What is an Executive Coach?

An executive coach helps you identify your strengths, areas of opportunities, and challenges and develop strategies to overcome known and unknown obstacles. This person also helps you align your vision, values and goals with that of your organization and foster a positive relationship with your peers, subordinates, leaders and stakeholders. They usually tailor an individual coaching plan, with your input and the input of your direct supervisor, to measure goal attainment and progress over a specific period of time. Be sure to check for experience in your industry, profession and or sector to ensure success. 

What is a Career Coach?

Career coach helps you explore your interests, passions and potential and chart a career path that matches them. This person helps you clarify your values, skills and preferences and discover new possibilities and opportunities for your career. This person should also help you create a realistic and actionable plan to achieve your goals and overcome obstacles and challenges along the way. Career coaching is typically more broad than executive coaching and involves working with a coach who has expertise in career development and transitions. 

What is the difference between an executive coach and a career coach?

To simplify the answer, an executive coach is often offered and paid for by a company or organization to support current or aspiring executives to overcome challenges they may encounter in their daily work lives. This investment is typically not widely broadcast or shared with others unless the individual being coached wants to share. An executive coach may address a plethora of issues like imposter syndrome, (lack of) executive presence, emotional intelligence, communication and presentation skills, delegation, and productivity and time management. Executive coaching is not punitive or prescriptive and should not be used as a performance management tool. 

A career coach is a process where an individual, of any professional level, explores their inner motional drivers, a sense of purpose, ultimately defining their career and life goals and engaging their network with the intent to achieve those goals. Career coaching may cover finding the same job at a new company, exploring careers, relocation, entrepreneurship, and active retirement. Some areas of focus may include personal branding, communication skills, career growth and work life balance and integration. 

Do I need an executive coach or a career coach?

It depends on your current situation, needs and aspirations. Consider whether you need specific feedback and guidance on leadership skills or general support and exploration on career options. Think about whether you’re content with your current role and career path, or if you want a change. Figure out if having a coach with similar background and experience as you matters or if you prefer a coach that can provide a different perspective and insight. You may determine that you need both. 

How to find the perfect coach for you is contingent upon determining what type of coaching you want.

Once you’ve figured that out you should vet the coach’s qualifications, experience and results. Interview potential coaches to be sure you feel comfortable sharing and working together. Effective coaching is built on trust and you have to feel comfortable with the person you will be working with. 

How will I know if the coaching is working/has worked?

Success can be measured in different ways. It can be getting the promotion or salary increase. Or, it can be gaining clarity and confidence to achieve your goals. Others will start commenting and complimenting you on changed behaviors. There are a myriad of qualitative and quantitative ways to measure the efficacy and success of your engagement. 

How to make the most of your experience starts with self-awareness.

It’s not easy to acknowledge our weaknesses or flaws which makes it more difficult to work to fix them. Having a level of self-awareness leads to taking action. If you’re honest, transparent and candid with your coach you’re starting off on the right foot. Think of two or three goals and be willing to put your all into achieving them. Keep the lines of communication open and be fully engaged knowing your coach has your best interest in mind and is only successful if you are successful. 

What is a Resume?

Resume is a formal document that provides an overview of your professional qualifications, including relevant work experience, skills, education and notable accomplishments. A resume is typically no more than three or four pages. 

What is a CV?

CV (Curriculum Vitae, a Latin term meaning course of life) is the name used outside the U.S. and in higher education, medicine, law, and other very formal industries. It is a really industry specific and extensive listing of achievements. It is similar to a resume but usually much longer and more detailed and may be over one page long. 

What is the difference between a resume and CV? 

There are a few. For starters, a CV is not tailored for each job you will apply for. It’s more static in nature verses a resume should be tailored for each job you apply for, as needed. You’ll primarily use a resume in the U.S. except for jobs in higher education, medicine, law and research. And, you’ll mainly use a CV to apply to those positions and if you’re applying for work outside the U.S.

Cover Letter is a tailored letter sent with, and explaining, the contents of the accompanying resume or CV. It has the same structure as a resume including your contact information at the top. An employer will let you know if a cover letter is preferred or required and some don’t use them at all. 

What is an Interview?

