Once you’ve started meeting with a coach, it’s easy to understand the benefits of career coaching. Since we spend so much time of our time at work, finding someone who can help you get the most out of your time and efforts is critical. Planning and developing a career is an investment in your financial security and your life satisfaction — but it plays out over time.
But if you’ve never worked with a coach before, understanding what they do can be a bit fuzzy. Coaching can represent a significant investment of both time and money. You might be (understandably) hesitant to move forward if you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.
For some people, the entire concept of a career is a bit of a mystery. Maybe you weren’t around adults who talked about having careers when you were growing up. After all, much of the workforce is focused on paying their bills today and not thinking past their current job.
For others who are thinking in terms of a career, it can still be confusing to know how to develop a career — given constant technological change and economic disruptions.
Keep reading to understand the role of a career coach, how much it should cost, how to find one, and what to expect out of your career coaching experience.
What is the role of a career coach?
A career coach is part-mentor, part-guidance counselor. Career coaches use their skills and experience to help you identify your unique strengths and interests, develop career goals that align with them, and fulfill your potential.
Practically speaking, coaches also help provide accountability so that you take the actions, explore the paths, and make the connections that you say you want to.
As you can see, career coaching sessions can span every aspect of your professional life. You and your coach will work together to set the direction for your sessions. Specific career coaching services can help you with any or all of the following:
- Finding a new job
- Navigating a career change
- Rewriting your cover letter and resume
- Conducting mock job interviews and aptitude assessments
- Discovering your life’s purpose
- Starting your own business
- Developing new career and leadership skills
- Researching and negotiating your salary
The role of a coach, even a career coach, can change over time. Their guidance will shift to reflect the needs of the client, the current stage of their career, and the overall work landscape. Important to note is that though career coaching and career counseling are similar, they do differ in a few key areas.
Career coaching vs. career counseling
Important to note is that though career coaching and career counseling are similar, they do differ in a few key areas.
While both career counseling and career coaching aim to help individuals with their professional development, there are key differences.
- Career counselors often help you address mental or emotional barriers that might be affecting your job satisfaction.
- Career coaches focus on actionable strategies and goal-setting to help you advance in your career.
How much does career coaching cost?
Generally, career coaches charge anywhere from $75 to $250 per hour. This varies depending on a few factors, including experience, length of session, and whether they’re certified by an independent entity like the International Coach Federation (ICF).
These hourly rates reflect the average cost of career counseling and coaching. But not every coach charges by the hour. Since most career advice is most helpful over the long-term (like career planning or help navigating a job search), professional coaches may offer coaching packages. These are designed to encourage a long-term relationship, build rapport with your coach and give you more accountability.
It can take a few tries to find the right coach for you. Some coaches offer free consultations but plan on investing some time into the process. These introductory sessions are a great way for you and your coach to determine if you’re a good fit and set the direction for your coaching experience.
Career coaching can be affordable, especially when you consider the potential return on investment. A good coach will pay for themselves many times over in higher salary, more opportunities, greater job satisfaction, and maybe even landing that dream job.
Understanding career coaching costs and packages
As mentioned above, when it comes to hiring a career coach, the cost can vary depending on the coach’s experience, location, and services provided. On average, career coaches charge between $75 to $250 per hour, with more experienced or certified coaches charging on the higher end.
However, many career coaching services offer package deals that allow you to save money over time. For example, a coach might offer a bundle of six sessions for a discounted rate, helping you stretch your budget while receiving consistent support. Some coaches even offer group coaching sessions or workshops, which can lower the individual cost while providing valuable learning experiences.
For those on a tighter budget, it's worth asking about free consultations or sliding scale fees. Coaches may also offer pro bono services to a limited number of clients, especially if you’re at a career crossroads or navigating a significant career change.
What career coaching can do for you
A career coach can provide you with the guidance you need to unlock your full potential, whether you're just starting out, considering a career change, or trying to excel in your current role. By helping you identify your unique strengths and defining clear career goals, a career coach ensures you stay on track and make the most of your job search or current position.
One of the key benefits of working with a career coach is gaining a personalized plan tailored to your professional growth. Whether it's preparing for an important interview, improving your resume, or navigating the complexities of leadership, your career coach can offer actionable advice.
Coaching isn’t just about the next step—it's about long-term success. Through structured career coaching services, you’ll gain confidence, clarity, and practical skills that align with your career goals. This includes everything from optimizing your resume to excelling during interviews and navigating promotions.
How career coaching helps with job searching
A career coach can be a valuable partner during your job search, helping you stand out in a competitive market. They assist with resume revisions, ensuring your skills and experience are presented in the best light, and can even help you build a portfolio if you’re transitioning into a more creative role.
In addition, they provide tips for improving your interview performance. Through mock interviews, a career coach can help you practice responses, identify areas for improvement, and boost your confidence. They’ll even guide you through tricky salary negotiations, ensuring you know what to ask for and how to present your case to potential employers.
Why Invest in Career Coaching?
Investing in a career coach is about more than just securing your next role. It’s about setting yourself up for long-term success in an ever-changing job market. For instance, working with a coach certified by the International Coaching Federation ensures that you're getting advice from someone with the right experience and qualifications. They help you tackle challenges like leadership development, team management, and career change scenarios.
