What Is It Like to Work With a Career Coach? Here’s What to Expect

Maybe you've been thinking about working with a career coach, but you're wondering what that actually means.

Do you need to show up knowing exactly what you want? Will someone tell you what career you should choose? Is it all about fixing your resume? And what exactly are you going to talk about for an entire session?

The short answer: you don't need to have it all figured out before you walk through the door.

In fact, figuring it out is often the reason we're talking in the first place.

My approach to career coaching is comfortable and conversational, but also purposeful. You'll have space to talk through what's going on, I'll ask questions designed to help you think differently about it, and together we'll turn those conversations into clear next steps.

Why Do People Work With a Career Coach?

There isn't one type of person who needs career coaching, and you certainly don't need to be in a career crisis to benefit from it.

Some of my clients know something isn't working. They feel burned out, stuck, or disconnected from work they once enjoyed. Their job may no longer fit their strengths, priorities, or the life they want outside of work.

Others aren't trying to leave at all.

They're ready to grow within their company, move into leadership, pursue a better opportunity, or become more confident communicating why they're the right person for the next role.

You might consider career coaching when you're:

• Feeling burned out or struggling with work-life balance

• Unsure about the next step in your career

• Considering changing careers or industries

• Doing work that doesn't align with your strengths

• Returning to the workforce after time away

• Pursuing a promotion or leadership position

• Navigating a challenging or male-dominated workplace

• Struggling to identify or communicate what makes you stand out

• Applying for jobs without getting the results you expected

• Simply ready for something different

Sometimes you know exactly what you want and need help getting there. Other times, the first goal is figuring out what you want in the first place.

Both are completely valid places to begin.

So, What Does a Career Coaching Session With Me Look Like?

First, we talk.

A session with me should feel like talking to someone who is genuinely listening, without feeling like you're being interviewed or evaluated.

We'll start with what you want to accomplish and where you currently are in your career. From there, I'll ask thoughtful questions, listen for what's underneath your answers, and help you unpack the things that may be keeping you stuck or making a decision difficult.

I don't believe my job is to sit across from you and announce what you should do with your career.

You know yourself better than I ever could. My job is to help you uncover the answers, patterns, strengths, and possibilities that can be difficult to see when you're trying to sort through everything on your own.

Depending on where you are in the process, our session might focus on the results of a career assessment, identifying possible career paths, reviewing your resume, preparing for a job search, or talking through a specific opportunity or decision.

The conversation is tailored to what you actually need.

We Don't Just Talk. We Make a Plan.

While I want our sessions to feel comfortable, I also want them to be productive.

Career coaching isn't meant to be an hour of talking about how much you dislike your job and then returning to exactly the same situation.

By the end of a session, my goal is for you to have greater clarity around the issue you came in with and an actionable plan for moving forward.

That could mean researching several career paths that align with your assessment results. It might mean revising your resume to better communicate your strengths. It could mean preparing for an upcoming interview, beginning a more focused job search, or taking a specific step toward advancement within your current company.

The action plan will look different for everyone because the right next step is different for everyone.

You Don't Need to Have the Answers Before We Start

One of the biggest misconceptions about career coaching is that you should already know what you want before you reach out.

You don't.

You may come in saying, "I know I can't keep doing this, but I have no idea what I want to do instead."

That's something we can work with.

Or you may know exactly where you want to go but need help positioning yourself to get there.

We can work with that, too.

Career coaching meets you where you are. Together, we'll look at your experience, skills, interests, values, goals, and circumstances and begin making sense of what comes next.

You don't need to show up with a perfectly mapped-out career plan. You just need to be ready to start the conversation.