A grad career coach matches graduates with suitable jobs and industries based on their skill set, interests and values. They will then coach graduates in interview techniques and CV writing.
5 ways a grad career coach can help you find your dream job
The goal of a graduate coach is to pair you with your ideal career path and equip you with the skills, confidence and knowledge you need to access it.
Each with their own area of expertise across a wide range of industries, whether that’s legal, finance, marketing, tech and more, the benefits of grad careers coaches is that they are personal mentors who help you navigate the jobs market.
1. They will begin with the fundamental questions
A graduate careers coach will start from the beginning. The aim is to understand who you are, what makes you tick, where you want to go, and why. They will often ask questions like: What makes you want to do this job or enter this industry? What don’t you enjoy? What brings you happiness? What are you good at?
This approach means they get to know what works (and what doesn’t) for you individually, enabling them to get a good idea of the type of roles or industries you’d be suited to.
2. They will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses
A key part of the graduate coaching process is to identify both strengths and weaknesses. Not only from a professional perspective, but an individual one as well. Your grad career coach will also offer an outsider perspective on what you are good at and where you could improve, setting you up for both career and life success.
3. They will enable you to establish a great career path
After assessing your qualifications, passions, interests, strengths and weaknesses, they can help bring clarity to your career path and make suggestions based on their experience and expertise.
Understanding all these things before you start looking for a job will hopefully make it easier for you to identify roles that interest and challenge you – and find companies that have similar values to your own.
4. They can help you make connections and provide career insights
A grad careers coach knows interview processes and your chosen industry inside out. This will often mean that they know prominent or successful individuals in that field and so will be able to help foster meaningful, valuable connections that provide you with a ‘foot in the door’ and insider knowledge.
Don’t underestimate the power of networking – as a grad, it’s a good idea to do some networking of your own, too, whether that’s at events or on online platforms like LinkedIn.
5. Build your confidence and provide evergreen advice
The coaching experience will provide you with tangible, practical tools, such as interview techniques, CV writing and body language tips. You’ll often gain these via role play and feedback exercises.
A career coach will teach you about different platforms and processes. They’ll help you understand different organisational structures, established career paths and the market as a whole. This level of knowledge will help to build your confidence and overcome any worries that might get in the way of you finding your first graduate position.
Characteristics of a great graduate careers coach
A grad career coach needs to possess a varied mix of skills and qualities that help them nurture and support graduates to be the best they can be. These include things like communication, listening and observational skills, and a familiarity with the latest technology.
They should also have some specific sector experience in order to assist you with your chosen areas or industries of employment.
How to find a grad career coach
Finding a grad careers coach, particularly an online or virtual career coach, can seem like a daunting prospect. After all, how do you know who will suit you?
The best way to get an honest insight into whether or not a graduate careers coach is worth their salt is to take a look at their client testimonials and accreditations. For example, just some of the accreditations and memberships that our experts have include:
- Advanced Resume Writing Certified (ARWC)
- Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)
- Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD)
- Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)
- Certified Professional Coach (CPC)
To get a better idea of the value behind graduate career coaching, read about what other people have to say about their interview coaching experiences, and find out more about our graduate career coaching services.
You can also call +44 20 7100 6656 today or send an email to enquiries@citycv.com.