FAQ: Career Coach Advice

Though most of my executive coaching centers on leadership, authentic personal branding and thriving in the midst of office politics, I often support people in job search and career transition. When I am giving career coach advice, I often find some themes in the conversation around how to handle uncertainty and non-standard career challenges. Below I’ve outlined my core advice on the following:

• Career change
• Freelancing
• Entrepreneurship
• Joblessness/sabbatical
• Telling the story of your joblessness
• Retirement

These are some FAQ answers I like to have at the ready when these topics come up. Since I use these with clients, I include specific ways to use the InPower Career Coaching Library to address these issues, which is references.

Q: Changing Careers: What career coach advice can I think about when considering changing careers?

Changing careers by going into a new field of expertise or industry is pretty common and many of us do it at least once over the course of our working lives. While it’s not true that whenever you change careers, you always “take a step back,” it certainly can be true that many of us “go sideways” in order to pick up experience, knowledge or connections we don’t have in a new industry or functional area. So how can you increase your chances of making “a step forward?”

If you’re going to change careers, it’s important that you have some evidence of related interest, if not outright experience in your new field. If you know this change is something you want to do in the future, you can use volunteer positions and certifications to gain experience to (1) confirm to yourself that you’re going to enjoy the change and (2) gain work product, references or knowledge you can use to demonstrate your competence during the job search process.

The most important thing to keep in mind if you’re changing careers is that you are building on something in your past and you need to make that explicit during your job search, in your networking intentions, your profile, your resume and your interviews. For example:

• If you’re a legal assistant moving into an editorial position, you emphasize your experience proofing, editing and writing legal briefs and writing the firm’s newsletter (yes, legal writing isn’t the same, but you can provide writing samples of blogs you wrote for a environmental non-profit and other things you’ve written to show your versatility)
• If you’re going from marketing professional services/consulting to marketing biogenetic research and development services, you can emphasize the fact that you’ve marketing many different kinds of products and services over the course of your career and can learn the unique aspects of this industry just like you learned technology after starting your career in retail.
• If you’re going from plant operations to project management in manufacturing, take a community college class or get a certification in project management before you put your resume out.

In addition to making the effort to gain experience and credentials that will support you in the job search, it’s important that you find the specific skills and experiences that transfer from what you’ve done to what you want to do and believe that they qualify you for your new role. If you believe you’re qualified for your new opportunity you’ll increase the chances others will believe it too. Be prepared to find a way “in” to the new career that you weren’t really expecting. It may take you one or two jobs to find your niche in the new field, but set your intention on getting what you want most so that you’re more likely to get as close as possible the first time.

When in your career is the easiest time to make the change, earlier or later? Any time you want to make the change, you can find a way to do it. At each stage in your career, you have something to offer. Find it and leverage it. When you’re young you have enthusiasm to make up for a lack of experience; when you’re older you have wisdom.

How can the resources in the InPower Career Coaching program help you? The process of looking for a job during a career change is essentially the same, but consider making these adjustments in how you use the materials we provide you:

• When creating your Career Intention be sure to identify ways both your current experience and the experience you will gain through the career move will help you achieve it.
• When researching your perfect job and networking focus on understanding exactly which of your experiences and strengths will be most valuable in the new career direction.
• When putting your LinkedIn profile and resume together, and interviewing, be very clear about highlighting which skills and experiences you believe make you most valuable in your new career area.

What are your thoughts and questions? Comment below!

Q: Freelancing: What should I think about if I’m interested in going into Consulting or Contracting?

The lure of flexibility, gaining “control” over your life and the promise of more potential income from lucrative contracts makes being a 1099 contractor very appealing. Consulting is a great way to understand your own value in the employment marketplace and can deliver exactly the flexible lifestyle you want, but it also comes with income risks that are hard to predict and even harder to manage.