Interview is a discussion or conversation between a potential employer and a candidate. It is a selection process that helps an employer understand the skills, personality, character traits and domain knowledge of the applicant. It should be treated as a two-way discussion where the interviewee obtains information, along with the interviewer, to determine if they want to work there. Based on the job and industry / sector you will need to determine whether to use the SOAR or STAR interview method.

What is a Structured Interview?

Structured Interview is where an employer asked a set of fixed questions to all candidates appearing for an interview. Rather than focusing on experience-based questions, an employer prefers asking a fixed set of questions and recording the responses of each candidate. They grade the responses against a suitable scoring system and hire candidates based on this result. This can be beneficial for both the interviewer and candidate because it eliminates biases from the recruitment process. The SOAR method is most effective for this type of interview. 

What is an Unstructured Interview?

Unstructured Interview is a conversation that occurs conversationally and spontaneously. The interviewer may ask questions related to skills, experience or qualification. These interviews do not follow a set format and can in any direction. It is a traditional interviewing method that is used. This method lets the interviewer gauge skills by comparing performance to other candidates. The SOAR method is most effective for this type of interview.

What is a Situational Interview?

Situational Interviews are where employers present a candidate with a problem and use the interview process to evaluate their approach to solving the problem. Through this type of interview the employer understands what action a candidate would take in various job-related situations. When answering the questions, employers expect a candidate to give answers related to a similar situation the candidate has handled in the past. This is a very common interview technique. The SOAR method is most effective for this type of interview. 

What is a Behavioral Interview?

Behavioral Interviews are a technique where employers gauge and evaluate a candidate’s past behavior in different situations. It helps in understanding how a candidate would perform in similar situations at work. It makes it easier for an employer to predict the success of a candidate on their past performance. Most employers ask open-ended questions about specific situations to hire a suitable candidate.  This is a very common interview technique. The SOAR method is most effective for this type of interview. 

What is a Stress Interview?

Stress Interviews gauge a candidate’s ability to respond to stress in different workplace situations. For some job roles like consulting, employers conduct stress interviews to spot sensitive applicants and separate high-stress tolerance candidates from the rest. It is a great interview style to find sensitive applicants who may lose their calm attitude in stressful situations. In such interviews, employers create anxiety to see the reaction of the candidate. The SOAR method is most effective for this type of interview. 

What is a Technical Interview?

Technical Interviews is an interview type that helps an employer understand technical and job-related aptitude. When applying in healthcare, IT, engineering and science, a candidate is more likely to face technical interviews.  Through such interviews, an employer gauges technical expertise and it helps in understanding whether you have the skills required to complete job-specific duties. The STAR method is the most effective for this type of interview.

What is a One-to-One Interview?

One-to-One Interviews are pretty common and is where only one interviewer interviews the candidate. It is a conversational type of interview where the employer drives the agenda initially and candidates usually ask questions towards the end. Usually, an employer may ask general, technical, situational and behavioral questions in a one-on-one interview. It’s a great technique to understand a candidate’s experience and domain knowledge. Based on the job and industry / sector you will need to determine whether to use the SOAR or STAR interview method.

What is a Video or Phone Interview?

Video or Phone Interviews are where an employer conducts the interview virtually. The interviewer will deploy one or a combination of the interview types listed above. Be sure you have the appropriate equipment, quiet and professional background and other assets to move to the next interview stage. Based on the job and industry / sector you will need to determine whether to use the SOAR or STAR interview method. It’s a good idea to have a generic phone voice mail with the capacity to accept voice messages. 

What is an Individual Interview?

Individual Interview format involves only one interviewer with one candidate. The employer can ask situational or behavioral questions and may ask follow-up questions when an answer is provided. Focus on highlighting your relevant skills and solving problems for the company and tie it to your past performance and experience. Based on the job and industry / sector you will need to determine whether to use the SOAR or STAR interview method.

What is a Group Interview?

Group Interview is where a company interviews multiple applicants at the same time. The interviewer may provide a topic for the group to discuss. During the discussion, an observer rates performance. This type of interview format helps an employer understand the differences and nuances in the skills and qualifications of the candidates. It can help the employer test interpersonal and communication skills, as well as the skills, strengths and qualifications when interacting with others. Based on the job and industry / sector you will need to determine whether to use the SOAR or STAR interview method.

