Working professionals may find it difficult to chart a course through their careers. As a result, many people hire career coaches to provide them with the boost, inspiration, and guidance they need to develop professionally and reach their objectives. If you're considering investing in coaching for your professional development, it could be beneficial to familiarise yourself with the many options available to you. This article defines career coaching and identifies 13 distinct forms of career guidance.

What is career coaching?

One definition of career coaching is the process of working with an individual to determine their strengths and weaknesses in the workplace, and then developing and implementing a plan to improve those areas. To help their customers reach their professional goals, the many different kinds of coaches out there take a wide range of tactics. Many professionals find that they are finally able to reach their objectives after seeking and implementing career counselling services. Some instances of what can be achieved by professionals with the help of career counselling are as follows:

• Understanding and establishing career objectives

• Identifying particular professional needs

• Optimizing professional documents, such as resumes and cover letters

• Building the confidence needed to have a successful job search

• Engaging thoughtfully in interview processes

• Finding roles that suit specific interests and needs

• Applying for and securing a desirable role

• Developing the skills and strategies to network effectively

• Negotiating salary and compensation details successfully

• Honing the competencies needed to be a good leader

• Transitioning to a new role smoothly

• Pursuing professional development opportunities

• Learning new skills and specializing knowledge

13 types of career coaching to consider

Candidates interested in advancing their careers may wish to investigate the different career coaching options available to them. Here are 13 forms of coaching that could help you meet your objectives and grow professionally:

1. Career discovery coaching

Coaching in "career discovery" can aid people in identifying a field of work that is a good fit for them. These services are provided by coaches who aid applicants in clarifying their history, abilities, and aspirations. Here, coaches can direct candidates towards activities in which they excel and have fun.

2. Resume development coaching

A customised career coaching service, this helps job-seekers craft well-structured applications including resumes and cover letters. Professional resumes are difficult documents to produce, but coaches that offer resume development services may help. The act of applying for a job can also teach prospective employees how to improve their resumes.

3. Mentorship

A customised career coaching service, this helps job-seekers craft well-structured applications including resumes and cover letters. Professional resumes are difficult documents to produce, but coaches that offer resume development services may help. The act of applying for a job can also teach prospective employees how to improve their resumes.

4. Interview coaching

Coaching for interviews can provide job-seekers with the self-assurance and competence they need to shine throughout preliminary stages of the hiring process. To help job-seekers better articulate their skills and experience to prospective employers, facilitate interaction with interviewers, and keep their nerves in check, several businesses provide interview coaching services. Candidates may improve their ability to promote themselves in a professional setting with this guidance.

5. Job search coaching

Candidates may be better able to find suitable opportunities and expand their pool of available options with the help of job search coaching. Coaches in this field aid job-seekers by having them go over effective methods for finding work and reviewing relevant resources. Professionals may also receive help from job search coaches with other aspects, such as developing their resumes and cover letters, in order to increase their chances of being hired.

6. Networking coaching

Coaching in networking techniques can teach professionals useful methods for expanding their professional networks. Coaches that take this tack typically explain the value of networking to their clients and provide them with the skills necessary to make the most of the opportunity. Professionals can build stronger networks and find opportunities they might not have found without this help.

7. Salary negotiation coaching

Coaching for salary negotiations aids professionals in articulating their wants and achieving their goals. To better negotiate salary increases, promotion opportunities, and other career milestones, candidates may benefit from training from coaches that specialise in this area. Candidates may gain insight into their value from this and be in a better position to negotiate a salary that meets their needs.

8. Career development coaching

Professionals can benefit from career development coaching because it helps them identify opportunities for growth and enhance their effectiveness in their existing roles. Career coaches typically aid their customers in expanding their professional horizons, submitting applications, increasing their output, and even climbing the corporate ladder. In most cases, this is how experts like you can get the promotion you've always wanted.

9. Leadership coaching

Coaching of this sort may be useful for professionals who have recently been promoted or who wish to improve their leadership skills. Professionals can gain the confidence they need to properly manage their teams with the assistance of leadership coaches. By going through this procedure, inexperienced or hesitant leaders may be able to better assist their teams and propel the organisation forward.

10. Executive coaching

Coaching for executives can help them develop new skills and refine existing ones. This sort of coaching is regularly sought out by newly appointed executives as a means to optimise their attitude to work and build a good work-life balance. Executives may now function at peak efficiency and have a greater influence on their organisations from this vantage point.

11. Succession coaching

Succession coaching aids in the smooth introduction of organisational restructuring. These providers may aid in the creation and execution of transition plans for new leaders, their teams, and other internal stakeholders. As a result, businesses can keep their operations running smoothly and at a consistent pace by investing in succession coaching.

12. Team-oriented coaching

Coaching with a focus on the team can help professionals work together more effectively and establish stronger bonds. Team coaches can facilitate this by providing instruction in dispute resolution and laying the groundwork for consistent channels for providing and receiving feedback. With the help of these services, teams may be able to foster an atmosphere that promotes collaboration and increase their productivity.

13. Success coaching

People who feel stuck in their personal or professional life may benefit from this form of coaching. People who aren't happy with their jobs or their work-life balance may benefit from success coaching. Personal development strategies may be used by coaches to encourage their clients to go past their limitations and achieve their goals.