I recently bought a harmonica.  If you don’t know me personally you must understand that I am musically challenged.  I love to sing but my love for singing doesn’t mean I should actually let other people hear me sing.  Therefore, I keep my skills muffled under the roof of my car or in the confines of sound proof rooms.  Since I bought this harmonica I really need to work twice as hard to learn how to play and make music since I am tone-challenged and cannot read music.  As with any instrument you cannot simply pick up and start playing without a great deal of practice or training.  In order to one day play my harmonica like some of the great harmonica players gone past I have two options:

1. I can hire a teacher to train me on the fine art of playing the harmonica.  Since I cannot read music or play by hearing I should probably get some professional help to ensure I am playing with the proper form, breathing correctly, and improving my skills day-by-day.  It is very hard to learn something if you are not taught by someone who has been where you are at one time in their life.  Then after many years and countless hours I might be able to make a tune with my small wind instrument like Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.  Or if nothing else I might be able to entertain my young son with my efforts.  He seems to smile at everything his dad does.  That might have something to do with the fact that he is only 10 months old, but for now I will assume it is because he can see the budding talent in his father.

2. The alternative to seeking out professional help and training is to be a lone-ranger and try to learn to play on my own.  I have already bought a book that is suppose to teach me everything I need to know about playing the harmonica, but is it going to be enough?  Will it teach me everything I need to know or will I pick up on bad habits that I feel are correct but in reality a teacher would deem incorrect?  I have already learned how to play Jingle Bells and a few lines from Silent Night but how long will it take me to learn to play at the slow pace of self-teaching?

The reason I tell you about my recent harmonica purchase is because students have the same choice make when it comes to finding a job or internship.  Either you chose to work with trained professionals such as career coaches and career services advisors or you chose to look for a job on your own using your own limited abilities.  Career professionals have been trained in the skills of resume writing, professional networking, cover letter writing, job interviewing techniques, etc…  Since you are potentially new to the world of job searching doesn’t it make sense for you to work with a professional to find a job as it does for me to work with a trained professional to learn how to play the harmonica?  If we are inexperienced at something we can learn the basics on our own but to become an expert you need professional assistance.

The next time you think about looking for a job, writing a resume, cover letter, going on a job interview, or even negotiating a salary I would recommend you seek out professional help.  The payoff will be far greater than any amount of effort you put forth on your own.

PS: After writing an article like this you would think I am advertising for career coaching services when in fact I am not.  However, if you need a great career coach I recommend choosing one from The Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.  They are a great governing body of career professionals.