Career Coaches Near Me

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FAQs:

What is Career Coaching?

Career coaching is an industry that has grown exponentially in the last decade. The goal of career coaching is to empower professionals by helping them make informed decisions about their trajectory. It’s a solution-based approach to career decisions. Career coaches focus on results, actions, and accountability.  They start right where the client is “now”. Most commonly, they use Skype or telephone calls to interact with their clients, which enlarges the audience they can reach out to. Career coaching can be done at any point during the work life of a professional. It can go from finding a student job at the very beginning of your career, building a new CV, and negotiating specific conditions, to guiding you towards your next career step or transition or even retiring. Career coaching will give you the methodology and mindset to make smart professional decisions and find your sweet spot – i.e. which opportunities exist, what you are good at, and what you want from life.

What Does a Career Coach Do?

A career coach helps you clarify the work you want to do and find the roles you’re looking for. A career coach does this by working with you to discover your underlying life purpose so you can find work that’s fulfilling and motivating. That means a career coach can suggest careers you might not have considered before and help you find satisfying work you’re aligned with.

By assessing your personality and skills through various tests, a career coach can give you a different perspective on who you are so you have a better understanding of why your current role or career isn’t working for you. Through asking questions and discussions you can work with your coach to clarify your long-term career goals and create a career plan that will achieve them.

Finally, once you’re clear about what you want, your career coach will help you structure your job search, put together job applications and coach you through the interview process.

1. Help you figure out what you want

Your ideal career will help you make the most of your greatest strengths, tap into your passions, and offer you the right balance of personal satisfaction, financial compensation, creative challenge, and time flexibility so you can enjoy your life.

2. Help you get clear on your career path

An experienced career coach will help you design a career plan that will get you where you want to go, even when the steps aren’t obvious.

3. Work out how to create a coherent career story

If you’ve done a wide range of jobs or worked in more than one industry, your CV can come across as incoherent. That makes it difficult for an employer to understand what you can offer. And if that’s the case, you’re unlikely to get interviews. An objective assessment of you will allow you to tie together your career story to create a compelling narrative that will communicate what you have to offer to any recruiter.

4. Help you figure out your true potential

This is possibly the biggest reason to use a career coach. Unless you just want to be part of the herd, you need to uncover what you may not know you have. The question you need to ask yourself is whether you’re satisfied realizing only part of your professional potential or want to push the envelope and show the world what you are really capable of doing.

How Do Career Coaches Work?

Quality career coaches will not execute your job search for you. However, career coaches can guide you in identifying your interests, finding a job in the digital age, and growing in your career once you land your dream job. Rather than telling you exactly what to do, the best coaches empower you to find answers within yourself. They do this by harnessing the power of deep coaching questions. So in terms of how career coaches work and what to expect in the first few calls/meetings, it’s likely you’ll be asked many questions to identify your current situation, goals, thoughts, and beliefs. Through these questions, the coach will learn more about how they can help you, and you may also start to see your situation more clearly, like the beliefs you hold, obstacles you’re facing, fears that may be stopping you from pursuing an opportunity, etc. Career coaches differ in the services they offer and the type of clients they work with.

How is a Career Coach Different from a Career Counselor?

Career counselors and career coaches have unique approaches to helping clients. The main difference is in the approach each coach and counselor takes.

Career coaches

- Career coaches focus on the current situation and create action goals to help clients move forward.

- A career coach is similar to an athletic coach. They assess where you are and encourage/challenge you to become a better you.  They may focus on outcomes, results, and accomplishments.

Career Counsellors

- Career counselors look at past experiences or barriers that may be causing work challenges.

- A career counselor will assess your situation and subsequently detangle confusion or address the emotional reasons why you’re not making progress in your career – ending with a new direction.

What is a Life Coach?

A life coach is a type of wellness professional who helps people make progress in their lives to attain greater fulfillment. Life coaches aid their clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. Life coaches can help you clarify your goals, identify the obstacles holding you back, and then come up with strategies for overcoming each obstacle. By creating these strategies, life coaches target your unique skills and gifts. By helping you to make the most of your strengths, life coaches provide the support you need to achieve long-lasting change.

Why Get a Life Coach?

