Hiring a career coach can be one of the smartest investments you make in yourself and your career… if you choose the right career coach. This page should serve as your checklist for when you talk to career coaches that you’re considering so you can make an educated decision.
If you’re like many people, you’ve probably never used a career coach before. Make sure that when you contact them and request information, you are prepared with a list of questions you want to get answered so you can feel comfortable with the career coach’s expertise and coaching program.
Below are three checklists you can use you when you choose a career coach:
- What are the steps for how to choose a career coach?
- What questions should I ask when choosing a career coach?
- What criteria should I consider when choosing a career coach?
Step-By-Step: How to Choose a Career Coach
- Find career coaches near you and contact them to request more information. A responsive career coach should be in touch within one business day.
- Identify your specific needs and decide which ones are most important to you:
- Is it more important to you that the career coach is an expert with extensive experience, or that the coach is cheap?
- Do you want help with identifying alternative job and career options, preparing effective marketing documents (resume, LinkedIn profile and cover letter), learning how to search for a job, interviewing or something else?
- Do you want to buy one coaching session at a time or are you okay with signing a contract requiring a minimum number of sessions?
- Do you want private 1 to 1 coaching or do you prefer grouping?
- Prepare your list of questions to ask the career coach. (Feel free to use the list of questions we prepared below!)
- Conduct your interviews. Don’t be afraid to ask questions until you are satisfied with the answers. You should be confident in the information you’re getting.
- Make the final decision on which career coach is right for you using the criteria list below.
- Get excited! You just took the first step to find an exciting new job and career!
Top 12 Questions to Ask Your Career Coach Before Choosing
We have prepared a list of starter questions to begin your conversations with different career coaches. Having the answers to the question on this list can help you make a more confident decision about which career coach is the best match for your needs. Print this list and have it handy when you talk to career coaches.
- What career coaching services do you offer (career clarity, resume prep, job search, interviewing, etc.)?
- How do you help your clients achieve their career goals?
- Do you offer one-to-one or group coaching?
- What makes you and your services different from other career coaches?
- How many coaching sessions will it take to help me?
- What do I need to do to prepare for the first coaching session?
- Will I have homework between coaching sessions?
- Do you require a minimum number of coaching sessions?
- How much does your coaching cost?
- Do you charge extra fees for career assessments?
- What days of the week and times of the day do you offer career coaching sessions?
- How do you meet with clients (in a private office, by phone, Skype, etc.)?
- Do you have references?
Checklist of Things to Consider When Choosing a Career Coach
Everyone has different needs when it comes to selecting a career coach that is right for them, but below are some things to consider when comparing career coaches:
- Types of career coaching services offered
- Quality of career coaching program
- How services are offered (e.g. 1 to 1 or group)
- Convenience (e.g. days and times career coaching services are offered)
- Cost
- Does the coach require a contract or commitment
- Career Coach’s reputation
- Coach’s style
These three tools should help you get the information you need to choose the right career coach for you. Remember – it’s your money – ask to get the information you need to feel confident in your decision. Compile all the information you get different career coaches and compare it to your checklist that you prioritized on what matters most to you, and then make an educated decision on the best career coach for you.
Ready to Choose a Career Coach?
I invite you to schedule a free career coaching consultation with me. We’ll talk for 15-minutes about your career situation and the proven step-by-step coaching system I have used to help more than 6,000 professionals to make smart career transitions. The consultations are by phone, so they are convenient. Take action on your career right now.. and schedule a consultation by clicking on the Check Availability button and selecting a day and time that work best for you:
To your success
Jeff Neil
Founder, www.CareerCoachNewYorkCity.com