Career coach

Professional Career Guidance Tailored to You

The statistics are out there – and they are disheartening. According to Pew Research, more than 40% of Americans employed full-time view their current position as either a stepping stone to their ideal career or just a job to get them from day to day. In other countries, this percentage is likely much higher.

My question is, “Why?” What is it about your current situation or employer that holds you back from achieving your career goals? What steps could you take to overcome obstacles and get that promotion you have been wanting or break-in to that new industry?

Career Guidance Starts with a Growth Mindset

I truly believe that it is not how you work; it is how you think. This is a motto I live by and the inspiration for becoming a career coach. Every day, I work with talented mentees whose eyes light up when they get that call back from a hiring manager or invitation to apply at one of the top companies in their field.

Whether you are already working in your ideal industry or want to make a drastic change to a new career, working with a career mentor like myself can help you define your goals, discover your strengths, and develop solution-focused tactics to get you where you want to be in your career.

My Professional Journey

I feel it is important for you to know that everyone starts somewhere, including me. Personally, my wake-up call happened after I landed a leadership position after college. I had just earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Technology and, though I was excited to be a young professional leader, I quickly discovered that my passion and career were not aligned. I was miserable and desperate for a change. I was one of the aforementioned 40% of employees.

Armed with a willingness to think outside the box and the determination to take action, I made a few strategic career moves that led to meeting the right people at the right time. I discovered and developed my love for helping others achieve their dreams by becoming a career mentor. Today, I help young professionals do the same so that they can attain the career of their dreams.

What a Career Advisor Is (and Is Not)

This is not high school; there is no multiple choice assessment that will point you in the direction of your ideal career. We live in the real world and cookie-cutter solutions simply will not, well, cut it. A career coach is not someone whose sole job is to provide a simple “pep talk” before your next interview (although we do motivate you to take actionable steps toward your goal). It also is not someone who sources a list of potential jobs for you. Instead, a good career coach serves as a mentor who:

Takes time to discover your unique skill set and identify areas of opportunity

Reviews your educational and professional background

Learns your goals, concerns and previous roadblocks to professional happiness

Works with you to establish measurable goals to be completed on a set timeline

Develops a solution-focused plan with actionable tasks designed to streamline your journey

Offers career guidance at every stage of the process

Provides ongoing support and mentorship throughout your career

Working with a professional career coach means that you have someone in your corner who knows what it takes to get you where you want to be and will guide you every step of the way. As one of my mentees recently said, “Every time I come to see you, you tell me the exact thing that gets me to the next level.” And that is what I feel being a career mentor is all about: helping you make progress quickly.

Sculpt Your Professional Journey: How I Operate as a Career Counselor

As a career mentor, I am often asked questions like, “Won’t getting a new job make me feel better?” or “All I need is a career advisor to tell me which field to be in and I’ll be ready to move on, right?” For individuals who are unhappy in their current role or struggling with unemployment, it is tempting to think simple job searches will get you out of a rut.

Unfortunately, even if you find a different or new job, you may end up jumping from one fire to another, i.e. your next position will leave you just as unsatisfied as your current. As a career advisor, I treat each new mentee as the unique professional they are. My 5-step process is central to providing services as a career counselor, but I also keep an open mind and tailor my approach when needed.

In general, I follow the five steps below when I begin working with a young professional who is seeking career guidance:

Discover Your Purpose. When I first begin working with someone, I take off my "career counselor hat" and simply listen. I listen to where you've been, why you've sought out a career advisor, and what you hope to get out of the process.

When I first begin working with someone, I take off my "career counselor hat" and simply listen. I listen to where you've been, why you've sought out a career advisor, and what you hope to get out of the process. Evaluate and Establish Goals. Then, I evaluate your career history and compare it with where you want to be. As a career coach, my job is to make the connection between where you've been and where you want to go. Then, I work with you to establish goals designed to get you there.

Then, I evaluate your career history and compare it with where you want to be. As a career coach, my job is to make the connection between where you've been and where you want to go. Then, I work with you to establish goals designed to get you there. Optimize Experience and Talent. In my experience, a good career counselor can take elements of your professional history and strategically apply them to your goals. Even if you're in the process of making a drastic career change, you have promotable skills that can help you land your dream job. It's my job, as your career mentor, to find them.

In my experience, a good career counselor can take elements of your professional history and strategically apply them to your goals. Even if you're in the process of making a drastic career change, you have promotable skills that can help you land your dream job. It's my job, as your career mentor, to find them. Build a Professional Network. As someone who wishes they had a career advisor on their side years ago, I understand the importance of building a professional network. You simply never know which opportunities, skills, and experiences will come your way when you maintain working relationships with other professionals (even if they are not in your same industry).

As someone who wishes they had a career advisor on their side years ago, I understand the importance of building a professional network. You simply never know which opportunities, skills, and experiences will come your way when you maintain working relationships with other professionals (even if they are not in your same industry). Complete a Professional Plan. An important part of the career guidance process involves looking at the big picture. Yes, we will create small goals along the way, but ultimately those goals must be aligned with long-term plans. I work with you to identify your long-term, say 10 or 20-year career goals, to ensure your progress ultimately gets you where you want to be once you've gained deep industry knowledge.

Get Started Today

If you dare to dream, dream big. There is no time to waste on tasks that will not produce results. My name is Bini Lemma Teklehaimanot, and I help young professionals like yourself explore their unique set of talents, cultivate professional relationships, and develop strategies designed to land the career they have always wanted. Contact me today to schedule a personalized consultation packed with valuable career guidance you can begin to use immediately.