Most of us are so set in our ways, that unless we have an objective third party point things out to us, we often fail to notice the things that are setting us back. It’s a monumental undertaking to do this by yourself. With that being said, here are the 10 reasons why you absolutely must have a life coach if you’re serious about succeeding at whatever it is that you’re aiming for.

1. You Have Trouble Following Through With Goals

For most people, achieving goals is hard. It’s not just the art of goal setting that they find difficult but following through. However, a life coach can help you not only define your goals but also to help you find powerful enough reasons for why you must achieve them in the first place.

2.  Limiting Beliefs Have Been Holding You Back

Most of the time, we find it difficult to follow through with things in life because, in our subconscious minds, we have limiting beliefs that are holding us back. A life coach is instrumental in helping you to identify those limiting beliefs so that you can push forward rather than feeling left behind.

3. You Simply Don’t Know Where To Begin

The enormity of big goals can often overwhelm us. It’s hard to get clear on things when you can’t even get past that feeling of helplessness and not knowing where to start. Life coaches can assess your situation and help you get on the path towards taking action toward your dreams.

4. Anxiety And Stress Are Recurring Themes

When you combine all of our responsibilities, from work to family and social lives, it’s easy to see why we get so stressed out. It’s not a good feeling, especially when it feels like the walls are caving in on you. Getting the perspective and outside help that life coaching affords is integral in helping you move past those disheartening emotions.

5. You’re Unable To Define A Clear Vision

Sometimes we feel like we’re living our lives according to someone else’s rules or wishes. We have goals, but they’re not what we really want. Because of that, we lack a clear vision. Life coaches can help you cut through all the noise and get clear on what you want. This is one of the best parts of having a coach on your side, giving you the extra.

6. Your Finances, Health, Relationships, Career, or Business Is In Complete Disarray

If your life is in a state of complete disarray, you might be in drastic need of a coach that will help you get through some of the most difficult times. Whether it’s your finances, your health, your relationships, your career, or your business, oftentimes it’s hard to focus and see the forest through the trees when we’re struggling to move through the fog of today’s complexities.

7. The Passion You Once Had For Life Is Gone

When you lose that passion or that spark for life or business, you need someone there to help move you along. You need someone to help identify the issues that you’ve faced and the upshots in your past that have led you to where you are today. Without that, it’s hard to get that passion and the juice back for your life that you once had.

8. You Get Easily Sidetracked By Time-Wasters

It’s easy to get sidetracked in life. We have bad habits that are hard to quit and it’s difficult to manage our time to make progress. Life coaches aren’t just there to help you achieve your goals, but they’re also there to help you improve your life on so many levels. This includes things like your habits. Considering that habits make up 45% of our behavior, good habits offer a pathway to both discipline and achievement.

9. Your Friends And Family Aren’t Supporting Your Dreams

It’s hard to stay focused on your goals when you don’t have the support of the people around you. When your friends and your family members aren’t supporting your dreams, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. However, your life coach is there for you no matter what. They act as your support system. Even if friends and family aren’t sticking by you, you have them. Although it’s not free, it is well worth it. The experience and knowledge of some life coaches are invaluable instruments in helping us achieve our goals.

10. You’re Completely Lost And Feel Like All Hope Is Gone

If you feel hopeless or like a failure or unable to accomplish anything, you need to do more than read a blog post or watch an empowering video. You need someone there by your side. You need a trainer to help you regain the confidence that you once had and push you closer to your dreams.

How Much Does a Life Coach Cost?

Life coaches who charge by the hour typically range from $75 to $250 per session. In most cases, the life coach will require a minimum number of sessions (usually three to six) to help you achieve your goals. Monthly life coaching fees typically range from $500 for personal coaching to $1500 per month for executive coaching. Many coaches will include some incentives in the package to make it more affordable. If you're serious about making positive changes in your life, you need to be prepared to invest in a coach who can help you make those changes happen. Long-term here means anywhere from six months to two years. Life coaching fees for a long-term commitment can range from $2000 to $5000 per month. The pricing might seem high, but here you will have longer sessions with your life coach compared to the shorter monthly life coaching sessions.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Career Coach?

