When you need a career coach

The economy is tanking and plenty of people are being laid off. Unemployment is at a 16-year high, and it's time to call in a career coach to help you snag that job. Career coaches can help job seekers distinguish themselves in a crowded market. They can help them mine the hidden job market and help job seekers articulate their strengths and passions.

Will it work for IT jobs? Absolutely, and it may be the best way for a job seeker to distinguish himself or herself from the crowd.

"As soon as the economy started tanking last September, the [coaching] industry experienced a couple of weeks of quiet, but then the floodgates opened in November, December and January," says Kim Batson, a certified career management coach who works with IT leaders. "Because a lot of people have either been laid off or they want to prepare themselves in case something happens, we are seeing an uptick [in demand]."

Here are some signs you are ready for a career coach:

You're looking for a new job and sending out résumés, but your efforts are not bearing any fruit.
You need help crafting a resume or cover letter and figuring out how to present yourself in a job interview.
You need help distinguishing yourself from other job candidates.

A career coach will never come from behind the curtain, but he or she will help you present yourself as the best candidate for the job.

For more on using a career coach:
- check out this CIO.com article [1]