Career Coaching 

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Steve Jobs

Career Coaching involves assessment of goals and preferences to plan career strategy. Psychometric assessments are also used to gauge ability and preferences towards career choices.

Most UK employers expect some relevant work/ internship work experience for new graduates applying for their first job. For those who complete summer internships by their penultimate year, a graduate job can be on the cards for when they complete their degree if they impress during the internship. Therefore, it is not surprising that internship schemes for undergraduates can be fiercely competitive- involving several stages before a job offer.

Typically, the process of securing an internship with a recognised employer scheme can involve several stages:

– online application form

– CV upload, covering letter

– online psychometric assessments (including situational judgement tests, reasoning test)

– online video interview (usually around 30 min pre-recorded) 

– Assessment centre at employer offices or other venue involving group and one to one exercises 

– job offer

Graduate scheme applications follow a similar process with more intensive assessment and sometimes a further face to face interview. Summer internships generally tend to be offered to those in their penultimate year (2nd year of 3 year degree or 3rd year of a 4 year degree). Those that perform well can be offered a graduate job without any further application.

Coaching involves weekly sessions with active support and guidance towards finding career opportunities and help with applying to those suited to the client’s skills and interests. Practice psychometrics are used to help prepare for individual employer schemes and career psychometrics can be helpful with deciding on suitable career options. As a registered assessor, we are able to provide meaningful feedback on career psychometrics taken with us.

 

Career Coaching for Internships and Early Careers

We work with undergraduates seeking to apply to internships and graduate schemes. Full support is provided including

  • finding suitable opportunities

  • support with online applications

  • psychometric practice assessments and preparation tips for several major employers

  • interview practice

  • assessment centre practice exercises

  • Extensive Database of UK and International Employer Schemes 

  • Effective CV design and editing, cover letters and online questionnaire support tailored to employer requirement

Career Coaching for Professionals and the Workplace

Psychometric assessment and career goals analysis to plan career changes or progression. Support is provided with finding and selecting suitable opportunities and with the application process. A holistic coaching approach is used to support career decisions in line with maintaining good work-life balance. Work styles and personality assessments are available to support preparation for new opportunities and career planning.

Career planning can involve the use of techniques such as SMART goal setting, GAP analysis and the GROW model.  A tailored programme with SMART goals can be created using this information.

GROW  (Goal, Reality, Options/Obstacles, Will/ Way Forward) helps to identify future goals, the obstacles in the way and how to navigate a path to achieve the goal. This powerful model is used in corporate and individual coaching. It can be effectively used by managers to  mentor and coach their employees. We coach managers and supervisors so that they can become effective leaders – mentoring their staff to improve performance. 

Smarter Lives can arrange workshops to train managers in effective employee coaching and mentoring. To find out more about Career Coaching 


Send Us a Message