What is a Panel Interview?

Panel Interview is where several interviewers assess an individual candidate’s skills, qualifications and experience. The panel is usually comprised of a hiring manager, colleague or team manager. In this format, interviewers usually ask questions in succession. The answer a candidate provides allows a panel to see how they align with the company’s culture and values. Focus on maintaining eye contact with everyone and share your successes with them. Based on the job and industry / sector you will need to determine whether to use the SOAR or STAR interview method.

What is a Multiple Round Interview?

Multiple round is very common as organizations conduct multiple interviews. It is not uncommon to have up to four or five rounds of interviews over time. Success in multiple-round interviews involves applying communication and interpersonal skills to answer questions that highlight your skills. Based on the job and industry / sector you will need to determine whether to use the SOAR or STAR interview method.

What is an Informational Interview?

Informational interviews are where you interact with a professional working in a company you are preparing for. During this interview candidates contact professionals from different companies and schedule a time to meet. A professional can help in understanding the work culture and environment of the company as well as answer questions about different roles, responsibilities and growth opportunities. These interviews may seem less formal but are equally important to other interview types. Be sure to prepare a list of questions you want to ask and share them with the interviewer in advance, if possible. 

What are Computer assisted are video interviews?

Employers provide a series of questions on their screen by pressing the key on the keyboard. By deploying this technique employers can hire faster, however, cannot assess a candidate’s emotional intelligence, communication or interpersonal skills. Companies prefer using this technique when screening and filtering out a large base of candidates applying for a single. 

What are companies looking for during the interview?

During an interview, companies look for candidates with desired skill set who are knowledgeable in their field and align with the cultural fit withing the organization. A few key things employers are looking for:

• Job-specific skills and knowledge. Employers review your resumes, they want to assess your skills and experience through an interview. Candidates are expected to correlate answers for each question with their experience.

•  Honesty. Employers prefer hiring someone with sound technical knowledge but they also expect honesty from candidates about their skills. It’s best to be transparent about your skills and be ready to focus on improvement areas.

• Passion and enthusiasm. Be genuine and show an interest in the job, department and company. The passion with which you answer questions showcase your desire to excel in the job. 

What is a Networking Plan?

Networking Plan looks very similar to a resume and includes your contact information, skills, education and a brief snippet of your experience. It’s a living, breathing document that provides a forward-looking view into what you’re interested in as well as your knowledge, skills and abilities. This document is intended to be shared with your network as you pursue opportunities. 

What is a Personal Brand?

Personal brand is the process of intentionally creating and influencing the public perception of an individual. This can be done by positioning yourself as an authority in an industry or differentiating yourself from the competition and increasing your reputation. Personal branding is the best way to show your uniqueness, specialties and selling points. A fully optimized LinkedIn profile is a perfect way to reflect your personal brand.

What is Networking?

Networking is the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or interest, usually in an informal setting. 

What is a Negotiation?

Negotiation is a term that refers to a strategic discussion intended to resolve an issue in a way that both parties find acceptable. It usually involves give and take, which means one or both parties will usually need to make some concessions. It can take place between buyers and sellers, employers and prospective employees, two or more governments, and other parties. 

What is Sales Enablement?

Sales enablement is the process of providing your sales team with the resources they need to close more deals. These resources can include training, content, tools and information that help them target the right buyers, increase engagement, and sell effectively. This is an iterative process that involves both marketers and salespeople. 

What is Diversity?

Diversity is a word that describes the variety of differences among people and groups in society, like race, culture, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, abilities and more.

What is Equity?

Equity is a term meaning the quality of being fair and impartial.

What is Inclusion?

Inclusion is the action of including or of being included within a group or structure 

What is Belonging?

Belonging refers to a human emotional need to affiliate with and be accepted by members of a group.

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility is the quality of being able to be reached or entered and everyone has equitable access and opportunity based on the principle. 

What is Justice?

Justice works to advance the values of respect, acceptance, fairness and accountable in building a community where diversity intersects with and is recognized, accommodated and celebrated.