Why coaching?
A process perspective
Most people apply too early – and to too many roles. Not because they lack commitment, but because the foundations are missing.
Many professionals invest heavily in applications – and learn little in the process. They submit applications, receive rejections, and refine individual formulations. The real lever remains untouched: clarity about what they are looking for – and how they position themselves. Without this foundation, job search becomes a random process. Job search and applications are usually the final steps of a longer process. It begins with a personal and professional assessment: clarifying your goals, strengths and requirements regarding role and environment. Building on this, targeted job research can be useful – a more in-depth exploration of potential roles, industries or markets.
In practice, this part is often not addressed thoroughly enough. Many enter the job market without knowing what they are looking for. The result: a drawn-out job search with many rejections – followed only then by the realisation that the foundations are missing.
The myth of applications
Advice on applications is plentiful – and often contradictory. Those who follow every tip quickly lose their own direction. It becomes particularly problematic when recommendations are adopted without understanding their purpose.
The fundamentals remain constant: applications are communication. It is about self-awareness – and the ability to convey this clearly. Channels and standards change. The content remains decisive. Do not let questions of form distract you from what matters: what you have to say.
Applications are not product marketing – but a work sample
You are not a product – but an investment. Companies are not interested in self-assessments, but in concrete evidence of how you work. They want to understand how you think and act – and form their own impression in personal interaction. It is not what you claim that convinces, but what you demonstrate.
Your behaviour throughout the application process makes exactly this visible. Structure, clarity and initiative are reflected not only in interviews, but already in your documents and your overall approach. In this sense, every application is also a first work sample.
AI in job search and applications
AI is changing the application process – on both sides. Candidates use it to create documents; companies increasingly use it in recruitment. What appears efficient often leads to interchangeability: application documents become increasingly similar, and personality is lost.
In coaching, we look at where AI adds value – and where it does not. AI can help with structuring and refining. But it cannot replace what companies are really looking for: a person with a clear, individual voice. The goal is not to formulate faster – but to become clearer.
What the coaching achieves
Understanding recruiters’ needs
Those who understand how recruiters and hiring managers think – and what they look for – approach applications differently. You no longer base your actions on assumptions, but on understanding. This changes not only your documents, but your entire approach.
Your documents: distinctive rather than interchangeable
Application documents that make your experience and expertise tangible – without self-assessments, without generic application language. You no longer state what you are – you show how you work. Depending on your profile, we enhance your documents with targeted additions, such as a track record, project list or publication list. Your LinkedIn profile is also included.
Job search as a strategy
You become familiar with the various search channels in both the open and hidden job market – and develop a strategy that suits you. As needed, we analyse job advertisements together, discuss speculative applications or structure your application process. This allows you to approach your job search more systematically.
Become your own headhunter
You benefit from my more than 25 years of experience in job search and recruitment. I provide you with an approach that enables you to manage your application process independently. This gives you clarity and direction.
How we proceed
Initial conversation (by phone or online)
In a 15-minute complimentary initial meeting, you get to know my way of working and clarify your expectations.
Preparation
You send me your application documents and, ideally, a specific job advertisement. You receive a script that explains the application process and its underlying principles. This allows you to place the coaching content in context.
Session 1
We analyse your application documents and develop concrete improvements for your CV, motivation letter and – if required – additional documents. At the same time, you receive input on how to further develop your LinkedIn profile.
Follow-up
You implement the agreed adjustments and revise your documents. These then form the basis for the second session.
Session 2
We review your revised documents and refine them further together. Depending on your needs, we then develop a clear job search strategy and structure your next steps.
Your coach
.
Peter Näf
Master of Arts Universität Zürich
Executive Master of HR Management
Professional career
Motivation
How I work
Practical details
Location
Mühlebachstrasse 43 in Zurich (near Stadelhofen station) or online via MS Teams.
Duration
2 sessions of 90 minutes each.
Session length
60 or 90 minutes
Scope
- 15-minute complimentary initial meeting
- 2 coaching sessions of 90 minutes each
- Comprehensive materials on job search and applications
- Templates for application documents (CV, motivation letter, etc.)
Terms and conditions
Business policy
Your next step
If you feel that your job search is not delivering the results you expect – or if you are not even sure where to begin – a first conversation is worthwhile. In a 15-minute complimentary initial meeting, you will get to know my way of working – and then decide whether this approach suits you.
Phone +41 (0)76 223 97 88 or via E-mail, WhatsApp or Threema.