Similar to the fees many professionals charge, the cost of hiring a career coach varies depending on their experience and credentials, the field of specialty, success rate, and the location of their practice. A career coach who is well known and respected in their field, such as a published author, will be able to charge more than a coach that is not considered an expert. Career coaches who are in high demand or work in cutthroat fields may also charge higher rates. Generally, career coaches charge $75 to $150 per hour. More in-demand career coaching services can run from $250 to $500, occasionally even higher. When you’re choosing a career coach, the bargain option may not be the best. Ask the coach if you can talk to their former clients before you agree to fork over any cash.

Why Career Counseling is Important?

Most students are not confident about their career choices, students need to choose a suitable career keeping in mind his/her interest and future goals. Unfortunately, most of the students are not able to identify their potential, this is when pressure accumulates. In this situation, the role of an experienced career counselor originates, who can help in discovering student potential and suggest the right career path. Due to immense competition, the importance of career counseling has increased a lot, and students have realized that they should explore other fields as well apart from medical and engineering courses based on their skills, aptitude, and future opportunities. The most appropriate time to provide Career Counseling to a child is 8th grade. A student at this stage generally goes through many life changes, both physical and emotional where he is trying to find a way to assimilate with peers and into society. It is recommended that parents have a few sessions with a professional career advisor that will help them in understanding their child’s passion and capabilities better, and thus reassure them to support their career choice with confidence.

How Do You Prepare for a Career Coaching Session?

After you’ve found the right career coach, ask them what you should do to prepare for a session with them. Every career coach is different. Some will want you to come prepared with questions. Others will want you to bring tangible materials, like your current resume or a list of your career goals. If your coach lets you determine your session’s direction, picture beforehand what your desired outcomes are and what relationship you want to have with the career coach. Write these goals down, and then figure out what you have been missing that’s kept you from achieving those things on your own. You can share all this information with your coach, and if you don’t know what you’ve been missing, ask them for input during the session.

What is a Career Coach?

A career coach is someone experienced in a specific field, or the general hiring and recruitment process. They are experts in career planning, resume building, interviewing, and negotiating. While you may only search for a new gig or switch careers a handful of times in your life, these professionals are in the know of current hiring practices because they’re constantly helping job seekers. These professionals understand how to pinpoint the best aspects of your professional experience and market it in the most attractive way possible to potential employers.

The Benefits of Career Coaching

Career coaching is valuable in many ways. Here, we tried to sum up the three main benefits:

You get personalized, expert advice that is tailored to your specific situation. Career coaching will give you the tools to refine your next career step and set out a clear path toward success. Your coach will give you the key to assess your current career situation, identify your strengths and weaknesses as well as your differentiating factors, identify potential skills gaps, and recommend actions to fill them.

You dedicate time to focus on your career. It’s very common among professionals to have the desire to revisit their careers and take on new challenges, but most fail to make time to work on it due to their daily routines. With a career coach, you will have well-defined, realistic goals and a clear action plan, which will make it easier to organize yourself and work towards your career objectives.

You get to test new ideas and messages in a safe environment. Career coaching is a fantastic opportunity to test and improve your pitch. Alongside an expert, you will be able to craft a compelling story that resonates with recruiters and address potential pitfalls in mock interviews. You will gain the confidence needed to build smart and convincing strategies to prove you’re the best candidate for the role.

13 Types Of Career Coaching To Consider

There are many types of career coaching that candidates might consider as they strive toward professional success. Here are 13 types of coaching that may help you address your needs and work purposefully to achieve specific career goals:

1. Career Discovery Coaching

Career discovery coaching can help individuals find a profession that suits their interests and needs. Coaches who offer these services help candidates define their background, skill set, motivations, and goals. From here, coaches can assist candidates in discovering what they can succeed in and enjoy.

2. Resume Development Coaching

This is a targeted career coaching service through which candidates can create effective and organized documents such as resumes and cover letters. Coaches who help resume development services professionals craft these documents and write about their experience successfully. In addition, candidates may learn how to tailor their resumes during the job application process.

3. Mentorship

Some professionals with well-established careers in a field with a high barrier to entry may offer career coaching services through a mentorship approach. These coaches typically provide insight and guidance regarding advancement and professional development. From here, candidates may find more clarity in their career path and feel more confident in their ability to achieve their goals.

