Today I attended my first career coaching session ("Career Health Check and Planning Programme") offered by Ingeus and funded by SkillsFuture. As someone who’s been feeling a bit lost about my career path, this session felt like a much-needed starting point to gain clarity and direction.
At this stage in my life, I’ve realised I’m not entirely sure what I want to do professionally. I have interests, skills, and experiences, but piecing them together into a coherent career plan feels impossible. I needed someone to guide me through the process—someone who could ask the right questions, challenge my assumptions, and help me uncover what truly matters to me. That’s where a career coach comes in. Unlike trying to figure it out alone or relying on well-meaning advice from friends, a career coach offers structured, professional guidance tailored to my current stage of life.
My first session was pleasant. It lasted a full hour—longer than the usual 45 minutes—because I had so much to share and so many questions to ask. The extra time flew by as we dove into my thoughts, aspirations, and uncertainties. The session felt like a safe space to open up, and I left feeling energized and hopeful.
My coach is an experienced professional who immediately put me at ease with her warm and approachable demeanor. She took the time to explain the distinctions between a career coach, a life coach, and a counsellor, which was incredibly helpful. For those curious:
- A career coach focuses on professional goals, helping you navigate job searches, career transitions, or skill development.
- A life coach takes a broader approach, addressing personal growth, life balance, and overall well-being - usually people in senior management or leadership role. That is why it is extremely expensive.
- A counsellor typically works on emotional or psychological challenges, often diving deeper into mental health.
This clarity helped me understand that career coaching was exactly what I needed to tackle my professional uncertainties.
My coach outlined what we’ll cover over the next seven sessions, and I’m already excited about the journey ahead. The program is designed to be a comprehensive “career health check,” which includes assessing my strengths, identifying jobs that are currently in demand (new word I learned today: "Human Machine Interface") , exploring potential career paths and creating a concrete action plan. We’ll dive into topics like identifying my values, refining my resume, and even ways to connect and network. The structured approach feels reassuring, like a roadmap to guide me through the fog.
I will document my thoughts and review the next few sessions.