Blog Post: Arizona Mature Workers - Counselor or Coach? You Make the Choice!

Ms. Joyce Finkelstein, Work / Life Coach and Mediator, and resident of Green Valley, Arizona

Mature Workers -- Counselor or Coach?  You Make the Choice!by Ms. Joyce Finkelstein

Many of us, as we go through transitions, seek out additional information or support.  Career Counselors or Job Coaches may be able to assist you.  I am hoping to provide you with some information about the difference between a Career Counselor and Coach.

First the disclaimer - have been a Career Counselor for over 20 years.   I earned a Masters Degree in Counseling with a concentration in Human Resource Development and have worked in the private sector, for non-profits and educational institutions, providing both Career Counseling and Human Resource services.   I have counseled individuals representing a multitude of demographics and ages.  For the past several years, I have also offered Work/Life Coaching, as well as resume writing and reviews and assistance in developing networking and interviewing skills.  I truly believe that I have helped others make significant differences in their lives.
 
Great - so what does that have to do with a Mature Worker or job seeker?

In general, a Career Counselor has an advanced degree in such fields as Counseling or Psychology. Many take a very “data-driven” approach, initially doing a psycho-educational interview to learn, among other things, educational levels, family dynamic, personal background and career aspirations.  They may then administer a series of personality and interest inventories and academic “achievement” scales.  (I also had a consulting psychologist administer an IQ test.)  They take the information from these scales, in consultation with the client, to determine those types of occupations most in line with the client’s achievement levels, personality and interests.  They then work with the client to fashion a path to achieve the identified goals.  Depending on a number of factors, this process may take weeks or months.

Job Coaches tend to offer different types of services.  Educationally, many have advanced degrees, but it is also likely that they have experience in human resources, business or communications.  They can assist clients in identifying the attributes that they “bring to the table”, what I call your “Skills Portfolio,” and how those skills can be used in new ways or in new industries or organizations.  Many are very good at helping clients to revamp their resume, updating clients’ networking skills and making them more appealing to perspective employers.  A good coach serves as a sounding board and will provide that extra support that even motivated individuals need to achieve their goals. 

Which is right for you?  Are you looking for a new direction or to polish what you already have? Are you self-motivated or do you need a push from time to time?  Consider your timeline, your goals and your needs.  Ultimately, the decision is up to you.  Keep in mind though what I would tell clients when they say that they are too old or that it would take too long to return to school or to do some retraining - How old will you be in five years if you don’t do it?

Good Luck!

We invite you to visit the Arizona Mature Worker Website, hosted by Jobing.com, at www.azmatureworkers.com  Check it out today!