A key question many people ask is: "Is the investment worth it?" In most cases, yes. By working with a career coach, you can significantly enhance your professional value, often leading to a higher salary, more growth opportunities, and better job satisfaction. The return on investment is clear: many professionals find that the guidance they receive helps them negotiate salaries, advance in their careers, or transition into new fields. With career coaching, you can set clear, measurable career goals and achieve them faster than you would on your own.
What are the benefits of career coaching?
Simply put, a career coach helps you get from point A to point B. Their role is to achieve a certain result or milestone, rather than driving behavior change. Career coaches focus exclusively on your career path and professional development. And that goes beyond career transitions and promotions. They also assist with improving soft skills like emotional intelligence, public speaking, and team management, which are key to progressing in leadership roles.
Here are six key benefits of career coaching:
1. Plan your career path
Unsure about which direction to go in? Much like college guidance counselors, a career coach can help you narrow down a broad interest to a clear direction. No matter what stage of your career you’re in, a coach can help you continually evaluate if you’re on track. Career planning is an ongoing process that you revisit as you grow.
2. Choose which skills to master
At any point in your career, there’s a seemingly endless number of possible skills to learn. It can be hard to know what to focus on next. A career coach can help you align your skills development to your goals. You’ll be able to pinpoint what you need to do well in your current role or land a new one.
3. Improve your interview skills
Whether you’re a brand-new job seeker or interviewing for an executive role, a career coach can help. While everyone has had the experience of interviewing for a job, few of us get feedback on how the interview went. By doing mock interviews, you can hone your skills and get ready for the real deal.
4. Navigate career transitions
After years of working in a certain field, you may not be sure of how to make the leap into a new role — or even what’s available. Or maybe you want to stay in the same industry, but you want to transition out of an individual contributor role. Once you have an idea of what you want to do, career coaches can help you uncover how to get to that next level.
5. Earn more money
When you’re navigating the professional world alone, salary negotiations can be a bit of a mystery. Working with a professional coach can help you have those nerve-wracking money conversations. They can practice negotiating, provide upfront insight into the market trends, and help you know whether to accept or turn down that job offer.
6. Excel in your specific industry (or a new one)
Whether you're in tech, finance, or a creative field, career coaches can provide targeted advice to help you succeed in your specific industry. For example, a coach specializing in tech roles may focus on your technical skills, while someone in the creative sector might help you build a portfolio to showcase your work.
What to look for in a career coach
Your ideal career coach might be different than your friends’, coworkers, or at different points in your career. If you’re looking to start working with a coach, here are three ways to determine if they’re a good fit for you:
1. Expertise
There are plenty of career coaches that are equipped to help with a broad range of skills. But it’s almost certain that you’ll get the most out of working with someone that specializes in your field.
In my career, I’ve worked with a number of brilliant coaches. But the magic happened when I realized that I wanted to become a writer. That insight led me to a coach that worked primarily with content creators. Her insight and encouragement led me to BetterUp, and to a job I never could have imagined when we started working together.
2. Format
When you imagine working with a coach, what do you have in mind? Do you meet daily, weekly, or as needed? Are they one-on-one meetings or group coaching? Would you prefer in-person sessions or virtual coaching? Do you want to build an ongoing relationship, or attend a set series of meetings?
Not every coach offers the same coaching format, so you’ll need to find something that works with your schedule. Certain goals might work better for certain formats. For example, developing leadership skills might happen over several months. On the other hand, revising your resume might only need a session or two.
3. Outcomes
What are you out to accomplish? Do you want to find a new job, develop skills to excel where you are, or start a new business? Whatever it is, you’ll be more satisfied working with a coach who is confident with the results you want.
If the coach has a website, look for testimonials from past clients to get an idea of what to expect. Ask them what kind of results they think are possible within a given time frame. Just keep in mind that in order to make the most out of a coaching relationship, you’ll have to put in the work, too.
4. Breadth
As our BetterUp Member data shows, most professionals have a range of needs that extend beyond just career coaching. That doesn’t mean a single coach should be expected to cover everything you need — BetterUp offers Extended Network coaching to provide access to specialized coaching expertise in nutrition, sleep, and grief, among others. Many excellent coaches specialize in career coaching while also being skilled leadership, communication, or executive coaches.
Another consideration? The questions we have about our careers almost always involve other questions, about our values, well-being, and personal goals. Be wary of a career coach that maps out a plan against your stated career goal without digging in to understand your motivations and obstacles.
How to find a quality coach that fits your budget
When choosing a career coach, here are a few actionable tips:
- Look for certifications from organizations like the International Coaching Federation.
- Schedule free consultations with multiple coaches to compare styles.
- Check for testimonials and success stories relevant to your goals.
- Clarify their areas of expertise to ensure they align with your needs, whether it’s job transitions, leadership development, or career planning.
Maximizing your career potential with career coaching
For professionals looking to maximize their potential, working with a career coach is a way to develop both hard and soft skills. From improving your leadership abilities to navigating workplace dynamics, career coaching helps you grow in all aspects of your career.
Career coaching services also offer emotional support, helping you manage the stress of career transitions or challenges. For example, your career coach might help you deal with the anxiety that comes with stepping into a new leadership role or provide strategies for handling difficult workplace situations.
Beyond these tactical benefits, career coaching gives you the confidence to pursue new opportunities, whether that’s starting your own business, seeking a promotion, or making a significant career change. Your coach will hold you accountable for your goals, help you track your progress, and push you to reach new heights in your career.
-1.png)