To be clear, when you’re consulting or contracting, you’re being paid for your time and effort. This is distinct from entrepreneurship where what you’re selling includes the time and effort of other people, resources (e.g., subcontractors) or products you’ve invested in creating. By contrast contracting and consulting means you’re working for a client without employee status, usually on a limited time basis (e.g., hourly as-needed, 3 months half time, 5 days a month etc.)

How should you determine what rate to charge? Do the following analyses, in this order:

• Determine how much you need to make in order to cover your expenses and savings requirements in a year’s time (be sure to factor in the cots of things an employer would otherwise cover such as insurance and assume a higher tax rate which you’ll pay as a sole proprietor). Divide this number by the number of days in the year you want to work and you have a daily rate. Divide this number by the number of hours in those days and you have an hourly rate. Now play with these numbers on the assumption you won’t be working full time for all those days. This will drive your potential fees up—potentially beyond what you can command in the market–but it’s important for you to understand the relationship of your rates to your living expenses.
• Network with others who can help you understand how contracting rates work in your area of specialty. Do clients like to pay hourly? Daily? On retainer? Flat fee? What are considered the “high and low” rates in your field and how does this compare to what you calculated above?
• Take this information and develop a work plan. How many days/weeks/months of contracts do you need to meet your income goal? How many “flat fee” contracts at what size do you need? Imagine the kinds of contracts you may get and how they’d combine in order to meet your needs. This will give you an idea of what your contracting “life” might look like.

To reduce the potential income risk, here are some steps you should consider taking before you go this route:

• Have 3-6 months’ expenses put aside explicitly “to live on” in lean times (i.e., not in “savings” that you have allocated for other things)
• Talk to other people doing what you hope to do to understand the market for your services; what results are people looking for a contractor to produce?
• Take the time to figure out how you’ll position your value via your online profile and networking.
• Focus your attention on getting 1-2 “anchor clients” who will take the majority of your billable time, because you’re an extension of their staff (this will save you marketing time so your free time can be yours)
• Find several networking venues you enjoy and which allow you to meet potential clients and referral sources and plan to attend them regularly so you get to know people and build trust
• Be sure to understand the administrative requirements of contracting such as paying estimated taxes (since your clients won’t withhold taxes), bookkeeping to track expenses and produce invoices and obtaining your required infrastructure (e.g., technology and other tools you may need).

How should you use the resources in the InPower Career Coaching program to help you? Looking for contract work is a slightly different process than looking for a job but many of the same career coach advice approaches can help you:

• When creating your Career-Life Intentions and Personal Vision (Track 2) explicitly include the aspects of the lifestyle you’re seeking that a contractor position will afford you.
• When researching job opportunities and networking (Track 3) focus on understanding what people use employees for vs. contractors and consultants. You’ll be filling a different kind of need for them, so you need to understand what it is and how it’s distinct from why they’d hire an employee.
• When putting your online profile and resume together, and interviewing (Track 4 & 5), be very clear about highlighting your accomplishments, which are the kinds of things that they hire contractors to do. Contractors, even more than employees, are measured by their ability to produce results and your accomplishments are your best calling card to show you can do this.

Should you take a contract while you’re looking for employment? Short-term contracts can be a wonderful way to get income, network and build experience if you’re in a period between jobs. However, be careful not to fall into any of these traps:

• If you get a contract that requires you to work many hours, you may not have the time to search for a job
• If you have a contract where you’ve agreed to be available until a date certain you need to tell this to potential employers during your job search, which may limit their interest in you if they need you to start right away
• If you’re positioning yourself for contract work, it’s can confuse potential employers and visa versa so pick one (either contracting or employment) to present in your online profile.

In short, it’s best to choose to pursue either contracting or employment and look at opportunities in the other areas that are convenient or “fall in your lap.”

What are your thoughts? Comment below!

Q: Entrepreneurship: What should I think about if I want to start my own company?

The difference between contracting and becoming an entrepreneur is that in contracting you’re selling your time, and when you start a business, you’re building equity which will leverage the skills of other people and/or partners. Entrepreneurial pursuits require that you have a business model that does not rely on your personal time along to create value.