4. Interview Coaching

Interview coaching can help candidates develop the confidence and skill needed to participate in screening processes successfully. Those who offer interview coaching services may provide candidates with resources and strategies for speaking eloquently about their competencies, engaging in conversation with hiring personnel and managing anxiety throughout interviews. With this assistance, candidates may become better at presenting themselves in a professional environment and marketing their value.

5. Job Search Coaching

Through job search coaching, candidates may be able to identify more openings and find positions that are right for them. Those who provide job search coaching help candidates review best practices for the job search process and identify strategies for finding roles efficiently. In addition, job search coaches may support professionals with other elements, such as creating resumes and cover letters, to assist them in securing a role.

6. Networking Coaching

Networking coaching can help professionals learn valuable strategies for making connections with others in their field. Coaches who use this approach commonly help their clients understand why networking is important and what tools they can use to engage in it effectively. With this support, professionals may establish a more robust network and identify new opportunities they may have not otherwise found.

7. Salary Negotiation Coaching

Salary negotiation coaching helps professionals understand their needs and advocate for them successfully. Coaches who offer this type of training may help candidates improve their negotiation abilities and develop the self-assurance needed to navigate raises, promotions, and job offers. From here, candidates may be able to better understand their worth and negotiate a suitable compensation package.

8. Career Development Coaching

Career development coaching can help professionals find pathways for advancement and improve their performance in their current position. These types of coaches commonly assist their clients with tasks like exploring new career options, applying for different positions, boosting their productivity, or earning a promotion. With this guidance, professionals can typically achieve the type of career growth they desire.

9. Leadership Coaching

Professionals who have recently received a promotion or want to maximize their leadership abilities may benefit from this type of coaching. Those who offer leadership coaching services can help professionals build self-confidence and identify strategies for overseeing teams effectively. This process may allow novice or diffident leaders to support their teams better and drive forth organizational progress.

10. Executive Coaching

Executive coaching can help senior-level professionals grow in their abilities and improve their strategies. Newly appointed executives commonly pursue this type of coaching to optimize their approach to their work and establish a healthy work-life balance as they take on their new roles. From here, executives can maximize their productivity and make a more significant impact as organizational leaders.

11. Succession Coaching

Succession coaching helps organizations implement structural changes effectively. Those who offer these services may help new leaders, their team members, and other internal stakeholders alike to develop and implement plans that help facilitate transitions smoothly. Therefore, succession coaching can help organizations avoid disruptions in their workflow and maintain a certain level of output.

12. Team-Oriented Coaching

Team-oriented coaching can help groups of professionals maximize their collaborative efforts and build trustful relationships with one another. To do this, coaches who work with teams may offer conflict-resolution training and help establish standardized pathways for giving or receiving feedback. These services may lead teams to create an environment that encourages cooperation, in which they can work together more efficiently.

13. Success Coaching

This type of coaching can help individuals who feel stuck in their personal or professional lives achieve the growth they need to succeed. For example, those who struggle with their work-life balance or professional satisfaction may seek success coaching. Coaches who offer these services may implement a variety of personal development tactics to help motivate their clients and inspire them to overcome the obstacles impeding their progress.

7 Signs You Should Consider Hiring a Career Coach

While some signals are obvious, it’s not always clear when it’s time to seek outside help to advance your career. Here are seven key indicators that a career coach might be a worthwhile investment.

1. You’re experiencing job angst: If you’re bored or frustrated with your job, but don’t know what other career(s) you could pursue, enlisting a career coach is a valuable idea. 

2. You’re struggling with your job search: If you’re sending out resumes without bearing fruit, a career coach can help. This might mean getting no calls in response to a resume, or not being asked to job interviews. For those who do get the call for an interview, a career coach can be a valuable investment if you’re not receiving offers.

3. Your professional brand needs work: To market yourself, you need to consider your professional brand, and this starts with a strong resume. If you need help crafting a resume, cover letters, and other materials, or if you are seeking tips on how to present yourself in your best light in job interviews, a career coach can be a good choice. Career coaches can help craft resumes, cover letters, elevator pitches, and all the other facets of developing your professional brand to be successful in your job search or your career progression.

