How to Choose the Right Career Coach for You - The Muse

How to Choose the Right Career Coach for You - The MuseHow to Choose the Right Career Coach for You One of the best things Ive ever done for my professional life welches work with a career coach. I was feeling stuck, confused, and unsure of my next steps, and conversations with friends and family hadnt been productive. After a self-assessment about my career path and goals and a one-hour session with my coach, I walked away with more clarity and confidence than I had had in years- not to mention an action plan for the next three months. It was so helpful that I couldnt believe I hadnt done it sooner. Of course, there were a couple of reasons I hadnt. One was the money. And yes, that initial investment was tough to swallow, but the result was worth every penny. (Plus, as a friend put it, if paying for a coach led to a higher-paying job or a raise at my current one- which it did- it was money well spent.)The bigger factor, though, is that I had no idea who to work with. A search on Goo gle (and my professional contact list) produced hundreds of results, but which of these people was I going to feel comfortable spilling all of my professional secrets to? Here at The Muse, we recently launched a platform called Coach Connect, which lets you book one-on-one sessions with career coaches- and I can imagine anyone whos considering doing this is feeling the same way I did. While you dont have to worry about choosing someone whos high-quality (weve done that vetting for you), I know just how overwhelming it can be to decide which of those people is the right one for your career. To help point you in the right direction, start by asking yourself these three questions What Type of Person Do You Work Best With?Think about the teachers, bosses, mentors, therapists, and other coach like figures youve worked with in the past. Who encouraged you, inspired you, and helped you get to the next level? What were the qualities they all had in common?Create a short list, then look for coaches who display those traits. How? Reviews from other clients are a great place to start (and yes, I know this is Before-You-Buy-Anything 101). Some coaches, for example, may be described as kind, encouraging, and positive others as tough-love motivators who will kick your butt into gear. Both sets of qualities can be great- but which do you most relate to?What I also found helpful was reading the work of a few different coaches. Most have a blog, a berichterstattungletter, or other content theyve created, which can help you get a sense of their style, their approach, their background, their success stories, and more. As youre browsing, are your eyes glazing over? Or do you find yourself nodding along, saying, Yes This person is literally inside my head When I realized I had spent nearly an hour lost in the archives of one coachs old blog posts, I knew I had found someone I really connected with.ALREADY CONVINCED A COACH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?Then lets get started finding a great one . Just Click Here Who Can Help You With Your Specific Situation?Heres the good news Most career coaches have worked with people in a variety of industries and know how to advise people with very specialized skill sets. So, while moving from real estate to software sales or translating your marketing experience into a new sector might seem like an intimidating transition, remember that most coaches whove been around for a while have seen a lot and have the knowledge and experience to guide you, too.That said, it can often make sense to work with someone who specializes in your sector (engineering, sales, marketing, startups) or situation (youre a new grad, youre making a drastic career change, youre returning to the workforce after a hiatus). My coach worked only with women and had lots of experience in the media world. So, check out a few coaches sites or online profiles and, again, their reviewers. If the coach has helped people like you, great A number of good reviews from people across fields and sectors is also a good sign. How Much Do You Want to Spend?This is a tough (and very personal) question, but heres what you should know Fees range quite a bit, depending on how long a coach has been around, the certifications he or she has, how many clients he or she is taking on, and more. (At The Muse, weve put them in three categories Our Mentors are all smart, vetted career experts who may be just starting their coaching work or doing this in plus-rechnen to a full-time job our Coaches are trained professionals and our Master Coaches are top-rated coaches whove helped hundreds of people over the years.) In general, if working with someone who is very specialized or who has a great deal of experience is important to you, its likely worth it to pay for a coach who meets your needs, even if he or she is on the spendier end. Or, if youre just looking to get some advice and direction from a career expert, or youre not totally sure about the whole coaching thing, wor king with someone at a lower price point could be a good way to dip your toes in the water. Either way, make sure youve done your research, youve read reviews or talked to past clients, and youre making an informed decision.Now are you ready to hire a coach and change your life? Of course you are- who could say no to that All you have to do now is click here.