Do I need a career support team?

Imagine running a big firm alone. No managers to consult. No board to lean on. It’s all you. No one would run a company like that. Now think about your career. It’s like your company. You’re the CEO. Why make career decisions alone? Why not get help?

That’s where a personal advisory team, or PAT, comes in. A PAT is a group of trusted experts to go to for advice — from decisions on changing jobs to tackling major work issues. PAT members can offer different perspectives, identify opportunities, suggest solutions, pinpoint obstacles and speak candidly about your strengths and weaknesses. “They are essentially your career partners,” says Karen Jackson-Cox, executive director of Smith’s Career Advancement Centre. She suggests your PAT should include these four roles:

A career coach: This person understands the business of career management, helping you to establish career goals and to take informed steps based on your strengths, skills, values and interests. It could be a paid coach or colleague at work with the right abilities.

A mentor: An ideal mentor is five to seven years older with more work experience yet “hasn’t forgotten the career journey that you are on,” Jackson-Cox says.

A business expert: This individual has walked the path you’re pursuing and knows the skills required. They’re working in the industry you want to transfer into or have the kind of job you want.

A friend: Look for someone who knows you well personally, who you trust implicitly and who is always honest with you.

“If you are looking to advance in your career, a personal advisory team offers a nice structure to guide your decisions,” Jackson-Cox says.