4. Your career has stalled: Another clear sign a career coach is for you: You’re not moving up the career ladder, despite your hard work. 

5. You’re challenged to stand out from the crowd: It’s important to present yourself as more than just a collection of skills and credentials. In extremely competitive labor markets, homing in on your unique strengths and passion can make all the difference, and a career coach can help you identify and build on those strengths, helping you to stand out as the perfect fit for that next role.

6. You struggle with self-motivation: Advancing your career is challenging work, and at times, even the most motivated individuals can find themselves slacking or burnt out. If you find yourself in need of someone “neutral” to hold you accountable for achieving your goals, a career coach is a good bet. 

7. You’re ambitious: If you are looking to accelerate your journey to achieving your career goals, a career coach can be a catalyst. You can’t expect your dream career to fall into your lap; you must prioritize success, and with a career coach by your side, achieving your professional goals can be that much more likely.

10 Questions To Ask Your Career Coach

While interviewing potential career coaches, consider asking the following questions to help select the best career coach for you:

1. What is your background in career coaching?

Years of experience aren’t the most crucial qualification of a career coach, but learning about their background can be. There are several certifications a career coach can possess that can help amplify their credibility. Ask about their education and professional development specifically relating to career coaching. 

2. Why did you decide to become a career coach?

Ideally, your career coach chooses this profession because they are passionate about helping others. However, it’s important to recognize that in the field of career coaching, there are people who have ulterior motives. Ask your coach to explain what motivates them about their career and what led them down that career path. 

3. What is your coaching style and what influences it?

This is a very important question! Every person has a learning style that benefits them more than others. The same goes for a coaching style. The two main camps of career coaching styles are directive and non-directive. Directive coaching is where the client is given clear, tangible steps on how to think about their goals and work towards them. Non-directive, on the other hand, is based more on prompting the client to think about how to achieve their goals on their own. Think about which one might work with your learning style best, and go with a career coach who implements it. 

4. How will you help me define my career goals?

Half the people who pursue a career coach know exactly what direction they want to go and need help figuring out the route. The other half doesn’t know what direction to go and needs guidance on how to move forward in one direction. By asking the coach how they will help you define your goals, you will be able to see if they are better suited to support one type of client over the other. 

5. Do you help clients with their resumes and cover letters?

Most people benefit from having a professional review their resume and cover letter. Trends in both documents are always evolving and formatting for each can be difficult to get right. If you feel uncertain about the quality of your resume and cover letter, you want a career coach who feels confident in their ability to produce effective documents. 

6. What kind of industries have you explored, and are you able to give guidance on them?

If you are interested in owning a small business, a career coach who has primarily worked in corporate settings might not be able to offer the most relevant insight. Ask your prospective career coach about what kind of in-depth knowledge they have for the industries that interest you. 

7. Do you have experience in negotiating salary and benefits?

Having real, firsthand experience negotiating salary offers important insight. Engaging in negotiations can feel intimidating and risky. By learning from someone who has personal experience, they can offer tips and tools on how to remain empowered throughout the conversation. 

8. How do you guide for overcoming obstacles?

Employment obstacles affect professionals at every stage of their careers. A career coach can act as a mentor for maneuvering through those hardships. It can be easy to become discouraged during the job search if you keep hitting dead ends. Entry-level positions can face conflict with their management team. Mid-level people might start to experience burnout. Whatever the hardship, you want a career coach who can empathize and give effective advice. 

Try asking your prospective career coach about how they resolve conflict, what kinds of professional obstacles they’ve overcome, and testimonials from previous clients about how their advice has helped. 

9. Can you help me identify my strengths and weaknesses?

One of the best ways to hone in your professional skills is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Doing so requires vulnerability and self-awareness, which can be challenging for some to move through. A career coach should be able to provide support in identifying your skills and areas of improvement, which will allow you to make informed decisions about your professional growth. 

10. Can you help me prepare for interviews?

Interviews are all subjective, but there are general themes that are typically followed in most industries. Working with a career coach can help you to ace your interview. They will be able to guide you through developing concrete responses to common interview questions, and hopefully, they will be able to practice mock interviews with you too.

