Charles Chee: Empowering Career Journeys

Best Career Practitioner (Empower Awards 2022) Charles Chee gives us an exclusive
on his approach to his success in career coaching and its transformative impact.

For many, having a fulfilling career path is a significant aspect for personal growth and satisfaction. Charles Chee, a seasoned career practitioner, has dedicated his life to supporting individuals in realizing their potential and exploring their dream careers. Through his extensive experience in the industry and utilization of effective strategies and methodologies, he has positively impacted the lives of numerous individuals. His strong background in careers, psychology and coaching, coupled with his signature infectious passion, affable warmth and unwavering commitment to those he comes into contact with, has earned him the recognition of Best Career Practitioner in the inaugural Empower Awards 2022.

The Path to Professional Excellence

Charles’s career journey began in 2005 as a Re-employment Support Scheme Officer at the Northeast Career Centre. Since then, he has held various roles at the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, including Career Consultant, Training Consultant, and Service Excellence Manager. In 2016, he embraced self-employment as an independent career coach, catering to both private clients and esteemed organizations such as Randstad RiseSmart, CareerFoundry, Singapore Institute of Management, and 33 Talent. Throughout his 16 years in the industry, Charles has worked with a diverse range of individuals, including directors, expatriates, career switchers, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Strategic Approaches to Career Coaching

Charles adopts a multifaceted approach to career coaching, utilizing two prominent career theories and a comprehensive methodology. Firstly, he employs the Self-Directed Search (SDS) assessment, a psychometric tool based on John Holland’s Vocational Choice Theory. This assessment helps clients gain valuable insights into their work personality, aiding them in understanding their strengths and aligning them with suitable career paths. Secondly, Charles focuses on three crucial aspects: self-concept, life stage goals, and personal roles in life, drawing inspiration from the Career Development Theory of Donald E Super. By exploring these dimensions, he guides individuals towards a clearer understanding of their aspirations and purpose. Lastly, Charles employs the CLEAR coaching methodology, which involves Contract, Listen, Explore, Action, and Review. This structured approach facilitates meaningful conversations, goal-setting, and progress evaluation.

The Power of Experiential Coaching

What sets Charles apart from his peers is his experiential approach to career coaching. Rather than solely relying on theoretical concepts, he incorporates interactive tools and activities. For his sessions, he engages participants in career games to foster lively discussions and collaborative learning. These exercises allow clients to identify skills they may feel burned out in and explore opportunities for skill enhancement.

From Setback to Comeback

He initially faced medical challenges in his youth, which inspired his passion for medical social work. In his 30s, a sports injury forced him to rethink his career path, leading him to pursue freelancing. His ability to transition careers shone through when this setback prompted him to take a break and actively seek new opportunities. Charles’s passion for career services and his dedication to learning about business spurred him to transition to having a fulfilling career. He shares that “Setbacks can be your inspiration, and need not be a hurdle”. He also emphasized the importance of being well-prepared to seize opportunities as they arise. His wealth of life experiences and overcoming hurdles is a testament to his resilience and shines through in his approach with clients.

Impactful Client Stories

One shining example of Charles’s transformative coaching is the case of “Joseph.” A mid-30s engineer in the manufacturing industry, Joseph sought guidance as he felt uncertain about his career direction. Through the SDS assessment, they discovered Joseph’s Holland Code to be ISE (Investigative, Social, and Enterprising). Digging deeper into Joseph’s self-concept and life stage goals, Charles identified his desire for personal achievement and his future aspirations of building material wealth and making significant contributions. By utilizing the CLEAR coaching model, along with career genograms and childhood dreams exercises, Charles narrowed down Joseph’s career options to two choices: Head of Quality Control or Product Manager. After considering the alignment of both roles with Joseph’s work personality and life goals, Charles advised him to connect with industry professionals and conduct informational interviews to make an informed decision.

Charles Chee’s dedication, expertise, and innovative coaching approach have positively transformed the lives of countless individuals. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, he equips his clients with the necessary tools and insights to navigate their career journeys with confidence. Charles’s impact as a career practitioner extends far beyond job titles and resumes; he helps individuals cultivate a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and lifelong success. With his unwavering support, many more individuals are poised to unlock their true potential and embark on rewarding careers.

What makes a Good Career Practitioner?

Charles offers invaluable insights into what defines a good career practitioner. According to him, effective career practitioners excel in the art of listening and empathizing, fostering trust and rapport with their clients. Staying abreast of contemporary societal trends, particularly with regards to median income and career prospects, is essential for providing relevant guidance. Furthermore, Charles emphasizes the need for personalized support, understanding that individuals may require distinct approaches, ranging from coaching to mentoring, tailored to their unique circumstances and aspirations.

Career Guidance for All

In closing, Charles shared some great ideas to help us all manage our careers better. He thinks that friends should talk more about our careers and beliefs, and it should be okay to ask each other, “How’s work going?” He also believes in creating safe spaces where we can discuss work without worries. Charles encourages us all to keep things positive and focus on growth in these conversations, even when we’re facing challenges. He also suggests that even when friends vent about work issues, we can ask questions like, “How do you manage all this?” to turn it into a positive, helpful and constructive discussion. Lastly, he hopes that career coaching can become more available to everyone, so we can all get support in our career journeys. His ideas offer a simple and practical guide to improving how we talk about and manage our careers with friends and professionals.

Empower Awards 2023

Now that you’ve heard from Charles, our esteemed recipient of Best Career Practitioner from 2022, we have great news to share!

Empower Awards 2023 submissions are now open! If you want to nominate yourself or a career practitioner you know, please refer to this link for submission details.

See you soon at Empower Awards 2023!