What Is a Career Coach? What They Do and How to Find One to Fit Your Needs

Key takeaways

• A career coach is a professional who helps clients with their careers and typically has experience and training in areas such as resume creation, interview preparation, and career development.

• A career coach does many things to help their clients start their careers, assess their current jobs, and make career changes, often performing tasks such as creating professional goals, providing advice on in-demand skills, offering job application feedback, aiding with interview preparation, and updating their resume and professional profile.

• The benefits of career coaching include helping you find a better fit if you’re not happy in your current job, supporting you in resolving work challenges, and providing job search strategies, help with your resume and cover letters, and interviewing tips.

Look for a career counselor you feel compatible with and who has key skills like communication, active listening, and goal-setting skills, along with professional qualifications and expertise. Learn more about what a career coach does, who benefits from working with one, and how to find one.

Afterward, enroll in the Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization from the University of Maryland to start gaining skills and exploring strategies to help you along your career journey. Throughout this five-course series, you'll have opportunities to build skills such as negotiation, persuasive communication, and public speaking.

What is a career coach?

Career coaches aim to help their clients navigate their careers. A career coach has expertise in employment-related services, such as career counseling, career development, resume creation, and interview preparation.

Everyone can benefit from career coaching. But it can be pricey, so it tends to be an investment for someone seeking to make some type of career change.

What does a career coach do?

A career coach is a trained professional who helps clients move forward on their career path. Together, clients and coaches can address a number of areas, including making a career change, preparing a job application, negotiating an offer, or reflecting on what's working in their current role.

If you are interested in working with a career coach, here are some ways they may help you:

• Assess your career trajectory

• Create career goals and generate pathways

• Navigate career transitions

• Advise you on skills-building to strengthen your position

• Update your resume and public-facing social media profiles

• Offer feedback on job applications

• Secure informational interviews

• Prepare for informational or job interviews

• Write business communications

• Prepare to ask for a promotion

• Assess job offers and help you negotiate

Learn more: Career Change at 40: Moving Into Your Next Stage

4 ways a career coach can help you

It used to be more common for people to work with career coaches later in their careers, such as those at the senior or executive level, but now people seek career coaching at any career stage. Consider hiring one if:

1. You're unhappy in your current role.

If you're unhappy with what you currently do, you may be able to identify a better fit by working with a career coach. These professionals can work with you to reflect on what you're not enjoying about your current job, provide a number of assessment tests, and work to understand where your skill set may be better suited.

It's also possible you just need to resolve some problems at work. A career coach can provide guidance for dealing with difficult coworkers, achieving better work-life balance, or getting more training.

2. You need an effective job search strategy.

Career coaches can work with you to build an effective job search strategy, so you're not left handling that workload alone. This can be especially useful if you're attempting to pivot to a new career or industry, but it can be just as valuable if you're seeking a role that's a better fit or something more advanced.

Career coaches may work with you to evaluate job postings to determine their fit, identify professional networking opportunities, and even provide a degree of emotional support as you set about looking for and applying to jobs.

3. You need resume support.

As the number of applicants per job grows and as applicant tracking systems establish new barriers to entry, a career coach can help you craft and strengthen your resume so you stand out.

Some ways a career coach can help improve your resume include:

• Tailoring it to each job application

• Using well-written descriptions and industry-appropriate keywords

• Highlighting your results and achievements rather than just listing your skills

• Making it visually appealing with a simple layout and attractive formatting

• Ensuring it is free of spelling or grammatical errors

4. You want to improve your interviewing skills.

Working with a career coach allows you to practice your interviewing skills, build more confidence in the professional story you share, and strengthen your answers. A career coach can also help you understand the unique strengths an employer might be looking for and support you if a job interview doesn't go your way.

Additional benefits of hiring a career coach

Whether you're just starting out in the job market or moving from a long-held position, hiring a career coach offers additional benefits. These might include:

• Improved goal setting

• More confidence

• A chance to build your professional network

• A space for career discussion before making decisions

• A stronger personal brand

What should I look for in a career coach?

When selecting a career coach, it's essential to evaluate both their professional qualifications and personal compatibility with your needs. Look for someone with relevant certifications, proven experience, and a track record of success in your industry or desired career path.

A good career coach should demonstrate clear communication skills, active listening, and a structured approach to helping you achieve your goals. During the initial consultation, assess their coaching methodology, communication style, and whether their expertise aligns with your specific needs. Pay attention to how they explain their process, fee structure, and expected outcomes. You may also want to seek out online reviews and determine how other clients felt about working with them.

The right career coach should feel like a trusted partner who not only understands your professional aspirations but also provides the accountability, guidance, and support needed to achieve them. Remember, this is a personal investment in your career development, so take time to ensure the fit feels right before committing.