When you have a business idea you believe has potential, you need to develop a plan for how you’ll fund it. Here are some common models:

• Use savings or debt to pay your expenses while you build a product, service and revenue stream
• Find a client who will pay you enough to live and cover your expenses while you’re developing a product or service you can sell to others at a higher profit

There is much more to building a company than this, but if you’re truly interested in entrepreneurship, you should be able to answer “yes!” enthusiastically to all of these questions.

• Do you have a hard time thinking about anything else except your business idea?
• Are you ready to make life changes (e.g., reduce expenses, pass up vacations, work more than 40 hours a week, take financial risks) to pursue your business idea?
• Can you show your parents, partner or best friend a rough business case on the back of a napkin that they can understand and believe in for how you might be able to make a living with this business?
• Are you prepared to fail before you succeed?
• Do you know who your customer is and why they won’t be able to resist your product or service?
• Do you know who your competition is and how you’re different and why people would choose you over them?

How should you use the resources in the InPower Career Coaching program to help you? Starting a company is a different twist on the advice in this program but here are some ways to use the resources here to help you:

• When creating your Career-Life Intentions and Personal Vision (Track 2) include the different you want to make in the world through your business.
• When researching job opportunities and networking (Track 3) write your Perfect CEO job description and “give yourself that job.”
• Focus on developing your online profile (Track 4), and be very clear about highlighting the accomplishments in your work history online that will help clients, partners and investors believe you have the experience to make your business successful.

If you’re sure that entrepreneurship is for you, here are some basic resources to get you started.

• Entrepreneurship for Dummies by Kathleen Allen
• Go to your local Chamber of Commerce and ask about resources they have for entrepreneurs
• Check out local offices and online resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration

Q: Career Coach Advice for Joblessness: If I’m out of work should I take a Sabbatical or apply for Unemployment?

Taking a Sabbatical
The difference between unemployment and a sabbatical is that one is usually unintentional while the other is very much on purpose. Sabbaticals, whether funded or unfunded by an employer (through reduced salary or grant), are purposeful at the same time that they are designed to refresh you and give you a new perspective on whatever job you take on next.

Career coach advice when you need a break: think of a sabbatical as an investment in your next career experience.

Unless you’re in the ministry or academia, asking your employer for a sabbatical (even an unpaid one) is often an invitation for them to let you go, so don’t bring the subject up with them unless you’re ready for that outcome. On the other hand, for some situations a sabbatical can be exactly what you and your employer need.

If you’re thinking of taking time off for a sabbatical, whether someone else is covering some of your costs or not, you want to give yourself structure during the time so you don’t end up frittering the time away doing things that aren’t productive and moving you towards your objective. Even if you’re planning to fund it yourself, write a proposal for how you’ll use your time and what you’ll do. Share it with your partner and friends. Ask them to help you stay accountable to your plans. Be thoughtful about what “success looks like” for your time off and set an intention to help you focus.

Here are some good reasons to take a sabbatical:

• To write a book or do research that demonstrates and builds your expertise
• To take a unpaid or low paid volunteer leadership position that builds your resume
• To get a certification or degree that qualifies you to do the kind of work you want next in your career
• To decompress, rest and regain your health after a difficult time and/or overwork
• To travel and gain language or other skills that could help you in your next role
• To take an internship and learn skills you will use in your next role

How should you use the resources in this program to help you? If you’re planning to look for a new job at the end of your sabbatical, you can use the time away to go into Track 1 and Track 2 in greater depth. Here are some ways to use the other resources here to help you:

• When creating your Career-Life Intentions and Personal Vision (Track 2) think about how a sabbatical can help you fill gaps between where you are and your intention and vision for the next step in your career.
• When researching job opportunities and networking (Track 3) look for the kind of experience you don’t have that a sabbatical can help you get
• Focus on how to include your sabbatical time in your online profile and resume (Track 4) in a way that positions you well for the kind of position you’ll be going for next
• If you’re going to look for volunteer or internship positions during your sabbatical, use Track 2, 4 and 5) to practice the skills that will help you in your job search when your sabbatical is over.

