The National Career Development Association has honored local career coach Joanne Waldman, president of New Perspective Coaching, with its 2009 Outstanding Career Practitioner Award. Waldman was selected from a national field of nominees for the award, which recognizes the top five career practitioners in the USA for outstanding achievements, high performance standards and contributions to the profession.

"I'm thrilled to be honored by the NCDA with this award," Waldman said when I called to congratulate her.

An expert in career and retirement coaching, Waldman has helped thousands of people change their careers, plan their retirements and achieve personal goals. She established New Perspective Coaching in 2001 to focus on working with executives and high-level professionals who want to achieve more satisfaction in life by discovering and following their passions.

"I love helping baby boomers reinvent their lives, create second careers, and find their authentic selves beyond the demands of raising children and building first careers," Waldman said. "In any economy, so many people in midlife want to reinvent themselves and find meaningful work. I help people be excited about getting out of bed in the morning to pursue their dreams."

Of course, I asked for some free advice.

What does a career coach do?

"I help people figure out who they are and what they want to be. I partner with my clients to:

— craft creative approaches

— provide encouragement and emotional support

— deliver direct and constructive feedback

— challenge them to stretch beyond their comfort zone

— work with them to confront self-defeating attitudes

— enhance their confidence

— ask questions to promote action steps to reach their goals

I help them create an ideal job description. It might not have an exact job title, but it helps them to identify their strengths and determine what types of opportunities they may want to pursue."

Who should participate in career coaching?

"People who seek out career coaching are people who are motivated to move forward and recreate who they are. Most people (in midlife) realize that they didn't plan for the career they had, or they planned for it, maybe even enjoyed it, but have outgrown it. They want their second career to be something they truly enjoy. The longest career stay is between age 50 and 72. People are thinking about retirement differently today. Among my retirement planning clients, I can count on one hand the people who didn't want to go back to work and do what they loved to do."

(Learn more about who can benefit from coaching on Waldman's website, www.newperspectivecoaching.com.)

What should job seekers be doing to find work?

"Be creative. Look at what other people are doing in their professions. Is that career something you want to do? If it is, send letters, make calls, ask questions, network."

"For the past the eight years, I have been working with a company in Australia. (Waldman does much of her coaching and training sessions using technology and long-distance learning.) When I applied for the Australian job, I called and woke up the poor woman (hiring manager). The ad didn't say where the job was located, so I wasn't thinking about time differences. Any way, the woman told me that the position had been filled. But I told her she had to see my resume. I convinced her to give me the opportunity and she did. I was hired on in addition to the person who had filled the position."

"A little Chutzpah can get you a long way, but you do have to respect people's limits."

How can a job seeker know what the limits are?

"Ask. Sometimes it's as simple as asking the question. Asking for the interview or opportunity. Asking when and how to follow-up. Asking for advice, encouragement, or help."

In selecting a career coach, what should job seekers consider?

"First they should be committed to the process. Then, they should look for a coach who fits their needs. Talk with the coach. Do a trial session. Explore the coach's website."

"If a private coach is not in the budget, job seekers could and should contact the career office of the college they graduated from or, if they are currently taking classes, the one they attend. The Missouri Career Centers are also good sources of counseling and information."

"Job seekers can also benefit from reading books, such as anything by Barbara Sher. I think she has some wonderful books out there." (Titles include: Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want and I Could Do Anything if I Only Knew What it Was. Look for her books in local bookstores and libraries.)

"Another good tool is StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath." (Available at www.strengths.gallup.com) "You have to buy the book and then you get a code that unlocks the online tools."

"I also love Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. That book is not for everyone, but I love to work with people who want to understand it."