Here you’ll find a list of commonly asked questions and our answers.

We’re always open and transparent about how we work, how our coaching process works, costs, timescales etc.

The majority of questions revolve around one. Can you help me?  We’re always happy to give you an open and honest answer to that but for us to do that we need to talk. We’ll have an initial call to be able to answer that in more detail, and if it sounds like a good fit we’ll follow it by an hour session to scope out the work, configure your programme and match you to your coach.  All free and without obligation.

So, have a look at the FAQ’s and then why not give us a call or fill in the contact form. We look forward to speaking with you.

frequently asked questions

What is career coaching?

Career coaching is typically in two main areas. If you’re feeling stuck and have questions about what you want to do next or want to explore your options, then we cover this exploratory side. If you have clarity about what next or once we’ve helpy you gain that clarity, then we work on the implementation side, getting you from where you are now to where you want to be. This is typically a job move but could be a promotion or move into self employment.

What is career management?

Career management is about taking control of your career to proactively ensure that your career is meeting both your professional and personal objectives. Effective career management is built on firm foundations, so it is essential to have:  a clear understanding of your “career capital” i.e. your skills, experiences and potential; understand your uniqueness; the abiity to articulate this to others and to market yourself appropriately; have a plan and be able to implement it.

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Who is Personal Career Management’s career coaching for?

Our coaching programmes are for individuals interested in positively transforming their career. We’ve helped thousands of people with very different career challenges to improve their working lives and progress their careers. We work with individuals in the earlier stages of their career, through to senior level and the transition into retirement and anywhere in between. Our clients two common traits. They’re proactive and value the benefits of working with professionals to help them achive their goals.

Our career coaching programmes are tailored around your needs and we’ll will help you discover and play to your strengths, explore your options and market yourself confidently and persuasively so that you can move into the right role for you.

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How much does career coaching cost?

The pricing of our coaching programmes is dependent on the type of programme you are on. Our main coaching programmes range from £1,800-£6,000 where you’ll be working in depth with the support of your allocated coach. We also alternative self help options through our icareercoach™ online platform with prices from £48 per month for as long as you need. Get in touch with us today so we can find the best programme that meets your needs and budget.

Are there any guarantees? Will career coaching help me get the job I want?

We can’t make guarantees, as per best practice and the CIPD code.

To make this work it takes both your commitment and our expertise.

What we can say is you’re in the best of hands. You bring the enthusiasm and commitment, we bring the expertise, chances are you’ll achieve your objectives.

We are regarded as “the best in the business” with a 98% satisfaction rating from our clients.

We’ll also spend time with you free of charge and without obligation before we start, so we both can check that we feel we can help and you’re up for doing it.

What should I do if I am interested in career coaching?

If you are interested in career coaching, please call in to our Head Office on 01753 888 995. We will then ask for some details and arrange for you to have a free initial call with one of the team to find out more about your situation and requirements and give you an overview of how it all works. Provided it feels like a good fit, we will then arrange for your initial scoping out session to find out more about you and discuss how your coaching programmes would work for you. This meeting on Zoom is a free of charge, no obligation meeting.

Can Personal Career Management re-write my CV?

We don’t describe how we work as a CV service or that we’ll write your CV. However, any of our clients who need their CV working on, we’ll help.

A CV rewrite only works around the information already there. CV services are often using fixed templates many of which can cause more problems than they solve. People who come to us having used these types of services often comment how they dont feel the CV represents them as they haven’t really been involved in it’s development.

So how are we different and why will you get a better CV as a reul of working with us? We’ll spend the time needed to find out more about you and what’s not on your CV. We’ll check as well that the role you’re going for is the right role for you. By getting to know you we can help identify your uniqeness and may sure you’re able to articulate it on both your CV and Linkedin.

At the end of it you’re really trying to make a two page (more commonly) business case for the role and organisation that’s right for you, with the relavent evidence of why you’re a great fit. Not just a list of everytihng you’ve done in date order and a generic form.

Our book on CV’s is the number on CV book for good reason and working with one of our coaching team will take your CV to a differnet level.

What is an outplacement service?

Outplacement support is usually offered by an organisation to employees who are leaving the business often due to redundancy. Typical outplacement services include career coaching, devising effective job-search strategies, CV review and interview preparation. For those whose roles have been made redundant, outplacement services can also provide the practical and emotional support that is needed to help them move into a new appropriate role as quickly as possible. At a time of personal uncertainty, the provision of such support can make a tremendous difference to an individual’s job search success. We differ from tradtioanl outplacement in two main ways. Firstly we are very current in the advice that we give, being seen as the experts, so you’re going to get the latest most up to date advice and a changing job market, secondly as a career management company, we’re able to better understand you and you’re requirments and what role will be better fit for you, so it’s a very positive experience.

Why would a company provide outplacement assistance to an employee?

Outplacement is not only beneficial to the individual but also to the organisation as it demonstrates that they care about their staff. This sends an important signal to their remaining staff who are likely to be unsettled by the changes and helps protect the employer’s reputation as a good place to work. Outplacement can also help to reduce conflict and legal disputes because individuals will feel more supported in their transition. Another advantage is that hiring an external outplacement company frees up the time of HR and Managers who might otherwise be expected to provide the career advice and support their staff need.

What do outplacement services cost?

The cost of outplacement services varies. Some companies will have a budget others will look for our advice on what would be most cost effective for the needs of the employees involved.

Factors that can affect the cost of outplacement include the number and seniority of impacted employees, whether individual coaching or group training solutions are offered, whether the service is face to face or delivered via Zoom or even wholy online, and any additional services such as online career resources or research services. On average pricing can range from under a hundred pounds per person to several thousands of pounds for executive outplacement.

What are the benefits of outplacement?

Outplacement services provide many benefits to individuals, from helping them manage the practical and psychological difficulties of losing their job, building their confidence at a difficult and vulnerable point in their career, to helping to establish a more time-efficient and targeted job search campaign to land a new role or achieve a career change more quickly.

In short Outplacement is more likely to help the individual get into their next role more time efficiently as well as making a better alligned move.

How long do programmes last?

This depends on the programme you are on. Each individual will move at a different pace depending on their objectives and timescales. A programme typically takes 3 months to complete, where coaching sessions are held weekly. Your programme will always move and adjust to  the pace that works for you.

Do I have to decide which programme to go on now?

No. Our website lists the programmes which may give you some idea and we will know more when we have a discussion with you about what exactly you’ll need. This forms part of your free scoping meeting.

Are the programmes fixed or can I pick a choose elements?

We will work with you at the start to establish exactly what you need and each programme is tailored around your specific requirements.

Do you follow any code of practice?

Yes. The CIPD (HR Institute) code of practice. In fact we do many things which go beyond the code in terms of best practice within the industry.

How current are you in the job market?

Very. We have authored the UK’s bestselling CV book and provide advice for people like the BBC, GuardianJobs and Telegraph on the job market and current trends. Our key partnerships with a number of the UK’s leading recruitment websites provides invaluable insight into the latest trends and recruitment techniques which we share with our clients. We keep very up to date and focus on continuing professional development within our team.

 

I’m thinking of changing sectors but am not sure where my skills best lie. Can you help?

Yes. Your skills form part of what makes you the person you are at work but there is so much more. We help identify your uniqueness, what you’re looking for from work and what’s important to you. We then work on options and see what is the best fit. By starting the matching process with you, you are more likely to get a better job matched to your requirements.

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