The keys to a successful sabbatical are:

• Do it intentionally and with a desired outcome that you are proud to tell others about
• Include it in your online profile and cover letter to explain employment gaps in your resume and position it to help you gain greater credibility in your networking and job search

Taking Unemployment

***Note: in the time of COVID there may be financial advantages to taking unemployment in the short term, and any ‘shame’ concerns should be mitigated by the fact that many people who’ve never been unemployed in their life are now on COVID-enhanced unemployment.***

If you find yourself unemployed and are looking for employment, most of this site’s resources will help you. However, you should also consider the following:

• If you were laid off from a full time job through no fault of your own, you may qualify for unemployment benefits—research your state’s rules to see if you qualify
• Being laid off and unemployed does not have the stigma with it that it used to, but you should make “looking for a job” your full time job so plan to spend time every day “working” at the job search

You have several choices for how to represent your unemployment status in your online profile and resume. You can include “seeking employment” in your online profile and/or put your current job as “consulting,” however you should realize that most recruiters will know this means you’re unemployed. If you want it to appear as a true work activity, be sure to list accomplishments for your consulting period which are real clients (as you may be asked for one of them as a reference.)

Most importantly, take steps to manage your stress and know that as long as you’re “doing the work” to find a new job, staying positive and being flexible about what kind of job you’re willing to accept, you’re likely to find work. Be realistic about your financial situation and scale back your expenses until you land your next opportunity.

Also, remember that if you qualify for unemployment you will need to demonstrate that you’re making the effort to get a job by applying and going on interviews. This can take time so make sure to plan for it.

And… good luck!

Q: Resume: How should I put my “time away” on my resume?

There are all kinds of good reasons we have to take time away from our careers. Caring for others, recovering from physical, emotional or mental stress and opportunities to grow* are all good reasons to choose not to work. But when you decide to reenter the workforce, you must understand that your potential employers need to understand your time away, and if possible, how it grew you into a better candidate for the position for which you are applying. Here’s my career coach advice for addressing this in your job search.

Telling the Story of your “Time off”

For this reason, you need to put together your “story” in a way that is empowering to you, and informative to them. Your “story” is not fiction. It’s an authentic-to-you narrative explaining the why, what and how of your time away, crafted to support your job search. Answer the questions below to help you craft your story to be most empowering, truthful and useful in your job search.

• WHY: What reasons did you have for taking time off that show your good judgment? How will you exercise similar good judgement in the job?
• WHAT: What kinds of experiences did you have in your time off that give you greater insight, knowledge or perspectives that will help you be successful in the job?
• HOW: How did you actually spend your time “off work”? Did you pick up any skills and strengths that can help you be successful in the new job?

How Should you Represent your “Time off” on your Resume and LinkedIn?

Everything on your resume and LinkedIn must be true. But  remember the objectives of these documents and adjust them accordingly. Your LinkedIn is designed to get them to contact you and/or validate the information they received from a referral or your resume. Your Resume is designed to outline your skills, experiences, work history and major accomplishments. Within the bounds of truth, you can do the following:

• If you need to “round up” on the dates you were away to minimize the time off, that’s fine, but keep the month/date accurate. (e.g., if you were employed through Feb 6, 2007 you can put your end date as March, 2007) 
• If you worked at all during that time, you can put “Consulting” or “Contracting” as a work activity, and you don’t need to qualify it as “part-time” in writing (you should be prepared to speak to it accurately in interviews and networking)
• If you were engaged in other professionally relevant activities during your “time off”, such as education, sabbatical or internships/apprenticeships, you can list this with the dates to make clear how you spent your time in between jobs

Staying Current

Depending on your industry and job category, things may have changed since you were last on the job market. Do your homework to come up to speed with what’s new so you can speak knowledgeably about trends and new developments. Be sure to look at all aspects of what may have changed:

• market conditions
• tools, techniques and technology
• best practices
• newest research
• industry trends
• language and jargon

It’s likely that you won’t have done work with all these “new” things, so how can you convince them you haven’t fallen behind? 

