Online career coaching can work very well with most people in the technological age, as we do so much of our communication, learning and training online.

Young students at school and in higher education settings can listen to lectures online, and in my own personal development there are an increasing number of sessions carried out remotely, using the webinar format.

So when a parent inquired today about how I might be able to support her son, who is in year 11 and lives a long way from Hampton, I was able to outline the way in which I work so as to make online career coaching highly successful:

• I use professional tools and instruments that can be accessed online. These include careers inventories such as the Career Fast Track, the Morrisby Online and the Strong Interest Inventory. Each of these are underpinned by quality research and career development theory, such as the Holland Occupational Codes, and so are really beneficial psychometric tools.
• I build rapport by spending ample time to get to know the student well, and also maintain unconditional positive regard so as to be sure that trust is established. Confidentiality and ethical practice are also central tenets of my careers coaching service. As a Professional Member of the Career Development Association of Australia, I am obligated to follow these fundamentals at all times.
• My careers coaching service is highly solutions focused, so that the student or young person and I will agree upon an action plan. By means of this highly practical outcomes oriented approach, the client knows precisely what needs doing and by what deadline.
• I can look at resumes and job descriptions sent to me by email by a client and provide feedback promptly with action points. This way deadlines are met for job applications.
• Mock interviews/interview skills training can be conducted remotely, as these can be highly beneficial when the job interview itself is carried out via computer screen.
• I am prompt at feeding through useful links and resources, typically by emailing links to clients in order to keep them on top of their information gathering.

These are some of the reasons why online careers coaching works just as well as face-to-face, in-person meetings.

I was on holiday recently and was able to help 3 UK-based students and one client based in the USA with their career questions. It was lovely to be sitting poolside, with a nice cold drink by my side and talk resumes with someone in New York and set up accounts for Morrisby Online candidates in Yorkshire, England.

So for me, it’s fun to do online careers coaching and just as productive as if the young adult is sitting in the same room.