4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Career Change Coach
So, you’ve decided to work with a career change coach. Now what?!
Where do you find these elusive creatures? What questions should you be asking? How do you know if they’re the right coach for you?
Just like finding the right career, finding the right coach is ultimately about fit: the alignment between what you want and how they propose to help you get there.
The bad news: some coaches won’t be a good fit for you.
The good news: there are likely several coaches who are well-suited to help you with your unique set of career goals and challenges.
The best news: saying “no” to the coaches that aren’t a good fit is fantastic practice at saying “no” to the jobs that aren’t a good fit.
And this article lays out the process to help you find the best coach for you. So let’s dig in.
1. Is Hiring a Coach the Right Move?
Before we go any further, the first question I encourage you to answer is whether working with a coach is truly the right move for you.
Check out What To Expect From a Career Coach to learn what career coaches do, what to expect when working with one, and whether it’s the right choice for you.
Depending on your career goals, you might prefer to hire a resumé writer, work with a recruiter, or even find a mentor.
A career change coach is going to help with so much more than getting a new job.
They’ll help you answer deep questions about your long-term happiness, purpose, and fulfillment.
They’ll help you navigate complex career decisions with confidence.
They’ll help you design your career and life in a holistic, empowering way.
They’ll help you reconnect with your best, most authentic self.
They’ll help you change patterns that are standing in the way of all the above.
That might be wayyyy more than what you’re looking for.
Timing is also important. Here are 4 signs it may be time to hire a career coach…and when to hold off.
If you’re ready to hire a coach and need help finding the right one for you, read on!
2. How Do I Find the Right Coach?
The process for finding the right career change coach is actually quite simple.
It boils down to these two questions:
Do you like and trust this person?
Does their program align with your career goals?
Do You Like and Trust Them?
Coaching, at its core, is a partnership.
Your coach is going to help you navigate giant decisions that have the potential to change the trajectory of your career and life.
And you’re likely going to to bump into some gnarly questions about identity, fear, anxiety and self-doubt.
So you’re going to want to have a coach you trust and can be vulnerable with so you can work through these challenges openly and honestly.
Plus, it sure makes the journey a whole lot more enjoyable when you like them and look forward to spending time with them.
I put this as the first question because I’ve burned myself on this a few times.
I’ve chosen coaches solely based on their process or results they’ve gotten for others, not realizing how important my relationship with them was.
That’s like choosing your life partner because you want to live in their house instead of actually wanting to spend time with them.
Yes, results are important. So is, “Do I like and respect this person as a human???” and “How do I FEEL when I talk with this person?” (more on this in a bit).
Does Their Program Align With Your Career Goals?
As I said before, there are a lot of coaches out there. With a lot of different philosophies and approaches about the best way to meet your career goals.
Career change is a change. It is a process. It is a journey.
As such, your coach should be able to articulate some process or framework that demonstrates how they can help you get from Point A to Point Z.
And get there in a way that feels good—without huge trade-offs, disruptions, or sacrifice.
For example, if you want help with gaining confidence, getting clarity on your career options, and then taking tangible steps to get there, a career change coach should be able to readily speak to HOW they’ll help you do that.
If they focus on resumés and LinkedIn job search tactics but can’t address how they’ll help you get confidence and clarity, that’s a red flag that they’re probably not the right fit.
If you’re worried that a career change means starting over or taking a pay cut, you’ll want to understand how their program addresses those very real concerns (or any others that are keeping you stuck).
In addition to the content of their coaching, you’ll want to make sure the logistics work for you.
For example, if you know you want the attention of a one-on-one relationship but they only offer group coaching, it’s worth considering whether that’s the best fit for you and your needs.
Here are some other elements to consider:
What is the number and duration of coaching sessions?
What support do they offer in between sessions?
Is the program structured/flexible enough for you?
Do their tools, templates, and curriculum address your needs?
How much time per week do they recommend you invest?
Of course, modify these questions to meet your preferences and needs.
A good coach should be transparent about whether their program is a good fit after they’ve heard more about what you’re looking for and what’s in the way.
If they don’t do this, ask!
I’ve started many a complimentary coaching call by saying, “I’m not sure if I’m the right coach for you, so let’s find out together.” Then we get to truly explore those areas of uncertainty.
How To Find the Right Career Change Coach
Ask these 2 questions:
1. Do you like and trust this person?
2. Does their program get you where you want to go?
3. Where Can I Find a Career Coach?
The good news is that career coaches are everywhere.
The bad news is that anyone can call themselves a coach.
Coaches certified through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) meet standards for key coaching competencies, education and experience requirements, and a commitment to ethics.
The ICF has a handy coach finder that allows you to search based on factors like experience, expertise, and location.
This does not mean that these coaches are the right fit for you.
I’ve had people find me through referrals, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and good ol’ fashioned Google.
Wherever you find them, I encourage you to evaluate each coach not by how many letters they have after their name or how many social media followers they have but your evaluation of fit based on the 2 questions I shared above.
4. How Does This Coach Make Me Feel?
The coaching relationship starts from the very first interaction.
And people are showing you who they are in every moment.
Most coaches offer a complimentary call to determine fit.
So pay attention to how they engage with you before, during, and after the call.
How do you feel in these interactions? (I’m looking at you, Thinkers)
How are they showing up? Responsive, warm, knowledgable? Pushy, impatient, squishy and vague?
Some “coaches” use fear and scarcity to make you feel like you can’t succeed without their help.
This tactic is the antithesis of coaching.
A good coach will help you acknowledge the fear, remind you that it’s normal, and also light the path to the other side. They don’t ratchet it up.
Again, I’ve learned the hard way what can happen when you don’t listen to the signs…
I had a complimentary call with a coach recommended by someone I respect in the industry. Although I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, I left the call feeling terrible.
I dismissed my instincts and hired her anyway. Because she seemed to know what she was talking about and got people results. Plus, people loved her on social media.
You can probably guess how the coaching went…I, along with most of her other clients in my cohort, ended up dropping out halfway through her program.
Especially if you’re like me and tend to rely on logic and reason and facts, I encourage you to pay attention to how you feel when you’re with them and listen to your gut when choosing a career change coach.
Time To Find the Right Coach For You
Now the fun begins.
Because it’s all about choosing the right person to help you get where you want to go in your career.
You may have noticed that I didn’t talk about the cost of coaching.
That’s because I’ve covered that here: Should I Invest In a Career Coach?
Remember that hiring the right career change coach boils down to 2 simple questions: 1) Do you like and trust this person, and 2) Does their program get you where you want to go?
If you found this post helpful, I’ve created a guide that lays out the 4-step process I use with my career coaching clients.
Ready to make money doing work you love? Grab your free 4-step career roadmap.
Author Bio:
Before becoming a coach, Caroline worked in management consulting and financial services. She's made it her mission to help people grow, contribute, and get wherever they want to go.
She’s also a tennis fanatic, aspiring Minimalist, FIRE (Financial Independence and Retire Early) enthusiast, and Aloha Spirit seeker 🤙. She loves to share stories from her unconventional life and career focused on freedom, creativity, fun, health, family, and community. If she can do it, you can, too.
The life and career you want is possible once you have the roadmap. Take the first step by downloading your free career roadmap.
