What Does A Career Coach Do?

Many people don’t realize that there are different types of career coaches who specialize in specific areas.

Clarifying what you want help with can help you choose the right type of career coach.

• A job search coach can help you get that new job much faster with the latest job search strategies, creating compelling resumes, and helping you ace your interview.
• A career coach who specializes in career exploration and helping you uncover your dream career can help you find a career you love.
• If you want to get promoted in your career or improve your leadership skills, a leadership coach can help you figure out what skills to hone to get to the next level and what strategies and actions can take you there.
• If you are ready to start your own business, a business coach can considerably shorten the time it takes to get started and set you up for success right from the start.

Some coaches specialize in more than one area and most coaches can help you with achieving better work-life balance, learning more about yourself or getting unstuck etc.

What do you want help with? Choose the type of coach who specializes in that area.

What to Look For In a Career Coach

Now that you have identified the type of coach who you want to work with, you can find coaches by:

• Asking people who you know for recommendations
• Doing searches on Google, LinkedIn, Yelp, or Social Media

As you look at their Website, articles, social media posts, newsletter, etc. do their thoughts and ideas resonate with you?

Do the testimonials on their Website (or LinkedIn or Yelp) speak to you?

Most coaches offer a free introductory session to see if you are a good fit. Schedule a conversation and consider the following important criteria as you choose a coach to work with:

1. Connection

Do you resonate with this person and do you feel a connection? How is the energy?

If you feel understood, excited, and inspired by the discussion, that’s a good sign. If you are also feeling a little scared, that is normal. Whenever we are about to commit to something that might involve change, part of us gets scared because we are moving outside of our comfort zone. The only way we grow and try new things is by moving beyond our comfort zone, so that is a good thing as well!

If you don’t feel comfortable with your Coach, the process is not going to work well, even if they might have great experience or expertise. So look for someone who you would look forward to talk to.

2. Strong Coaching Experience and Training

Anybody can call themselves a coach, whether they have received coach training and have coaching experience or not. So it’s up to you to read up on their background on their Website or ask them about it.

There are so many different coach training programs out there, the most important part is that they have chosen to get certified, committed themselves to continuous learning and have been coaching for a number of years.

3. Their Work Experience

If you are looking for a leadership coach because you want to become a better manager or leader, you probably want to talk to someone who has managed people or been a leader in an organization before.

Ask yourself if their work experience is relevant to what you want help with.

4. Does their approach resonate with you?

There are many different approaches out there that can work. The important part is that it’s an approach that makes sense to you and that you like.

When they explain their process and approach with you, do you like what you hear?

Do you like the way they are approaching your issue in your conversation so far?

5. Do they look at the whole person and understand what gets in the way of your career success?

Oftentimes what is holding us back is not so obvious and may take some deeper work. Do they understand that while they will help you work on your goal (whether it’s finding the right career for you, getting better at interviewing, becoming a more effective leader, or starting your own business) there may be internal obstacles that are getting in the way? Are they comfortable talking about and addressing these obstacles?

Is hiring a career coach worth the investment?

 A client recently told me that when it comes to sports, she would think that any athlete who tried to work without a coach is crazy.

It makes complete sense in the sports world to have someone to give you feedback, create strategies, motivate and inspire you. So why wouldn’t every professional want to have a coach to work with?

I think many of us are hesitant to reach out for help, believing that we should be able to figure this out on our own. However, it is impossible for any of us to see ourselves and our situation clearly because we are in it.

As a result, many of us stay in unhappy situations far too long, somehow hoping or wishing that something will change.

At some point, we take some ineffective steps like combing through job search sites, hoping that the answer to our problems will magically appear. We ask a friend for advice. Then we get busy with work and get distracted from our goal again.

In order to really move forward and make a truly positive change, it really helps to have someone knowledgeable by our side who holds us accountable.

A career coach is an investment in yourself as well as your future. Not only will you grow as a person, but it can help you discover your dream career or get you to your next promotion more quickly.

Results require an investment. How important are your career growth, your fulfillment, and your happiness to you?

Manuela loves helping mid-level professionals create a career and life they love through career exploration and leadership coaching. You can sign up here for her monthly newsletter with helpful tips and course announcements.