Employment Coaching

It’s a phrase many employment advisers will recognise: “I just want a job with no stress.” But what happens when a client is searching for something that doesn’t really exist? In this final episode of the series, Claire explores how to respond when clients say they want a stress-free job. She looks at why this isn’t really about the job itself - but about fear, perception, and confidence. She shar...

Listening is one of the most important skills in employment coaching. But there’s a big difference between simply hearing what a client says and truly listening to understand them. In this episode, Claire explores the concept of active listening and why it can transform your conversations with clients. She introduces the OARS method from motivational interviewing - a simple framework using open qu...

LinkedIn has become one of the most powerful tools in the modern job market - yet many jobseekers are still using it in exactly the same way they use traditional job boards. In this episode, Claire shares what she's learned from running LinkedIn training sessions with employment advisers and jobseekers. She explores why LinkedIn is far more than a vacancy search platform and how it can be used for...

Caseload management is one of the biggest sources of stress for employment advisers - and yet it’s rarely talked about openly. In this episode, Claire unpacks the real reasons caseloads become overwhelming. Whether you’re drowning in referrals, stuck with clients who aren’t progressing, buried under paperwork, or struggling to discharge appropriately, this conversation will help you step back and...

Job or career - does it really matter? In this episode of the Employment Coaching Podcast, Claire explores a question that often divides opinion in supported employment: are we here to get clients a job, or to help them build a career? She unpacks how the meaning of “career” has changed - from traditional linear progression to today’s fluid, boundaryless journeys. She reflects on why focusing sole...

Disclosure is one of the most complex and emotionally loaded conversations in supported employment - especially when a client’s health condition or disability isn’t immediately visible. Should they tell an employer? When? How much? And what are the risks… or the benefits? In this episode, Claire unpacks the practical and psychological realities of disclosure (or, as it’s increasingly called, manag...

Career decision making is something we support clients with every day - and yet it’s often one of the hardest parts of the work. Some clients get stuck weighing up options, others swing from one idea to the next, and some simply can’t move forward at all, even when they’ve done “all the right thinking”. In this episode, Claire explores four common ways people get stuck in career decision making -...

Homework is a core part of many coaching and therapeutic approaches - yet in employment support, it’s often overlooked, rushed, or applied in a one-size-fits-all way. In this episode, Claire explores what we really mean by “homework” in employment coaching, why it matters so much, and how the tasks clients do between sessions can shape motivation, confidence and progress. She reflects on common mi...

In this episode of the Employment Coaching Podcast, Claire tackles a topic that has become increasingly controversial in employment support: volunteering. With IPS firmly established as a Place-Then-Train model, many services have concluded that supporting clients into volunteering is no longer appropriate. But is that really what the IPS model says - or have we misunderstood it? Claire explores w...

In this episode, Claire is joined by Mitch Mitchell, a training coordinator and long-standing supported employment practitioner, for a thoughtful conversation about what “everyone can work” really means in practice. Drawing on decades of experience across supported employment and SEQF, Mitch shares real examples of working with people who don’t present as “immediately employable” - and how creativ...

Have you ever given a client really solid advice - only to watch them ignore it completely? In this episode, Claire explores why this happens so often in employment coaching, and why trying to persuade, push, or discharge clients rarely leads to lasting change. Using a real client example, Claire looks at the psychology behind resistance, avoidance and self-sabotage, and explains how responding wi...

As 2025 comes to an end, most employment specialists are helping clients tie up loose ends, set goals, and prepare for the new year. But how often do we pause and offer ourselves the same support? In this final episode of the year, we turn the spotlight back onto you - your role, your wellbeing, and your future career goals. We explore why employment advisers often overlook their own development,...

In this episode, Claire looks at what really happens after a client starts work - and why so many people fall out of jobs that looked perfect on paper. Using a real client story, she explains the idea of the psychological contract: the unwritten expectations between employer and employee that can be more powerful than the written contract. You’ll learn how to spot when that contract has been broke...

In this episode, Claire explores a question that comes up time and time again: does age matter in employment coaching? From young adults making their first big life choices to mid-career clients juggling family and burnout, and older workers navigating age discrimination and retirement decisions - age can shape the coaching conversation in powerful ways. Claire breaks down common career challenges...

In this episode, Claire explains why trawling through job vacancies is not only a waste of time for employment advisers - it can actually harm your clients’ confidence and mental health. Instead, she introduces a far more effective approach: helping clients access the hidden job market. You’ll learn the difference between job searching and job development, how to build employer relationships, and...

In this episode, Claire explores how the people and environments around our clients - including partners, parents, colleagues and even social media algorithms - can shape, sway, or even derail their career decisions. Using real-life examples, Claire explains why influence isn’t inherently bad, but becomes problematic when it pulls clients away from their values, goals or identity. Discover practic...

In this episode, Claire explores one of the most common traps in employment support: doing too much for our clients. From writing CVs and calling employers, to “just quickly” fixing things for people in our personal lives, we often jump in with the best intentions - but unintentionally undermine learning, confidence, and long-term progress. Claire shares why stepping back, teaching skills, and bui...

Struggling to get the right referrals into your service? You’re not alone. With so many new employment programmes launching - from Connect to Work to local employability contracts - building a steady flow of quality referrals can feel like a constant challenge. In this episode of The Employment Coaching Podcast, Dr Claire Wrynne shares practical, stress-free strategies for generating referrals tha...

We talk a lot about client engagement in employment support - but what about when it’s time to say goodbye? This week, Claire talks about how (and when) to discharge clients from your caseload. Whether you’re grappling with time-unlimited contracts or just struggling to make space, this episode is packed with practical advice (and a bit of tough love!). Get weekly employment coaching tips with our...

In this week’s episode, Claire talks about some of the pros and cons of using LinkedIn as an employment adviser, and why you really need to have a LinkedIn / social media policy in your employment team. Get weekly employment coaching tips with our free newsletter: https://careerology.kit.com/employment-coaching

Ever wondered if your job title changes how your clients see you? In this episode, Claire dives into a surprisingly powerful coaching conversation: Does it make a difference if you call yourself an Employment Adviser, Specialist or Coach? Listen now and find out why this seemingly small detail might be doing more work than you think! Get weekly employment coaching tips with our free newsletter: ht...

This Mental Health Awareness Week, Claire talks about something we don’t prioritise enough at work: community. In this episode, Claire explores the idea of group coaching - what it is (and isn’t), how it can be used in employment services, and why it might be just what your team needs. Get weekly employment coaching tips with our free newsletter: https://careerology.kit.com/employment-coaching

Ever wonder why some clients seem to get stuck - even when they have a job goal? In this week’s episode, Claire introduces the FAR Test - a simple tool to check your client’s goal is effective. Plus, you’ll hear a 6-step career counselling process that fits perfectly within IPS. Tune in now and see how FAR your clients can really go! Get weekly employment coaching tips with our free newsletter: ht...

What if the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model doesn’t suit everyone? That’s the question Claire Wrynne set out to answer 20 years ago! The Individual Career Management (ICM) model was developed by Claire, to address some of the limitations she found with the IPS model. 20 years on, there are still employment specialists following the ICM approach. Find out why, in this week’s episode! G...

Are your clients ghosting you? Client engagement can be tricky when you’re working with a complex caseload. In this episode, Claire covers: ​Small things that build big trust ​Powerful questions to make clients stop and think ​Common traps that push clients away Tune in now to discover how to boost your client engagement with 5 simple tips! Get weekly employment coaching tips with our free newslet...