Q & A on Career Coaching

(Article originally printed in the December 2007 issue of Women in Development, New York Newsletter)

by Filomena Machleder, Partnership Relations Manager, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation

In its continuing efforts to support members’ professional growth, WID recently conducted an interview on career coaching with Karen Caruso, who has a long history of advising individuals on career planning and job search strategies.

WID:  What is the purpose or role of a career coach?

CARUSO:  The coach’s role is to enable their client to plan and manage their career, so they can reach their work – and life – goals.  This could entail embarking on a new career, changing jobs or improving their effectiveness and satisfaction in their current situation.

WID:  Why do people hire a career coach?

CARUSO:  While people hire a coach for a variety of reasons, the common thread is their desire for support and guidance in navigating a transition.  Change is scary, whether you’re looking for a new job, weighing a new career direction, re-entering the workforce or deciding to open your own business.  Regardless of the situation, the coach’s primary concern is to enable the client to achieve clarity on their goals, and to provide them with the tools and build their confidence so they can achieve them.

WID:  How does the career coaching process generally work?

CARUSO:  Although the process should be tailored to the needs of each individual client, following is a general framework that I use:

  • Discussing clients’ career goals, work history and personal information.  As a career does not occur in a vacuum and is just one aspect of a person’s life, gathering this information provides a clearer picture of the client and the context for their decisions.
  • Guiding them in defining their “ideal job” – title, responsibilities, organizational mission, salary/compensation package, type of boss, number of staff supervised, location/length of commute, opportunity to telecommute, etc.  Clients need to know what they’re looking for before they can find it.

These first two steps are critical, as they provide the structure from which the rest of the process unfolds, as follows:

  • Recommending resources for career and job searches, not only for job hunting purposes, but also for clarifying their ideal job.  For individuals who need additional help focusing on a particular career path, vocational testing (e.g. Strong Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) may be advisable.
  • Reviewing and critiquing resumes, cover letters and related correspondence.  For all of these, less is truly more.
  • Providing tips for networking and information interviews. 
  • Coaching clients on interview preparation and negotiation of compensation packages.
  • Supporting and counseling clients as they explore opportunities and evaluate whether a particular job offer is an appropriate fit.
  • Coaching clients to ease transition and bring them up to speed quickly on their new job.

WID:  Do you have any career advice for our members?

CARUSO:  First and foremost, do work that you’re passionate about.  If the mission does not grab you, don’t go there.  You’re the face of the organization to potential donors, and they need to sense your commitment and excitement.

Second, keep your resume to the point, no more than two pages.  It should be a summary of your major accomplishments, not a job description, and should show quantifiable results.  Update your resume before you need it, and keep track of your achievements in each new position.  Also, details that are not included on your resume can be good anecdotes for an interview. 

Third, pay attention to how you are treated on an interview, because this is the prospective employer on their best behavior.  And remember…you’re interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. 

And finally, build your network before you’re in the market for a job, and continue to nurture it once you land that great new position.  WID is just one of many great vehicles for doing so, whether you do lunch, join a committee or help out with an event.

As President of Caruso Consulting Corporation, Karen Caruso provides fundraising counsel to nonprofit organizations and career management services to individuals in transition.