Expert knowledge, expat experience, and coaching experience. Those are the three qualities – in that order – that expat partners look for most when looking to hire a coach. This is just one of the findings of an extensive survey about coaching carried out by Global Connection.
Career coaching: a favourite
The survey among 583 expat partners was prompted because we know that coaching can help expat partners in a variety of ways. Some coaches are career specialists, others can help partners adjust to a new culture, and others can help define what is important in expat life. Asked what kind of coach they would be most interested in, 76 percent of survey respondents opted for career coaching.
Unlicensed profession
About a third of respondents had already consulted a coach, and generally they were happy: they gave the experience an average score of 8 out of 10. But there are issues: 62 percent of those surveyed agreed with the statement that “It is difficult to find a good coach.” Little wonder, because it’s an unlicensed profession. As an experienced HR official says: “It is very important that companies know who they are dealing with, when they work with coaches.”
