It’s natural to want to take control of your own career. You’re motivated, you know what you want, and you’re smart enough to do it on your own.
That may be true, but it’s not the only path.
Millions have taken advantage of career coaches to help set them on the right career track, offer their guidance on switching fields, and more.
When it comes down to it, career coaches can help you advance in your current job — or land your dream one.
Consider this: 99% of people or businesses who hire a coach are “satisfied or very satisfied,” according to the International Coaching Federation’s Global Coaching Client Study.
Here’s a look at just a few of the reasons to consider hiring a career coach and where you may find the best one for you.
1. They’re the Support You Need When You Need It
Career coaches aren’t looking to change who you are, they want to work with you to uncover the best of what you are.
Career coaches take the time to get to know who you and what you need to feel more fulfilled in your job. They aren’t looking to change you.
There are different types of career coaches to fit your unique needs.
Career counselors are often found in high schools, community colleges, or universities and commonly work with students to both help them earn a degree and plan for their next chapters.
For-profit coaches are independent professionals that offer a variety of services, from informing others about unique careers, locating jobs, or interview training.
Career coaches at non-profit organizations or job centers perform much of the same work, often for free, and teach more specialties, such as typing.
There are also employer-sponsored coaches provided by your work that help with your internal career development and honing your job skills.
You can choose a coach that will work best for you, help you with the skills you need assistance with, and you can end up working with the one that makes you the most comfortable.
2. They Can Help You Enter a Workforce
College is an exciting time, but it’s also a stressful one as you prepare to graduate. Where do you go from here and how?
That’s where career coaching comes in.
Even if you have just a glimmer of an idea of where you want to go, career coaches can flesh out a plan with you.
This can include refining your resume, working on your interview skills, and talking out each of your job options under a specific field.
When you’re facing an uncertain job world, a little help from a career coach can give you the extra confidence you deserve.
3. They’re In-the-Know About the Current Climate
The job market is fickle. The only thing you can rely on is that it is ever-changing and unpredictable.
Career coaches are trained to be knowledgeable about the overall current work climate and the environment of the field you’re aiming for.
They know what jobs are hot right now, and which may not have long-term potential.
They’re also well-versed about the skills that you need to bring to a job and what will be expected of you, especially in terms of how technology adept you should be.
4. They’ll Help You Set Realistic Goals
Chances are you have at least one goal in mind if you’re considering a career coach: find a job.
Chances also are that you may not know the exact best ways to reach that goal.
The truth is, there are multiple steps you need to take to reach that ultimate goal.
Career coaches will work with you closely to outline all of those steps, from pinpointing where you want to work and why and how to enhance your skillset to appeal to employers, to pinpointing actual jobs to apply to.
Career coaches will not just get you to a job — they’ll provide a deep understanding of what steps you need to take throughout your life to reach a big goal, whether it’s a certain position or accomplishments you strive to attain.
5. They’ll Be Honest with You About Your Path
It’s one thing to decide that you want to be a teacher, but what kind of teacher?
What grade? And do you want to be the same type of teacher for the entirety of your career?
It’s these types of questions that career coaches will ask you — and perhaps no one else will.
They’ll go beyond just what kind of job you want; they’ll dig deep about what exactly you want from your career and where you want to go.
The evolution of your career represents some of the most important decisions you’ll make throughout your whole life.
A career coach will help you set benchmarks to accomplish this evolution most effectively.
6. They Can Help You Get into a New Field
These days, if you’re average, you’ll change careers between five and seven times, according to careers-advice-online.com.
That’s easier said than done. You may have established yourself in your job and developed a proven skillset, but it doesn’t mean a career change is a slam dunk.
Career coaches are specially trained to help those who want to land a job in a different field.
They will evaluate your goals and learn more about the new type of job you want and weigh that against your current skills. They may recommend courses to take, places to network, and people to make connections with.
They’ll also help you realize what you currently will be able to bring to the table in a new career.
7. They’ll Help You With Tough Decisions
Every career is a challenge, especially when you’re faced with making decisions that can impact your livelihood, such as asking for a raise.
Raises are delicate propositions, and career coaches will be there with you every step of the way, from planning your pitch to refining the terms of what you are asking for.
When you have an upcoming performance review, career coaches will help you prepare and outline what to emphasize and what exactly to say about your accomplishments over the year.
They’ll even work with you on some tricks of the salary negotiation trade.
8. They Help You Realize Your Worth
It’s easy to forget just exactly what you do in your job position day in and day out. It’s even more difficult to really step outside yourself to see your skills and what you contribute to a company.
Whether you’re looking for a raise or hoping to launch a new career, career coaches will help you understand your personal value and how to self-promote yourself.
In today’s job market, you are very much a “personal brand.” That’s your whole package — how you present yourself, your personality, how you get along with others and.
Career coaches will help you figure out what exactly it is about you that no other person can replicate, setting yourself up for a successful career path or change.
The job market is ever-competitive, and determining your personal worth and brand is priceless.
But career coaches will also talk to you about your weaknesses as well as your strengths — and that’s just as important to determine your worth.
You may feel insecure about a job skill that’s not exactly a comfortable fit in your wheelhouse or you may need help navigating the politics of workplace personalities.
Career coaches will help you realize what you may need to work on and what you need to emphasize about yourself to keep your career healthy.
Where to Find Career Coaches for Hire
When you’re ready to commit to career coaching, here are a few good places to find a coach that’s perfect for you.
Pathrise
Pathrise’s mentors have a history of getting clients jobs with big-name companies — or raising your salary and getting a promoted title. Based on your registration, they’ll link you with a mentor that best suits your needs and goals.
Placement
For just $250 a month, Placement offers everything from unlimited coaches and group workshops to interview preparation.
Noomii
Billing itself as a “professional coach directory,” Noomii helps you find career coaches in your area based on specialty and your goals. There are even free consultations before you hire a coach.
The Muse
The Muse’s extensive lineup of career coaches can match you by the exact goal you input on their website, from “I need to ace my next interview” to “I’m lost in my job search” and “I feel stuck in my career.”
The most popular social network for professionals also offers career coaching.
You can search by location and read each potential coach’s extensive biography and skim through their experience quickly. Bonus: There are currently over 59,000 career coach listings on the site. Also check out our article on LinkedIn Tips to help you impress those coaches!
BetterUp
BetterUp allows you to find the best coach through free trials.
All you need to do: complete a 15-minute survey about your needs, select a coach based on BetterUp’s recommendations, chat with your finalists via video and then try them out.