Accessibility in Career Coaching
Accessibility is important in career coaching because it ensures that all individuals, regardless of their abilities/disabilities, backgrounds, circumstances/situations, etc. have equal access to career development opportunities.
When I started Career Coaching, I was doing it pro bono to support students from my University. I didn’t know that I was going to be a Career Coach, as I was working in a full-time job. Even though life was busy, I felt that it was important for me to give back, as I didn’t have any formal mentors to help guide me in my career journey. I also felt passionate about supporting students, as I had to figure it out on my own. I saw students' potential and was passionate about helping them create their impact through career coaching.
Figuring it out on my own meant that I went through my own challenges and opportunities on my own and often in my head. I didn’t have people to help me figure out the answers. I had to ‘figure it out on my own’ in different countries and environments. In a way, having to ‘figure it out on my own’ enabled me to trust myself more and make more decisions based on my gut intuition.
Having support to ‘get out of my own head’ would have been valuable at the time, though it wasn’t something that was talked about, so I wasn’t aware that there were options. Reflecting back, I remember spending time helping career counsellors during my ‘free block’ in high school, I just didn’t realize the importance of coaching/career/support until I actually started working and going through my own experiences.
Career coaching that is accessible can help individuals who come from underrepresented backgrounds to identify their strengths and interests, set career goals, and develop skills to achieve their goals.
Here are 3 reasons why accessibility is important in career coaching:
Accessibility promotes equity: By providing accessible career coaching, individuals are given the same opportunities as their peers to explore career paths, develop their skills, and pursue their goals. This promotes equity and ensures that everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
Accessibility supports diversity: Career coaching that is accessible can help individuals with diverse backgrounds and abilities identify and pursue career paths that are a good fit for them. This can help create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Accessibility improves outcomes: When career coaching is accessible, individuals are better able to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen careers. This can lead to better outcomes, such as higher rates of employment and greater job satisfaction.
Accessibility is important in career coaching to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to achieve their career goals and reach their full potential.
I started sliding scale coaching informally a little while ago and I didn’t formally announce it on Social Media. I wanted to reach out and connect with individuals to help them through the challenges of layoffs, the pandemic, life circumstances, etc. I kept hearing stories and feedback of market challenges and I really wanted to help those who were in need of coaching and couldn’t afford it. I went through my own challenges in transitioning to coaching and I really wanted to do something to help people who are financially challenged reach their goals and dreams.
So if you’re reading this and you would like to connect, I have limited coaching sliding scale spots that are being offered here.
