There are still many people who don’t really have a clear understanding of what career coaching is or how to choose a career coach. Let’s just say it’s not uncommon for me to get emails, social media messages, or phone calls asking me about one or the other. So …

What exactly is professional coaching?

He is advocating for you and helping you achieve your ultimate career goals, and your professional coach is with you on that journey.

In a coach / client relationship, you keep the agenda and they give you the help, support, and direction you need to achieve the goals you have in mind, reaching them sooner rather than later when you try to do it all on your own.

Many facets come into play and depending on what your goals are, they will determine the focus of your coaching sessions. An ongoing relationship between the coach and the client strengthens the awareness of what may be holding you back or the obstacles you may face, and at the same time helps you focus on the goals you are aiming for.

You’ll get help setting realistic goals, discovering solutions to challenges you may face, developing action plans, setting motivation, and building self-confidence. You take charge of your career by changing it from what it is today to something you’ve always dreamed of, being the ultimate goal.

You and your coach share the same end goal that creates and adds excitement throughout the process! The one-to-one partnership experience is a great way to:

receive personalized advice, support and guidance when making professional decisions.

determine what steps to take and strategies to use.

Create a personalized plan that will keep you on track to achieve what you set out to do.

What a career coach is not …

A counselor or therapist. A career coach helps you develop competencies, while a career counselor helps clients overcome deficiencies.

Therapy often deals with a person’s story and the “whys” behind that story; coaching deals with the future and the “hows” to make the future what the client wants it to be.

Those who suffer from depression, anxiety, or problems that interfere with life situations should seek professional advice. Running coaches don’t tell their clients what to do with their lives.

To benefit from professional coaching, you must be willing to be coached. That is, you are open to new ideas, willing to make changes, receptive to constructive criticism, and willing and ready to act. Seeing the results of your actions is what makes all your hard work and effort worth it!

What will a running coach do for you?

• Challenge you, inspire you to do your best, and you’ll be there to support you every step of the way.
• Give you feedback, provide support when times get tough, and be honest and direct.
• Take responsibility. Unlike friends, co-workers, or even spouses, a career coach will tell you how it is, without letting you get out easily when it comes to stepping up. No action, no results.

In other words, he / she acts as your personal advocate and provides you with a safe haven during a time that is often fraught with stress, doubt, and fear.

Career coaching will serve you best if you are …

• ready to make the commitment to achieve it.
• willing to put in the effort and get the job done.
• willing to let the coach do the training.
• willing to “try” new concepts or different ways of doing things.
• Willing to change the self-defeating behaviors that limit your success.
• serious about moving forward and making changes to achieve your goals.
• acting of their own free will and not at the command of others.

Who and how to choose …

Only you can determine and make the decision of who to choose as your coach. You are the one who knows their needs best and who would be considered “suitable” based on your research. There are thousands of career guidance services available today. Do your homework.

Not all career coaches are the same. Job seekers, non-job seekers, and / or anyone considering hiring and investing their time and money by partnering with a professional advisor needs to know what value true professional experts bring. Again, do your homework. Do not settle for mediocre and make an informed decision.

Tips for selecting a running coach

• Look for coaches who specialize in the area in which you seek professional help (i.e., job search strategies, interview skills, networking skills, etc.).
• Visit their website, read their testimonials, review their service offerings and the training process. What impression do you have after reviewing your information? Is there a connection? Does what they present identify with you or speak to you enough to communicate and make personal contact?
• You will find that many professional trainers offer a free 15 or 30 minute consultation, which I highly recommend taking advantage of that opportunity. It gives you the opportunity to speak with them personally, learn more about them, how they can help you, and most importantly, find out if the chemistry is there, making them a “good fit.” If your personalities clash, it’s best to find out now before committing to working together.
• If the trainer claims to be certified, take an extra step to verify their certification. Unfortunately, there are some career professionals who claim to be certified and display certification logos on their website when this is not the case. If working with a licensed professional coach is important to you, take it one step further and check.

The career coaches (and resume writers) in our network have been certified and verified, making our network of career professionals different from other searchable online career service databases . And certifications are verified quarterly.

Now that you know what professional coaching is all about and what to look for when it comes time to choose a professional coach, it’s time to act!