Some qualities to look for in a career coach:

• Knowledge

• Experience

• Good communication skills

• Good listening skills

• Positive attitude

• Directness

• Accountability

• Warmth

• Sense of humor

Keep your budget in mind to ensure you can afford to work with a career coach. To determine what you'll get for your fee, you can ask for one session as a test run.

How much does career coaching cost?

Depending on various factors, career coaching can cost between $80 and $550 per hour, according to the coaching firm Pinnacle, although your location, the complexity of the services you need, and the coach’s level of expertise can impact the cost [1]. For instance, a career coach who just graduated with a bachelor's degree and has little experience may charge lower fees. In contrast, the prices for a well-respected career coach who has written books on the topic would likely fall on the higher end.

A career coach may charge more based on the following:

• Years of experience

• Details about their training

• Certifications attained

How to find a career coach

Here are some steps you can take to find a coach who can fit your needs:

1. Recognize the type of support you need.

The process of finding a career coach starts with knowing what you hope to get out of your career coaching experience, whether that’s switching careers or a skill set you’ll need to develop in order to get there. Many career coaches can help in all areas of career planning, but some might specialize in specific areas. Career coaches with specializations may highlight their area of expertise on their website or wherever they advertise their services.

Also, take into account the type of support that feels most motivating to you. Some people seeking a career change opt for alternative coaching styles, such as spiritual coaches, meditation coaches, or life coaches, rather than a traditional career coach. This may help illuminate how your career change fits into the entire structure of your life.

2. Determine your career coach search criteria.

Once you know more about the support you are looking for, you may have some logistical considerations that can help you narrow down your search. Consider the following:

Remote or in-person? Career coaches may work with clients in person, on the phone, or over video chat. Think about the meeting structure that feels most beneficial for you. If you're looking to meet your career coach in person, you'll need to search within your area.

Are they certified? Although career coaches aren’t required to hold any specific credential, there are a few different certification options available. If you want some extra reassurance surrounding your coach’s skills and expertise, you may want to consider finding a credentialed or certified coach. Some popular career coaching certifications include Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC), credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), or Board Certified Coach (BCC).

3. Consider how much you're willing to pay.

Career coaching is an investment. Coaches can arrange their own pricing structure, but many will charge between $80 to $550 per session. Depending on their experience and expertise, some coaches may charge much more.

Consider the potential value of career coaching in your life. Ask yourself the following:

• How many sessions are you aiming for?

• Do you want an accelerated process with weekly check-ins or a long-term approach?

• Do you have a target salary in mind? What are your professional goals?

• How much are you willing to pay for coaching?

Some of these answers will vary depending on your career coach's recommendations and preferences. Some coaches are flexible and work with clients to determine a cadence that works for both of you, while other coaches have developed a structured plan with high success rates.

You'll want to shop around for a coach and a plan that aligns with your financial needs and career goals.

4. Find your career coach.

With your goals, criteria, and budget in mind, you’re ready to start your search. A good place to start is referrals. If you know anyone who has worked with a career coach, ask if they would recommend their coach.

Some certification websites, such as ICF, also have search functions allowing you to find a coach based on your criteria. You can also find a coach through a general internet search. To help verify a coach’s offerings, browse their website, social media pages, and reviews of their business.

5. Schedule an introductory session.

Regardless of where you find your coach, schedule an introductory session or consultation before committing to any services. You can also ask your prospective coach for references. It’s important to have confidence that you and your coach will work well together in order to reach your goals.

Can ChatGPT be a career coach?

ChatGPT can perform functions similar to those of a career coach, including providing AI-powered assistance with resume and cover letter creation. If you want cost-effective options with maximum accessibility and availability all day, every day, ChatGPT could be a solid choice. However, ChatGPT has limitations, including a lack of understanding of context, body language, and empathy. If you want more emotional support and motivation, interpersonal interactions, custom experiences, and strategies that adapt along with your needs, a human career coach may be a more suitable option.

Alternatives to career coaching

Depending on your budget and needs, you may want to consider alternatives to career coaching. Some of the following require no monetary investment.

1. Career counseling

Often employed in schools and employment agencies, career counselors tend to work with graduates and early-career individuals. While their services can overlap with a career coach, they more typically take a psychological approach that focuses on career exploration and discovery in order to determine the best career fit.

2. Virtual career coaching groups

If you are comfortable learning in a virtual group setting, you can find group career coaching sessions at a reduced cost compared to a personal session. Conduct an online search to see if there are any available that meet your needs. Virtual group coaching allows you to listen quietly, ask questions, and get support from other participants.

3. Self-study

If you enjoy learning independently, you may want to consider self-study. Try using a common coaching acronym: GROW.

• Goal: Think about your career goal and why you want to achieve it.

• Reality: Consider whether you can realistically attain your goal.

• Options: Think about the various ways to put your plan into action.

• Will: Consider whether you have the dedication needed to reach your goal.

Explore bite-sized ideas for meaningful career growth

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• Watch on YouTube: AI Is Changing Work—these Skills Keep You Relevant

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