Are you unemployed or frustrated in a dead-end career and looking for change?

Many people are thinking it’s time for a career coach to help find a new – or better – job. Don’t rush in though, there are plenty of pitfalls in this rapidly growing business.

About 60 to 70 per cent of the people seeking coaching services are looking for a job, said Joel Garfinkle, an Oakland, California-based career coach and author. They may be unemployed or may have reached a point in their careers where they need a change. The other 30 to 40 per cent are working on their career and want help with a promotion, communication skills or just to more narrowly define career goals.

A coach can help you to focus on your skills and think more broadly about the types of jobs for which you qualify. They can also help you work through personal issues that may be in the way of successfully landing a job such as appearance, interviewing, preparing a good résumé and cover letters, said Garfinkle, who has provided individual coaching and executive coaching services for 12 years.

He is working with a larger number of clients who are unemployed for the first time in their careers, wondering how to start a job search.

“There’s a shock. They call and say, ‘Oh my God, I’ve never had to look for a job, ever’,” he said.

Those who have been out of the job market for a long time, may not be as adept at using the latest tools such as the online social networking site Facebook or the professional site LinkedIn. What’s more, many are not even sure what they’re personal brand is – their individual set of skills that sets them off from others, said Kay Cannon, a coach in Lexington, Kentucky.

For many, online tools and other publications can help move them in the right direction and give them the help they need with résumé preparation and location of job sites, said Margaret Dikel, of Rockville, Maryland. She operates The Riley Guide, an Internet site that offers links to employment and career information.

Others, however, need the guidance of a coach or counsellor.

“It’s such an individual thing,” she said. “If someone has a lot of questions and needs maybe a little bit of help or coaxing or someone to help sort through their thoughts, I advocate a coach or a career counsellor.”

She said anyone struggling with making the right decisions or who feels they’re stuck in a rut, may want to seek out a career counsellor, someone typically with a psychology degree and trained in counselling.

The career coaching and counselling field has grown tremendously in the past decade but the fact that it’s unregulated should raise your level of scepticism.

Trade organisations offer professional certifications which implies the coach has passed tests and an application process that indicates they follow ethical guidelines and have passed competency testing.

The International Coach Federation, the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches and the National Career Development Association all offer certifications.

They also offer free search features on their websites which allow you to find a certified coaches in your area.

Anyone can call themselves a coach but if you’re looking, here’s a suggested checklist to keep in mind:

1. Ask whether they follow a professional code of ethics. Make sure the person you’re considering subscribes to a professional code of ethics advocated by one of the professional trade groups.

2. Check on training and education. Choose someone who’s been through a coach training programme to ensure the person has had some professional preparation. Coaches could have other qualifications such as a psychology degree or other training. It’s a good idea to ask.

3. Ask for credentials.

4. Look for experience. Specifically, a coach experienced in the area for which you are seeking help. If you’re an executive, seek one with executive experience. The same goes for factory workers or those in certain professions.

5. Be sure there is a chemistry between you and the coach. A good rapport could make the process go much faster.

Whether you’re entering the work force again or just looking for a leg up in this competitive job environment, a coach may offer some value if you’re looking for help. Approach the search for a coach with eyes wide open, do some homework and seek a professional with a history of success, some credentials and a personality that’s a good fit with yours.