It may be very much an employee market, but with the bevy of uncertain factors that has companies tightening up their hiring and trimming budgets, steering through the unpredictability could be a challenge for even seasoned professionals. That’s when a career coach can be your co-pilot.

According to data from iPec Coaching School, 1.5 million searches done every month by people and companies looking for life, business and executive coaches.

Brian Chambers is the president and managing director of Ensign Recruiting, a boutique recruiting firm with a speciality in career coaching. A 20-year recruiting veteran, Chambers added career coaching to his duties four years ago out of a desire to help clients find work.

“I’m an advocate of people putting in the effort themselves,” Chambers says, “But I don’t want them to miss out on opportunities when someone is there to help.”

Thinking about hiring a career coach? It may be a great idea if any of these reasons apply to you.

Finding options in a sea of few options
A career coach has the network to unearth positions in a field, IT for example, that’s leaning toward, well, being lean. “Where do I go if everyone’s laying off in this space, what are my options? It’s about guiding them toward opportunities that would be a good fit,” Chambers says.

Career transition, advancement or planning
Thinking about changing companies or industries? Are you ready for serious ladder climbing? Are you an ambitious planner with a long term goal? A career coach can help at any of these crossroads. 

In a rut
Often, professionals seek Chambers’ help because, although they are gainfully employed, they crave something different. “What can I do to find a career with more job satisfaction?” Chambers says of their thinking.

Getting back in the game
Returning to the workforce after a long absence can be difficult as trends, technology and market needs could have changed tremendously. Career coaches understand current conditions, what today’s employers seek and how to get on their radars.

Needing an agent
Many job candidates underestimate their potential and don’t move forward with opportunities they think would be out of their reach, and therefore miss out. “A career coach helps you sell what you’re good at and put you in the best light,” Chambers says.

Reality check
On the flip side, some candidates oversell themselves. Or, they restrict their search for a job that pays enough to maintain their standard of living. A career coach will be realistic. “Sometimes people from high paying jobs may need to take a dip if needed to get their foot in the door,” Chambers says.

Faster results
A career coach’s involvement likely leads to quicker placement. Hiring one can be pricey but if you’re out of work and having no luck, securing a paycheck sooner than later could outweigh the cost. “It could make the difference between a few weeks and a few months,” Chambers says.

Bigger network
If you don’t feel confident in the size or reach of your current network, a career coach will expand it by directly connecting you with hiring managers, companies and the best personnel.

New college grad
Chambers loves helping newly-minted graduates find their footing. “In the academic world, they paint this picture, all these doors open up, but that’s not always going to be the case. Career coaches provide a little more honesty in terms of what they can expect,” he says.

Motivation
For those starting out, a career coach can help navigate through any doubts or worries. Chambers says his role is multifaceted: Life motivator, inspiration and you-can-do-it person. “We all started there so it behooves us as experienced professionals to help those who are just coming in,” he says.

With so much to gain from a career coach, it just makes good business sense.

Georgann Yara is a journalist based in Phoenix. Find her on Twitter @georgannyara.

Photo by Sue Styles/Pixabay