Career coaching: the road to career satisfaction

By Tammy L. McIntyre, M.Ed.
Contributing Writer


At this point in your job search or career, you might be asking yourself, ”Should I seek professional help?” Most of the people I’ve spoken to over the past two years have been clients who have asked themselves this same question.

Coaching closes the gap between a client’s current situation and his or her desired state. It also holds the client accountable for his or her ongoing progress.

The most exciting part of my role as a career coach is helping my clients find that deep sense of career satisfaction that many people seek. This often happens during the mid-career period. When they find work that unites who they are with what they do, I call this their “Authentic Vocation” —it is what they are called to do.

I use the Authentic Vocation approach to helping my clients identify work that they are passionate about and would be willing to do for free. As a team, we explore the following eight factors in detail:

1. Life purpose: What is the core theme or message of your life?

2. Values: What matters most to you?

3. Motivators and interest: What motivates you to do something well?

4. Knowledge, skills and abilities: What do you know a significant amount about? What marketable skills have you developed that you enjoy using?

5. Work and other experience: What kinds of work experience have you had?

6. Job/career targets: What kinds of jobs or careers do you want to pursue next?

7. Work environment: What is the ideal setting and company environment for you?

8. Business reality: Are the options you have selected financially viable?
If you are struggling or at a crossroads in your career or job situation, working with a career coach can provide you with the support and direction necessary for identifying your ideal life work.

Tammy McIntyre is owner of McIntyre Employment Service, an agency providing individuals and small businesses with career development services. She welcomes reader responses to tammy@mcintyre-employment.com.