an initial complimentary conversation and I'll develop a package that's bespoke to you, which takes into consideration the time and budget you're able to invest. 

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How do I get started?

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All good coaching relationships kick off with an introductory call. I'll ask you what you want to get out of coaching (don't worry if it's a bit woolly!), and I'll explain my approach. If we're a good fit for each other, I'll put together a package based on your needs.