Your resume IS critical to standing out, but that's only taking a baby step towards finding a job successfully. 

So many job seekers believe that if they just have a good resume that it will act as a magic bullet and get them interviews (and thus job offers).

As a Life, Business and Career Coach, I know that one of the hardest steps in the process is determining if it’ll actually be worth it for job seekers when it comes to career coaching, especially when not earning a paycheck.

It seems counterintuitive to spend money at the precise time when you need to be saving it. So, instead, you push forward on your own hoping things will work out, and get frustrated and drained if they don’t.

While working with a career coach may not be for everyone or for every search, if you’re struggling and have had no luck for months, you need to take action and get the professional help you need.

Do I need a Career Coach?

Only you can make this determination, but in my experience, hiring a qualified coach can help you to land a new job faster than going it alone if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You’ve not been in a job search for a long time.
• You're still relying on the "old way" of completing your CV, without realising the devastating impact this will have on finding a job successfully.
• You are over 50 and unaware of "age discrimination" in finding a job.
• You’re looking to make a significant career switch.
• You don’t have a strong network and applying online is your primary strategy.
• You haven’t updated your resume or LinkedIn for a few years.
• You’re still exploring and don’t have a clear target or career goal.
• You’re running “from” versus running “to” a new opportunity.
• You’re in a negative place due to chronic unemployment or a difficult exit from your prior company.
• You’ve been searching for a few months and not getting any invitations for a job interview.
• You consistently make it to the first interview, but never the second.

These are just a few of the reasons you might consider hiring an experienced coach, but many professionals who aren’t facing these challenges can find benefit from working with an objective partner during their transition, so it’s worth thinking about.

Sometimes a few simple strategy tweaks may be all you need to bust through what’s blocking you and generate new leads and interviews.

Original article: https://annverster.com/f/do-i-need-a-career-coach-to-find-a-job