When you need advice on your career, it seems just about everybody is eager and willing to tell you what you should do. Never mind that their own career paths often resemble a runaway train careening toward eventual derailment. People love to give advice. They want to help. They just don't always know how.

Try this and you'll see what I mean. Ask a dozen people to each give you feedback on your resume and listen closely to their suggestions. They’ll probably sound something like this:

"You should include an objective."

"You should leave out the objective."

"You should keep it all on one page"

"You should go to two pages."

"You should print it on white paper only."

"You should print it on ivory paper or buff."

Buff? Just one time, wouldn't you like to hear, "Your resume is perfect; don't change a thing."

The litany of "shoulds" doesn't stop with the resume. Well-intentioned friends and family are forever on the lookout for ways to put their stamp on your career plans. Do these comments sound familiar?

"You should just get your foot in the door."

"You should just hunker down and quit whining."

"You should tell them to take that job and shove it."

"You should go into (sales, teaching, plastics)."

"You should take some classes."

"You should go in and ask for a raise."

"You should talk to your brother-in-law about (accounting, insurance, plastics)."

Here's some sound advice: Don’t let other people "should" on your career (and don't you "should" on it either). Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting that you dismiss advice from others altogether.

On the contrary, effective feedback can help you overcome common roadblocks. Just become more selective about whom you ask for advice. You would no more ask your auto mechanic for medical advice than you would ask your physician for tips on auto repair. Why then would you entrust your career guidance to your brother-in-law?

Your career is your own work of art - a reflection of your personal values, interests and skills. It’s probably the single most important financial investment you will ever make, expending upwards of 80,000 hours of your time.

It's rather surprising, then, that most people spend more time planning a two-week vacation than they do their careers. The time squandered on poor career decisions can cost several thousand (or million) dollars in income over the span of your working life.

If you think you might be someone who could benefit from professional career guidance, you'll find a wide range of services available to help you, but the process of finding the right resources can be a little daunting.

Add to this the fact that most states, including Massachusetts, do not require licenses, certifications or credentials in order to practice in the career development field. Basically, anybody can hang out a shingle and peddle their services.

So within this career development landscape, you'll discover a vast array of fees, services and capabilities. As a consumer, you'd be smart to do some prep-work to figure out who's who before you proceed.

Start by assessing what type of help you need. Do you have a career focus? Or is it just a big blur? Do you need help marketing and presenting yourself more effectively? What are the specific outcomes you want to achieve? A career counselor or coach can help you choose a suitable career field, assist you in finding a job or help you resolve a career challenge that's holding you back. The better you are able to articulate your need, the better prepared you will be to identify the appropriate resource to help you.

Prior to calling around, you might take a look at the National Career Development Association's "Guidelines for Selecting a Career Counselor,"  Here you'll find helpful information explaining what career counselors do, what you can expect and what roles and responsibilities each of you will commit to the counseling process.

When you're ready to hire a career counselor or coach, start your search through word of mouth. Ask friends and colleagues for their suggestions - or inquire at the career services office at your alma mater for a referral. Even if it is located outside of your present geographical area, it may have relationships established with local schools and colleges.

Contact local and national organizations like the International Board for Career Management Certification or The Association of Career Professionals International.  They can provide listings of career counselors and coaches in your area. A Google search for your career planning in your area may lead to even more resources.

Select a counselor who is professionally trained and who has experience working with clients in your situation. Ask for references from other clients if you're not sure. Make certain that you can terminate the services at any time if you're not satisfied, paying only for the services rendered. Fees can range anywhere from $75 to $200 per hour or more. Be skeptical of services that require large upfront fees with promises of better jobs, more money or speedy results.

In the end, the best career counseling and coaching relationships are those built not only on competence, but also on chemistry. If you're going to succeed at accomplishing your goals, you'll need to share trust and respect with your counselor or coach. Otherwise, you "should" probably just call your brother-in-law!


© 2002, Career Planning and Management, Inc., Boston, MA.  All rights reserved.