• Use Google and see what’s in the last 1-2 years’ news
• Show that you’re “in the know” by talking to people you trust who can bring you up to speed on the issues not always covered in a Google search
• Use the most current jargon – accurately
• Take some courses on Lynda.com or Coursera to learn and brush up on your skills
• Where possible, have some opinions about the latest developments
• Be honest about what you’d need to learn or brush up on
• Know what you’re looking forward to about working in the “new world” and be prepared to speak to why you’re excited to jump back in and rebuild your proficiencies

Should You Be Prepared to Take a Lower Level Job and “Work Your Way Back Up”?

Who wants to work back up to where you were? Sometimes you really have no choice, but don’t start there. Work to make your best case for why you should start where you were before, or even a step ahead! Depending on your industry, job, geography and luck, this may help you take a big step forward. At a minimum it will help you build your confidence. Go out in the job market and network and apply as though the gap in your work history wasn’t there. See what happens. If you’re not getting any nibbles or recruiters tell you the work history gap is a big problem, then you can consider applying for a job similar to your old one. Don’t plan to take a step back until you have no choice.

Should You Change Careers?

If you want to change careers, a work break can be a good time to do it. Your head is clear and you often have a fresh perspective on what you really want. 

That said, career change can be difficult so go in a new direction because that’s what you believe will make you feel more satisfied. There are as many ways to change careers as there are people, so don’t believe you must do anything. Follow your desires and be realistic about the challenges involved whether you change direction or not. 

Whatever you do when you’re considering jumping back into the work world from time away, don’t spend time with regret. Detrigger any negative feelings you have to help you move with positivity and focus.

Q: Retirement: Should I retire instead of getting another job?

If you have a retirement source of income and have reached your 60’s (when it becomes possible to claim Social Security in the U.S.) it’s worth going through the effort to see what your financial situation would be if you retired and whether that’s preferable to getting another job. Generally speaking the upside of retirement is that you have more time to spend doing things you enjoy (including working at jobs that wouldn’t pay the rent but do give you spending money), but the downside is that whatever retirement income you have will be fixed (i.e., no bonuses and minimal increases).

Here are some general resources to help you figure out if this is the right thing to do, but we highly recommend you talk to a personal financial advisor before taking this step, and research exactly what benefits you’re eligible for at your current age.

• Retirement AARP retirement calculator
• U.S. Social Security retirement estimator
• Retirement for Dummies

How should you use the resources in the InPower Career Coaching program to help you? If you’re planning to retire, many of the resources on this site will be of minimal value, however these should be helpful:

• Create a Career-Life Intention and Personal Vision (Track 2) for your retirement to help you define success at this point in your life.
• If you think you’d like to remain open for contracting or other professional opportunities, update your online profile and resume (Track 4) as a contractor (see separate section) so people looking at your profile will see that you’re still professionally active
• If you’re going to look for volunteer or internship positions during your sabbatical, use Track 2, 4 and 5 to practice the skills that will help you get the kind of position that you’ll enjoy.

Career Coach Advice Reading List

Here are some good blog posts to supplement the InPower Career Coaching program and to help you with other career coaching topics.

• Finding Your Career Intention
• Finding Your Dream Job
• 10 Biggest LinkedIn Mistakes
• 5 Tips for Networking Success
• Interview Advice: Am I more than what I do?
• How to Prepare for a Job Interview or Performance Review
• Why to Negotiate your Job Offer
• Salary Negotiations Tip

What do you think of this career coach advice? Do you have other tips and experiences to share? Leave your best advice in comments below!