What is career coaching?

Career coaching is a structured, evidence-based process delivered by a qualified professional. Through a series of collaborative one-to-one conversations, a career coach helps you understand your values, motivations and goals, and supports you to develop your own best plan of action. It is different from careers advice, job coaching or employment support.

What is the difference between a career coach and a careers adviser?

A careers adviser is trained at postgraduate level to offer impartial guidance, primarily in schools and colleges, drawing on knowledge of the education system and qualifications. A career coach works with adults in a deeper, more reflective process, helping them explore their values, motivations and longer-term goals rather than providing information or guidance.

How is career coaching different from a job coach?

A job coach works specifically with people with disabilities to help them learn job tasks and develop workplace interpersonal skills. Career coaching is a broader professional development process for adults at any stage of their working life who want clarity, direction or a change in their career.

Who is career coaching suitable for?

Career coaching is suitable for anyone who feels stuck, unfulfilled or uncertain about their career direction. It is also valuable for people preparing for promotion, facing redundancy, considering a career change or wanting to align their work more closely with their personal values. You do not need to have a clear goal to start.

How many career coaching sessions will I need?

The number of sessions varies depending on your situation and goals. Some clients benefit from a single focused session while others work with Elizabeth over a longer period. The process is tailored to you. The best starting point is a free introductory session to discuss your situation and decide what would work best.

Is there a free introductory session?

Yes. Straight Talk Coaching and Consultancy offers a free introductory session with no obligation. This is an opportunity to meet Elizabeth, explain your current situation and ask any questions about the coaching process before committing to anything.

Where is Straight Talk Coaching and Consultancy based?

Straight Talk Coaching and Consultancy is based in Newcastle upon Tyne and serves clients across the North East of England, including Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham. Sessions are available in person and remotely.

What qualifications does Elizabeth Harding-Massey hold?

Elizabeth Harding-Massey is a qualified careers adviser and teacher with a specialism in literacy, language and special educational needs. She is a member of the British School of Coaching, the Career Development Institute, the Institute of Leadership and Management and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), and abides by the EMCC Global Code of Ethics. She is also DBS checked.

Does Straight Talk Coaching offer corporate or management coaching?

Yes. Straight Talk Coaching and Consultancy works with organisations as well as individuals. Corporate services include staff development coaching, productivity improvement, communication skills and diversity and inclusion support. Packages range from single workshop sessions to ongoing development programmes.

How do I book career coaching in Newcastle?

You can book a free introductory session with Elizabeth Harding-Massey by calling 0191 466 1190 or by using the contact form at straighttalkcoaching.co.uk. There is no obligation attached to the introductory session.

Straight Talk Career Coaching & Consultancy

Career Coaching

Career Coaching Described

Career coaching is ideal if you are thinking of a career change. This could be a result of feeling stuck in your current job or that you simply want a career change – possibly to progress or that you want new challenges. This is the programme that will help you identify these possibilities and help you move forward in the start of a new direction.

Career coaching is different to many of the other aspects of career support. You may have seen a careers adviser in school or met with an employment adviser at the Job centre or a job coach.

A careers adviser is a professional trained at post-graduate level in career guidance to offer impartial client-centred career support in schools and colleges, and has a broad knowledge of the education system. An Employment advisor will support people who need care and support to find and maintain employment. Employment advisors can work in advice centres, for charities or in the community. Supporting people to overcome barriers to employment, helping people to find jobs.

A job coach is an individual who is employed to help people with disabilities learn, accommodate, and perform their work duties. In addition to working on skills related to performing specific job tasks, a job coach also helps with interpersonal skills necessary in the workplace.Career Coaching is one or a series of collaborative conversations with a trained professional who operates within an ethical code. The process is grounded in evidence-based coaching approaches, incorporating theories and tools, and career theory and aims to lead to a positive outcome for the client regarding their career decision, work and/or personal fulfilment.

A coach, therefore, will help you better understand your underlying motivations and aspirations – what makes you tick as a person – and then assist you to come up with your own best solution and action plan to match your personal values. The best way of finding out more about the Career Coaching programme is to book a free Introductory Session with Elizabeth Harding-Massey. You can use this session to meet Liz, tell her about your current situation and ask her any questions.

Attending this session is entirely without obligation so please don’t hesitate to book today by phoning Elizabeth on 0191 466 1190 or by using the form on the contact page.

About Elizabeth Harding-Massey

Over the course of her career Elizabeth Harding-Massey has lived and worked in the Middle East fulfilling a life – long dream. Working for the British Council in Kuwait was the pivotal turning point in her own career saying: “working within a multicultural society in Kuwait was immensely rewarding yet also challenging and was where my own career journey started.”

She has also spent over twenty years in education firstly qualifying as a careers adviser in education, specialising with clients who had special educational needs. Later in her career she qualified as a teacher with a literacy and language specialism. She is a member of the British School of Coaching which for her is fulfilling a life – long passion. She wants clients to achieve and succeed, to enable them to fulfil their own dreams and ambitions, and, in the process, support them on their own career journey.

She says: “I want real results for my clients.” It’s the learning relationship between coach and client that brings about change. Not just an intervention, an event or an opportunity but one where two people meet, they share knowledge, values, attitudes, skills and experience. They relate to one another. They connect.

I’m the person who is going to stand in your corner, work with you, challenge you and value you to enable you to succeed.”

Discover what our clients say about us...

“Liz has worked with us for two years. In this time I have respected Liz’s great communication skills, her intelligence shown when dealing with very complex young people who are often at a crisis point in their lives. She has worked with possibly some of the most challenging young people in secondary education from across the UK. She has a good understanding of working within the GATSBY principles and spends time to investigate local opportunities and offers in local areas.”

Neil E

Assistant Head & SENCO

“I would not hesitate to recommend Elizabeth to friends or colleagues thinking of having career coaching. Elizabeth helped guide me through the options of a career change, whilst assisting with updating my CV. I now feel I have a much clearer understanding of what I am looking for and what skills I have that could transfer to an alternative role.”

Martin H

Newcastle upon Tyne

“Having recently used Elizabeth’s services for job coaching and evaluating my current career alongside potential changes, I have recently been offered the opportunity of promotion within my current role. Where I would have been hesitant and doubted myself in believing I could advance my career, Elizabeth’s help has allowed me to grow in confidence, recognising my strengths and areas of development, which has meant I now feel confident in moving forward and embracing the opportunity ahead.”

KB

Customer and Trading Manager

“I highly recommend Elizabeth to anyone facing career challenges. About a year and a half ago, Elizabeth helped me prepare for a successful promotion. Recently, I sought her coaching again to boost my confidence for leadership roles. Elizabeth’s skilful approach of asking probing questions and challenging me to reflect sparked numerous ‘eureka’ moments in just a few sessions, giving me fresh perspectives. I will definitely reach out to Elizabeth again and am pleased to share that I’ve already recommended her to two friends who have started their coaching sessions with her.”

Frederik W

Senior Research Officer, Civil Service

“It was a pleasure to work with Elizabeth to unravel where I am now in my career and where I would like to be. Her coaching style is empathetic and warm which suited my needs. She helped me reveal the possibilities for the latter part of my career journey. I would recommend her services for other people who find themselves unclear about where to go next in their career.”

Fiona R

DPhil (Oxon), Senior Researcher