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Career Coaching Programme

You may be studying without a thought about what a future career might look like, or you have a mental block regarding career options, maybe something in your home or social life is holding you back from exploring your career options. If any of these resonate with you, then you may find talking to a coach helpful.

The Career Coaching Programme offers you free access to a professional coach, they will assist you to find your own solutions in a safe, non-judgemental environment. With the coach you can explore:

  • why you don’t have a career development path.
  • your mindset and your confidence levels.
  • the barriers that are holding you back. 
  • the issues that could be having an impact on your work life.
  • what motivates you and what you value.

  • Understanding Career Coaching

    • The professional coach will:  
      • help you identify your career vision and define meaningful goals
      • encourage self-reflection, self-awareness and personal growth
      • explore with you the barriers you face and overcoming setbacks
      • help you develop skills to navigate challenges with confidence and build resilience
      • guide you in being accountable for your progress and celebrating achievements.

  • What Career Coaching doesn't cover

    • The Career Coaching Programme does not offer career advice and guidance on your potential career. The coach will not give you the answers to your career options nor tell you what career you should follow.
    • For career information advice and guidance, there is comprehensive online support and resources available in the Abintegro Careers Portal. Head to the Student Services tile in your My Birkbeck profile, and scroll all the way down to Careers and Enterprise Services tile.
    • For one-to-one advice and guidance on your career prospects, you can book an appointment with one of our Careers Consultants on the Handshake portal. Head to the Birkbeck Careers and Enterprise tile in your My Birkbeck profile, select Handshake, then click on Career Centre to access appointment booking.
    • If you having problems accessing any of the portals then please email the careers team or, put in an ASK request which can be found on Moodle. 
    • The career coaching will not cover personal counselling, the focus will be on your career concerns and not your personal concerns (although they are often intertwined). If you feel you would benefit from personal counselling instead, please contact our Counselling Service. 

  • How the Programme Works

    • You can have up to six free one-hour career coaching sessions to help you get some clarity and focus on your career development. The sessions will enable you to start to define where you want to go, what it is you want and how you can make it happen. 
    • The schedule for sessions is worked out by you and the coach, depending on your mutual availability. The greater your availability, the better chance you have of being matched up with your coach.
    • Sessions can be delivered online, in person, or can be a blend of online and face-to-face on-site at Birkbeck. Bear in mind that rooms are not always available as teaching takes priority. 
    • Once you are accepted onto the programme, you will be sent a client handbook explaining how the programme works. If there is a high demand, you may not be matched right away and be placed on a waiting list.
    • At the start of the process, the coach will draw up an agreement with you as a client so you have a clear understanding of what will happen in the sessions. They are likely to do the following:
      • work with you to identify negative thoughts and behaviour patterns that may be blocking your career development so you can address them
      • use exercises that focus on a particular aspect of career and personal development, to highlight your values and skills and identify your interests, blocks and bridges
      • ask you to complete small assignments between sessions. You will be encouraged to reflect and use this as a basis for understanding and action in your career coaching.
    • The sessions are not prescriptive: the relationship and framework for the sessions will be individual to each coach and client.

  • The Coaches

    • The coaches on the programme have substantial professional work experience within a wide range of industries and sectors. 
    • All of the coaches on this programme have been, or are on, an MSc in Career Coaching which, when completed, will meet the qualification requirements for entry to the UK Register of Career Development Professionals (this register is the sector equivalent of Chartered Status). 
    • Respecting confidentiality
      • Coaches on the programme offer the highest possible levels of confidentiality, in order to respect your privacy and create the necessary trust for coaching. 
      • Your consent to collect and record information will be obtained in line with Data Protection legislation. 
      • Please note: the following laws limit the extent to which confidentiality can be maintained: 

  • What is Expected From You

    • If you are accepted onto the programme, you are expected to:
      • attend all the sessions
      • actively participate and engage with the coach
      • manage your time: being punctual, responsive, giving good notice to the coach if you need to reschedule sessions
      • fill in the exit form when you complete the programme.

  • Eligibility and How to Apply

    • You can apply to the programme if you are currently enrolled on any Birkbeck courses and have not participated in the programme before.
    • Students must be enrolled for the duration of the coaching sessions or until July of the current academic year. Students with 'Exams only' status are not eligible to apply.
    • Applications for this academic year can be made from September onwards using the online form.
    • Where demand is high, then the programme will be closed and you will be placed on a waiting list.
    • Once received, the application will be assessed to understand whether career coaching is the best option or whether another route would be better suited to you.
    • Someone from the Career Coaching team will contact you regarding your application.
    • If you have any questions, please email the Career Coaching team.