Career coaching is a professional service designed to guide individuals through various stages of their career development. In other words, a career coach acts as your accountability partner and guide at any point during your career. As such, we provide guidance to accelerate your job search, advance your career, evaluate your career options, navigate a career change, prepare your marketing materials (resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile), and assist with your personal branding. We can even help you succeed in a new role.
Unfortunately, not everyone has a clear understanding of what a career coach does for you. Common misconceptions include that we “get” you a new job, or a well-done resume is all you need to get you the job you want. Let me share with you a few things you should know about working with a career coach.
Your career coach is not only an accountability partner and guide; we are your educator, facilitator, and biggest cheerleader.
Just as with business, life, and health coaches, anyone can claim to be a career coach. For career coaches, you ideally want to choose one who is credentialed through the NCDA (National Career Development Association) or ICF (International Coaching Federation) and who can provide prior client testimonials.
Career coaches must abide by a Code of Ethics which defines acceptable standards of professional behavior and serves to protect the public. One of the most important parts of the Code of Ethics is the assurance of your privacy and complete confidentiality.
We cannot do the work for you. You need to fully invest your time and effort in order to benefit from a career coaching package. For this reason, we cannot assist someone who is an unwilling participant in the coaching process.
While career coaches are not mental health experts and cannot provide such services, we will refer you to a mental health professional when you are in need.
A career coach can’t tell you “what to be”. However, we will make suggestions of careers to consider based on various assessments that determine your skills, strengths, interests, and values.
We ask a lot of questions. Questions such as “What did you dream about doing as a teenager?” “Who do you admire the most?” “What has been your greatest accomplishment?” “When did you start to feel this way?” “Where do you want to be one year from now?” can reveal a lot about you and your current situation.
In many cases, one or two sessions will be not enough to resolve your career issues. In fact, it typically takes between 8-10 hours of coaching to make the progress you’d like to see.
Coaching packages and prices vary widely, but you can expect to pay anywhere between $75/hour to $250/hour. My Dreamweaver package includes 9 sessions, but I frequently customize smaller packages if I determine that a client doesn’t need assistance in all aspects of their job search or career pivot.
Just as with all relationships, not all clients and coaches are the right fit. Every coach has their own style and may use slightly different tools and methods. It’s essential that both parties feel comfortable, so take advantage of those free discovery calls that many coaches offer to find a coach who feels right for you.
In conclusion, career coaching is a valuable resource that can significantly impact your professional journey. By understanding the role of a career coach and what to expect from the process, you can make informed decisions about how to navigate your career path. While the process may require time and effort, the rewards of clarity, direction, and success make it well worth the investment.