NICEC Seminar : The Value of using Career Tools in Career Coaching

Tools are designed to improve the quality of career conversations. In themselves, they may have limited value, as the results and subsequent reflections ideally need to be talked through, as part of a wider conversation, rather than as a one-off exercise with no follow up discussion.

Fellows Gilly Freedman and Kate Mansfield led an exploration of the benefits of using tools in career coaching. 

They described the research that supports the use of tools and how to use the tools responsibly and ethically in career coaching. Specific tools were shared and their application to particular client groups was discussed. 

Following input in the main presentation, participants were invited to work in small groups to share their reflections on the topic, providing an opportunity to draw on their own preferred tools as well as gain ideas and insight on additional tools from others.

The session stimulated discussion and reflection on the ways that career coaching tools can be further integrated into the practice of careers professionals.