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Seeking professional career help always remains an option for persons struggling with their job search. Whether to hire a resume writer, career coach, counselor or other type consultant depends on your ability to plan, execute and manage the job search as well as the urgency of your situation. You can attempt to engage the market yourself or enlist the services of a practitioner.

The decision is no different than hiring a real estate agent to sell your home. Your can use the trial-and-error method, consult self-help guides and chances are that might get the job done. Or, you can incur considerable expense, experience no success whatsoever unloading your house, and eventually call in an expert to recover the situation. In the latter, you've exhausted time and put yourself in financial jeopardy if you're already into a mortgage on another home and facing double payments.

There are reasons for considering professional career help. Job hunting is not something the average person does on a daily basis. Most of us have limited experience writing a resume, locating opportunities and interviewing for a job. We need someone who understands the game and who can capably advise us. Choices vary.

Community-based resources such as the Dayton Job Center and other programs are designed to teach and assist individuals on how to engage the market. Beyond that are fee-based services offering more individualized help. Neither can guarantee finding you a job. It remains your responsibility to apply the knowledge, the training, the insight provided and either use public or contracted services to strategically maneuver through the job-hunting process.

Every month out of work represents lost income, not to mention the frustration of having doors slammed in your face or the angst of family and friends questioning your marketability. Establish how long you can afford to plow the market on your own before you must solicit help. Be honest and admit when the task is beyond you.

Steve Stromp is a professional career consultant, lecturer and writer. Contact him at sstromp@sbcglobal.net.