HOW TO FIND A CAREER COACH FOR YOU!

There are career coaches out there for EVERYONE, but not every career coach is going to work for you. As someone who is a career coach, has had coaches myself, and knows a number of others, I wanted to put together a series of questions and topics to consider when pursuing a career coach. Remember, just like interviewing for a job, your first conversation with a prospective career coach is a two-way interview and the partnership should work for everyone involved!

Things to think through BEFORE you go on the hunt!

BUDGET! There is career coaching out there for every budget it seems. So, go into your search knowing how much you are looking to spend. Remember, “cheaper” or “more affordable” options often mean group coaching rather than one on one OR you may be dealing with someone that has questionable experience.
GOALS. What do you want to walk away with from this experience? There are career coaches who specialize in a variety of aspects of careers, and you’ll want to formulate questions to make sure the person you hire is experienced in the area you need assistance with.
TIMELINE. How much time per week do you want to spend on this next step of your career? How long do you have before a change “NEEDS” to happen? Each career coach will have their own timeline and style of working with their clients. Not all coaches have flexibility in their systems. Are you okay with following their timeline?

In thinking these items through, you should be able to come up with a series of questions you can ask prospective career coach(es) before hiring them. I’ve listed a few specific questions below to help you get started!

What to ask your career coach BEFORE you hire them!

How would you describe your approach to helping clients reach (INSERT GOAL)?
Do you have experience as a recruiter or hiring manager? What is your experience with ATS (Applicant Tracking Software) technology? (for those looking for a coach who can help them get a new job)
How will our time during our meetings be spent? (Q&A, active collaboration, groups, skill training, etc.)