Career guidance is a valuable investment when you are stuck in your career, unclear about your future or struggling to cope with changes in the workplace. The right moment depends on concrete signs, such as reduced job satisfaction, lack of development opportunities or uncertainty about your sustainable employability. Professional career coaching offers structure, objectivity and evidence-based methods that friends and family cannot provide.
What are the obvious signs that you need career guidance?
You need career guidance when you no longer enjoy your work, have unclear career goals or feel stuck in your current job. Difficulty anticipating changes within your organisation is also an important warning sign that professional counselling can help.
Concrete signs that it is time for career guidance include feeling that you have outgrown your job, uncertainty about your future readiness or a wait-and-see attitude because you don't know what steps to take. When you notice that your competences may no longer match the changing job market, this is a clear moment to seek professional help.
Another important signal is a lack of self-understanding. When you no longer know who you are, what you can do and what you want, career coaching can help answer these fundamental questions. This self-insight forms the basis for all further career decisions and development opportunities.
How much does career counselling cost and when is the investment worth it?
Career counselling costs between €75 and €150 per hour for individual sessions, with total pathways ranging from €1,500 to €5,000. The investment is worth it if you are stuck in your career, uncertain about your future or want to earn significantly more by making the right career choices.
The price is influenced by factors such as the experience of the coach, the duration of the trajectory and whether additional tools are used, such as evidence-based talent scans. Group courses are often more cost-effective than individual coaching, but offer less customisation.
You determine the return on investment by looking at potential salary increases, improved job security and increased job satisfaction. When career counselling results in a job that suits you better, it can lead to higher productivity and less risk of burnout or dismissal. Also, avoiding costly career mistakes often ensures a quick return on investment.
What is the difference between career counselling and just advice from friends?
Professional career guidance offers structured methodologies, objectivity and professional expertise that friends cannot provide. While friends provide emotional support, a career coach uses science-based tools and has no personal stake in your choices.
Friends and family know you personally, but often lack the professional distance to give objective advice. They may unconsciously project their own prejudices, fears or ambitions onto your situation. A professional coach, on the other hand, is trained to help you find your own answers, without a personal agenda.
Career coaching uses proven methodologies, such as talent scans, personality tests and structured reflection exercises. These tools bring out aspects of yourself that you might not discover on your own. In addition, a coach has experience with various career paths and labour market trends, beyond the limited experience of your social circle.
How long does a career counselling programme take and what can you expect?
On average, a career guidance programme lasts 3 to 6 months, with sessions of 1.5 to 2 hours every fortnight. During the sessions, you work on self-insight, goals and action plans. You can expect realistic progress, but no miracle solutions within a few weeks.
The process usually starts with an intake, in which your current situation and goals are explored. This is followed by sessions aimed at self-insight, using tools such as personality tests or talent scans. In the middle phase, you work on exploring possibilities and drawing up concrete action plans.
Do not expect immediate solutions, but rather gradual clarity about your direction and possibilities. The process requires active commitment from yourself between sessions, such as doing research, networking or trying out new activities. The coach guides and facilitates, but you are responsible for taking steps.
Why are more and more employers choosing to offer career guidance?
Employers invest in career guidance because it improves the increases employee satisfaction, improves retention and promotes sustainable employability. This results in lower replacement costs, higher productivity and improved business performance through motivated employees who are well suited to their roles.
Organisations see career guidance as a preventive measure against absenteeism and talent outflow. When employees have clarity about their development opportunities within the company, they are less inclined to look elsewhere. This saves significant costs in recruiting and training new employees.
In addition, career guidance helps in anticipating organisational changes. Employees who understand their talents and development opportunities can move more flexibly with strategic shifts. This makes the organisation more agile and future-proof in a rapidly changing market.
Investing in career guidance also shows that an organisation really cares about the development of its people. This appreciation often translates into higher commitment, loyalty and willingness to make extra efforts for the company.