If you’re here reading this, chances are you’re more than just ‘looking for another job’ kinda person..
I’m guessing you’re someone who understands that job satisfaction and reward for your working efforts, not simply employment, is (or should be) the driving force behind your career choices?
There’s more demand than ever for career coaches in the UK. People are no longer happy to leave it all to chance, finding a good career coach to help you get from A to B faster, smoother and more successfully during your career transitions, is now becoming one of the most in demand coaching services that people are engaging with in the UK.
And I’m not at all surprised, we spend most of our waking hours at work, and life is just far too short to feel unhappy in your job. And that’s exactly where working with a qualified career coach makes a huge difference. A Career coach can support you through your work issues or career change and can make all the difference to whether you continue to stumble along a the long, rocky path of career dissatisfaction, or enjoy a rewarding work life.
Who says?
Me! OK, so who am I? And why do I have the expertise, authority and trustworthiness to offer you this insight?
I’m Zoe Hendricks, Founder and Lead Career Coach at WorkClever Career Coaching, an established and successful career coaching practice. We are based in Derby, UK, and proud to support people across the whole of the country and overseas. I am an all age, all stage, all sector career coach and work with clients privately, and alongside associates delivering career coaching services to public, private, education and third sector organisations.
I hold a Master’s degree in Career Education & Coaching, and a Level 7 Qualification in Career Development. I am a fully registered Career Development Practitioner with the UK’s leading professional body for the career development sector, the Career Development Institute (CDI). Over the last decade I have acquired a deep knowledge of the working landscape in the UK and the challenges which people face when navigating their career. My experience over many years of helping people through coaching, recruitment and career development practice has allowed me to witness the transformation when someone shifts from ‘just another job’ to the right role for them. And this is what I love about career coaching, I get to help people do this every..single.. day 😊
What we do at WorkClever Career Coaching
At WorkClever Career Coaching UK we offer tailored career coaching to people of any age, stage or sector of career, right across the UK (and have plenty of clients in other parts of the world, too). Many of our wonderful clients come to us looking for a career coach because they feel ‘lost’ or ‘stuck’ in their career; either knowing what they want, but not sure how to get there; or not having a clue what could be next for them, but know something definitely needs to change in their career.
We know everyone is different and will experiences their own unique set of work related challenges. At WorkClever, we very much pride ourselves on being able to respond to each and every person to support them in a way that is tailored to their specific needs.
But, to give you a little idea of some of the most common areas of career coaching support, here’s where a career coach can help you to solve those job related challenges..
- Boosting your job search success. Looking for your next job can be frustrating. The UK job market right now is a tricky customer and loaded with new rules and expectations for job seekers, particularly since the explosion of AI. A career coach can help you to navigate this and attract more interviews with savvy job search techniques, including tapping into the hidden jobs market (yes, 75%+ of jobs aren’t advertised). A career coach can support you with CV coaching and guidance with your job applications, supporting you to become more confident to position yourself in the very best light to potential employers. Career coaching can help you to smoothly navigate both human and AI recruitment screening processes, and provide you with the latest know-how to align yourself tightly to the roles you are applying for.
- Interview preparation with a WorkClever career coach will get you moving away from just ‘being interviewed’ to being able to create job offer attention in your interview. I’m talking about the stuff that Google and AI can’t teach you, those spaces where tech simply misses the mark of ‘humanness’, those subtle, but powerful grey areas, the persona you take into your interview. It’s not just about answering interview questions with confidence and ease, it’s very much about those moves and actions you can make that can electrify your energy in your interview and help you to attract the job offer. This is not magic, it’s about human nature and this is often what’s missing from what felt like a perfect interview, but which resulted in rejection. And I can tell you that people who end up with the job offer absolutely know how to make these moves.
If it’s been a while since your last interview, things are likely to have changed.. perhaps along with your confidence around how to show up to the interview to create the impact you need to get the job offer.
Some people are incredible candidates, but just not a ‘natural’ at interviewing, and despite UK employment legislation geared up to prevent bias or discrimination, the reality is the interview is still very much a loaded experience, full of game play. A Career coach and Interview Specialist will help you navigate your interview, boost your interview techniques and teach you how to create job offer attention so you can attract more job offers.
“I needed some support with my interviewing skills, given it has been 9 years since my last interview. I am pleased to say I have been successful in getting my dream job, I can’t thank you enough.. know you are making a huge impact on developing people to achieve success. Anna N. (WorkClever Career Coaching client)
- Facing a dilemma at work. Career coaching is often associated with helping people move away from a job, but there are lots of people who find themselves unhappy, or facing challenges at work, but don’t really want to leave their organisation. A Career coach can provide a much needed safe and confidential space to unpack your issues, be listened to, feel heard and express your voice. The career coaching sessions are perfect space for exploring fresh, new approaches and perspectives to help you find resolution and move forward positively again at work.
