The Relative Importance of Career Transition Coaching in Outplacement
By Helen Roditis, Certified Professional Co-Active Coach

Career transition coaching is earning its place in outplacement as the coaching profession gains popularity. This is good news for the employer and employees.

The Good News

For you, the employer – offering career transition coaching is:

1. Trust building
2. Socially responsible, and
3. Image enhancing

Why? Because current, former and potential employees know you care when you offer career transition coaching.

For your employees – receiving career transition coaching is:

1. Transformational
2. Emotionally supportive, and
3. Proactive

The Role of a Career Transition Coach

During a career transition, individuals gain the time and mental/emotional space required to reinvent themselves. With the help of a career transition coach, individuals get to know who they really are, develop a personal brand, and then go out to the job market. The role of a career transition coach is to bring out an individual’s best, and empower the individual to create a fulfilling career by seeking job opportunities and employers he/she is in alignment with.

The Coaching Process

Throughout the career transition period there will be moments of fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, relief and excitement. Having a certified coach to speak with one-on-one on a regular basis is essential. For example, I recently spoke with a former Marketing Director who has been unemployed for almost a year. While he had received an outplacement package that included the financial planning, resume writing, interviewing and networking workshops, he currently sees how important it is to have the regularly scheduled one-on-one coaching sessions and someone to talk to, as well. Indeed, a coach can help clear any emotions that are getting in a client’s way, and hold the client focused, accountable and in action. A coach can champion and cheer a client on when he/she hits a wall. This is particularly true for senior professionals who may take longer to find a suitable position. A coach will remind clients of their strengths when they need to hear it most.

I can site more examples. The message is the same. One-on-one career transition coaching is beneficial and in demand. There are those who have experienced one-on-one career transition coaching as part of their outplacement package and have gained pivotal insights from it. And, there are those who want this service as part of an outplacement package because they see the value in it.

Going Forward

Consider offering one-on-one career transition coaching as part of your outplacement package. For the coaching to be effective, the recipient must be a willing and committed participant in the coaching process. Empower your employees by offering them the option of one-on-one career transition coaching.

About the author: Helen Roditis is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Associate Certified Coach and member of the International Coach Federation. Her own personal experience career transitioning has her sharing valuable insights with her clients.

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