6 Top Tips On Choosing A Career Coach That’s Right For You

1. Research your options: Check LinkedIn profiles to see client recommendations and ask people in your network for suggestions and referrals.

2. Check experience: How much experience does your coach have – and are they any good? Check out their background here and read what their clients have had to say about them.

3. What is their area of expertise? Some coaches have different areas of focus, such as working only with executives or career changers. Decide what you’re looking for in your career coach and then find out if they offer what you want and need.

4. Are they right for you? Finding the right person for you is as important as any other factor when looking for a career coach. Do you find them easy to talk to? Are they accessible?

5. Dip your toe in the water. If you’re unsure whether coaching is for you, book a session. This will give you a sense as to whether it’s suitable for you without making a big financial commitment.

6. Manage your expectations. Your coach can help you get “unstuck” and find the answers that are right for you. A coach helps you stay on track with your goals, explore options, and handle different elements of a job search – including rejection. Expect to go through a thought process to work out what’s important to you, but a coach won’t tell you what job to do.

What to Expect from Career Coaching?

A career coach can help you:

1. Gain clarity and become more self-aware – With a career coach, you can learn more about yourself and your beliefs, perspectives, strengths, talents, values, and passions. This greater self-awareness can not only allow you to shift to experience yourself, others, and the world in a much more positive way, but can also help you better understand what you need in a career to find greater meaning, purpose, and fulfillment.

2. Overcome inertia – Inertia can keep you stuck in a job you don’t enjoy, trying to justify why you should stay. The stress of making a decision, or fear of making the wrong decision, can make it seem easier and safer to stay with the status quo. A career coach can help you break free of inertia, conquer that feeling of being “stuck” and make powerful progress toward your career goals.

3. Explore and discover the right career fit for you – A career coach will help you more effectively navigate the overwhelming maze of possibilities and bring you to a sense of “knowing” which career path is right for you, guiding you to create a career road map designed to achieve your long-term goals.

4. Develop your skills – Just as performing a job requires specific skills, finding a job also involves a certain skill set. A career coach will help you master those you need for your job search, such as networking, interviewing, presenting, and negotiating. Career coaches also help professionals leverage their experience and talents to find new ways to apply these skills.

5. Achieve better work-life balance – No matter what your current or desired career is, striking a balance between your professional and personal commitments and goals can be a major challenge. A coach can work with you on reducing stress levels, better managing time, learning to say “no” more often, and setting and sticking to priorities. The result is greater satisfaction, better sleep, enhanced relationships, and improved mood management.

These are just some of the results you can expect from working with an effective, qualified career coach. If you’re dissatisfied with your current career and want to transition to a new career that better aligns with your values, interests, and passions, hiring a career coach is a great first step.

What not to Expect from a Career Coaching Program?

 A  career coach is a facilitator, not a fortune teller. Don’t expect your career coach to tell you what to do with your life. They will give you the keys to discovering what you want. Use them as a guide and mentor to make long-lasting changes in your professional life, position yourself for success and make the most out of your skills and knowledge to meet your career goals. Be accountable for your career decisions.

Don’t expect your career coach to do everything for you. Of course, you need to listen to your career coach’s advice and learn from their tips, but more than an observant you are a doer in this process. Let the collaboration flow. Coaching does not work unless you do. Your coach won’t come with you to interviews, nor will they find you a job or rewrite your CV every time you need to update it. Your coach will assist you with your career challenges and job application process but won’t do it for you. Be prepared to take action!

Don’t expect to not be challenged by your career coach. Your coach will make sure your career project is solid by challenging your initial ideas. They will do it until you feel comfortable with your next career step. It is important to question your goal to make it consistent. Be open to challenges!

Steps on How to Prepare for a Career Coach Meeting

Here are four ways to ensure that you’ll be making the most out of your first meeting.

1. Be Ready to Tell Your Story

Having this expert in your corner can be a transformative experience, but that doesn’t mean he or she is an all-knowing wizard. The person you hire won’t know anything about you that you do not tell him or her. For some reason, many people are surprised when they realize they’re expected to share where they are in their career and how they got there. This makes for a clunky start.

