When you're satisfied with your job, you may feel more settled and grounded overall. A good job can meet your physical needs, freeing you up to pursue greater levels of self-actualization. Most people don't know how to maximize their career success because it's a subject they've never studied. A career coach is a specialist who can help you streamline your career trajectory for the best possible results. Here are four things a career coach can do for you:

1. Help you refine your goals.

Many people hope to make more money or advance at work. However, simply knowing what you want isn't enough. You can't meet your goals until you refine them into achievable milestones. A career coach can help you turn nebulous desires into achievable goals. For example, once you have an ideal salary in mind, you can plan steps that will help you get there.

2. Create a time-oriented action plan.

Avoiding stagnation is crucial whenever you're trying to achieve a goal. You can avoid wasting time by developing a plan that contains reasonable deadlines. Deadlines are excellent motivators. People are more likely to be productive when they're required to put in consistent work for a finite period of time. Your career coach has helped many people meet their professional goals. They can use that experience to help you create a compelling yet reasonable timeline for meeting your goals.

3. Gain knowledge of your field.

When you're trying to advance professionally, it's important that you keep an eye on the competition. A career coach can help you find information about other companies and professionals in your industry. By keeping up with current salary trends, you can ensure your pay is still competitive. Knowing what other people are getting paid will help you figure out when you should push for a raise. Ultimately, you will have to do much of the research on your own. However, a career coach can get you started by pointing you in the right direction.

4. Change careers.

It's not unusual for people to change careers entirely more than once in their life. You may find that your interests have changed or that your current industry doesn't offer the room for growth that you desire. Your career coach can help you pivot into a new industry. They can help you draft a new resume that highlights skills relevant to your new career. They can also assist you in preparing for interviews.

Look for a career coach in a company like Ignite Your Potential for more information.