Why do you need a Career Coach?
When I started out as a Career Coach, my elderly Mum asked me “but what do you do? people apply for a job and either get it or not..” Bless her🫶 perhaps in the 1950s the employment landscape may have been a little more straight forward? But today we are fortunate to enjoy a dynamic, complex and opportunity laden labour market, with those who know how to dance the dance, winning the best prizes.
Careers are messy, they don’t follow a set path. They’re full of decisions, chances, unconscious assumptions, transitions and pivots. Whether you’re early-career, mid-career, returning after a career break, contemplating retirement, or planning your next career move, the truth is without clarity, direction and up to date know-how and how-to’s, you can end up feeling stuck, frustrated, or undervalued. A Career coach can help you fill the gaps where you become stuck or start to give up.
Does working with a qualified career coach matter?
In the career coaching space there’s a lot of variation and no strict regulation in the UK about who can, or cannot practice as a career coach. At WorkClever Career Coaching UK, we pride ourselves on our professional credibility and authority in the UK career coaching space, including our affiliation with professional bodies.
✅ All our career coaches are qualified career development professionals in the UK and registered with the CDI
✅ We undertake regular training and follow a code of ethics to continuously inform and develop our practice
✅ As a Master Career Coach and Interview specialist in the UK I introduce expertise from an accomplished coaching, recruitment and career development background (which means I’ve supported a lot of individuals to better navigate their career, but also have a deep understanding of what employers look for, and how the recruiting landscape works)
What to look for when engaging with a career coach in the UK
Look for a career coach who is independent and impartial, not swayed by too much exposure to one role or sector. A coach who has specific knowledge of a sector is not impartial, and what I would class as a ‘consultant’ rather than a coach. What this means is whilst they may have deep knowledge of one area, it may be difficult for them to really support in you in a way that offers you all the options, instead of just the ones they know of.
Look for a relevant career development or coaching qualification (ideally Level 6 or above), not just experience. Look for a career development practitioner who has an accredited qualification.
Check they are accountable to a professional body such as The CDI, and do they work to a code of ethics which informs their professional practice. Are they listed on a professional register, and if you do encounter a problem with their practice, is there somewhere to make a complaint?
It certainly pays to be confident that your career coach has a suitable qualification, credibility, and accountability to hold their professional practice to high standards.
What success looks like after you have career coaching
Success after you complete a programme of career coaching in the UK isn’t just about “I got a new job.” It’s more layered. Career coaching will help you to build career management skills, techniques, insight and approaches which you can use for the rest of your career.
➡️ You get clarity on what you want and can see what you’re really good at, becoming aware and knowing your value
➡️ You build confidence in how to express your value in potential career opportunities
➡️ You take action with strategy and a plan (not random job ad clicking or doom scrolling on Indeed) and can begin to create career opportunity, rather than waiting for it to happen to you
➡️ You learn about your career capital, your career identity and know how to position yourself so you’re ready when those opportunities arise
➡️ You feel in control and can create a working life for you that ticks the boxes of satisfaction, reward and fulfilment, not just more pay
At WorkClever Career Coaching UK, we support you in a safe, confidential and professional coaching environment, with expert insight and guidance, career management approaches and action planning, with tailored CV, job search and interview coaching.. all whilst helping you to jump over any obstacles that get in your way of reaching your career happy. Our clients frequently say they walk away with a renewed sense of self, stronger direction and real momentum.
A fabulous example of one of ours clients, who changed career successfully after her career coaching programme is Cheryl. After 30 years in horticulture, she felt the physical demands were catching up and her role was changing. Through career coaching she discovered a passion for rehabilitation work and became a qualified support worker. Her story illustrates what is possible with the right career coaching support.
Your next step, let’s talk
Maybe you’re reading this and one (or more) of these statements resonates:
- “I’m unhappy or stuck at work”
- “I’m applying for jobs, but hear nothing back”
- “I’ve applied, interviewed, and been rejected, what am I missing?”
- “I’m about to interview but I don’t feel ready”
- “I want to make a career change, but I don’t know where I’m going”
- “I want to feel more fulfilled in what I do”
Or any other work dilemma you’re in right now..
… then you’re in the right place. At WorkClever we offer a free introductory consultation so you can explore your situation, discover if career coaching is right for you, and begin your journey to a happier work life.
Let’s connect, We’d love to hear from you 😊