While you’re not expected to give your elevator pitch per se, you should consider what information might be important for your coach to know going forward. It might be obvious from your resume that you’ve been in PR for several years now, but how did you get your start and what drew you to it in the first place? What parts of that career do you want to take with you to your next one and what would you like to leave behind? He or she will help you work through these questions as well, but it’s helpful to begin mulling them over yourself in preparation.

2. Prepare Some Questions

One way to make sure you get what you want out of this is to know what questions you want answered. Yes, you want your resume reviewed or to receive a job offer, but what are your specific questions about getting there? You can get the really big picture and abstract about it (think: career values) or down to the nitty-gritty details (think: how to find out who to address your cover letter to).

It doesn’t matter if your questions are big or small, it just matters that you have them. Because knowing them means you have a sense of what you’re looking for, and that’s an important first step in finding it. So, before your first session, take some time to jot down a few. Just note you might not get all your answers in one session, especially if one is something like, “What is my calling in life?”—but it’s a place to begin the conversation.

3. Take Out a Pen

Many coaches will take notes during your session, and some will even provide you with them at the end. Regardless, you should be taking your own to track your thoughts and ideas throughout the process. It might occur to you that you should chat with that contact your uncle gave you a long time ago. That’s the kind of thing you won’t find in someone else’s notes and that you’re likely to forget once the moment has passed. So really, jot down anything that comes to mind—even if it’s in shorthand.

4. Have Appropriate Expectations

Will meeting with a career coach make your dream company offer you your dream job?

No. But, you will likely get some strategies for how to create a good target list of companies and some concrete steps to take to get you closer to the path you envision. It’s important to understand this is not a silver bullet for all of your job woes and that it’s frequently not a one-and-done thing.

You’ll certainly get some tangible takeaways—maybe a new resume, cover letter tips, a networking plan, or some much-needed structure in a very unstructured process—but be aware that many are less obvious. Expect lots of self-reflection. If all goes well, you’ll be leaving your meeting with a better sense of what your interests, skills, and values are, too.

How to Find a Career Coach

The process of finding a career coach is a lot like dating someone new or applying for a new job. Both parties should feel like the relationship is a naturally good fit. So to find the right career coach for you, follow these four steps:

Step #1: Review Their Background and Check for Certifications

Check out a potential career coach’s website and social media. Read through their messaging -- especially the story on their About Us page -- to see what they’re really like. While you’re sleuthing around, it’s also a good idea to look for professional certifications. Do they belong to any career coaching associations? Badges like these show that your career coach is equipped with the tools and skills they need to help you succeed. Certifications also usually mean your coach has a proven framework of success that can be replicated to fit your situation. And that’s what will save you time in the short and long run.

Step #2: Look for Testimonials (But Don’t Stop There)

In today’s digital world, testimonials are an absolute must-have. Without hearing other success stories, it can be risky to put all your faith and hard-earned money behind a career coach. So if the coach you’re checking out doesn’t have strong testimonials to back up their “proven approach,” consider moving on to the next. Keep in mind, thousands of glowing recommendations that sound too vague or too good to be true should also be a red flag. So ignore the generic messages plastered all over their website and look for specific details in each testimonial. If you can find interviews with potential success stories, that’s even better. Check out case studies or examples in the coach’s podcast episodes or blog posts. Then you’ll have a much better gauge of what’s going on.

Step #3: Test Out Their Freebies First

Before forking over your hard-earned dollars, try to get a free sample of each potential coach’s process. Sign up for one of their free offers, join their email list, or start following them on social media. You’ll score a preview of what to expect, whether you receive a free consult, an online guide, an email course, or insider tips and tricks. And it’s an excellent way to get to know the coach and their style before committing.

Step #4: Make a List and Start Interacting with Your Top Picks

Once you have a few coaches picked out, start researching and comparing what each program offers. Then contact your top picks. One-on-one interactions with potential coaches let you see whether your vibes mesh well together. And your calls, emails, and other online interactions will show whether their glowing testimonials are authentic.

Sources:

Business News Daily

Very Well Mind

Education Fort

Bonsai

Planet Expat

Career Consultants

Jody Michael Associates

WWR

Wanderlust Worker

CIO

Career Sidekick

Indeed

The Muse

WIZCO

Career

 

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