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Palo Alto, California
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should I pay for a career coach?
We've noticed an increase in learner interest in coaches and as a response we will be posting questions that address that!
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7 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
372
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Should You Pay for a Career Coach?
The short answer: It depends.
Hiring a career coach can be a valuable investment, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Consider these factors:
When a Career Coach Might Be Beneficial:
Career Transition: If an individual is changing careers, industries, or roles, a coach can provide guidance and support.
Job Search Challenges: If you're struggling with job applications, interviews, or networking, a coach can offer strategies and improve your confidence.
Career Stagnation: If you feel stuck in your current role, a coach can help you identify your goals and develop a plan to achieve them.
Lack of Clarity: If you're unsure about your career path or what you want to achieve, a coach can help you gain clarity and direction.
Things to Consider Before Hiring a Coach:
Your Budget: Career coaching can range from affordable to expensive. Determine how much you're willing to invest.
Your Goals: Clearly define what you hope to achieve with coaching. This will help you find a coach with the right expertise.
Your Commitment: Coaching is a collaborative process. Be prepared to invest time and effort into the relationship.
Alternatives: Explore free resources like online career counseling, networking groups, or industry associations.
How to Find a Good Career Coach:
Research: Look for coaches with experience in your industry or career field.
Reviews: Read reviews and testimonials from previous clients.
Initial Consultation: Many coaches offer free consultations. Use this opportunity to assess their fit.
Note: While a career coach can be a valuable asset, it's not a magic solution. Your own dedication and hard work are essential for career success.
The short answer: It depends.
Hiring a career coach can be a valuable investment, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Consider these factors:
When a Career Coach Might Be Beneficial:
Career Transition: If an individual is changing careers, industries, or roles, a coach can provide guidance and support.
Job Search Challenges: If you're struggling with job applications, interviews, or networking, a coach can offer strategies and improve your confidence.
Career Stagnation: If you feel stuck in your current role, a coach can help you identify your goals and develop a plan to achieve them.
Lack of Clarity: If you're unsure about your career path or what you want to achieve, a coach can help you gain clarity and direction.
Things to Consider Before Hiring a Coach:
Your Budget: Career coaching can range from affordable to expensive. Determine how much you're willing to invest.
Your Goals: Clearly define what you hope to achieve with coaching. This will help you find a coach with the right expertise.
Your Commitment: Coaching is a collaborative process. Be prepared to invest time and effort into the relationship.
Alternatives: Explore free resources like online career counseling, networking groups, or industry associations.
How to Find a Good Career Coach:
Research: Look for coaches with experience in your industry or career field.
Reviews: Read reviews and testimonials from previous clients.
Initial Consultation: Many coaches offer free consultations. Use this opportunity to assess their fit.
Note: While a career coach can be a valuable asset, it's not a magic solution. Your own dedication and hard work are essential for career success.
Gurpreet Lally
CareerVillage.org TeamSr. Community Manager at CareerVillage
85
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Gurpreet’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
Whether or not you should pay for a career coach depends on your personal needs, career goals, and budget. A career coach can provide personalized guidance, accountability, and expert advice that might be worth the investment if you are pursuing significant career changes, facing challenges, or wanting to accelerate your career growth. However, if you have more basic needs or you have a tight budget, free or low-cost resources, including AI career coaches, might help.
If you’d like to try out an AI career coach but don’t know where to start, we recommend exploring CareerVillage’s Coach (app.aicareercoach.org) or others like Khan Academy!
If you’d like to try out an AI career coach but don’t know where to start, we recommend exploring CareerVillage’s Coach (app.aicareercoach.org) or others like Khan Academy!
Peter E. Loginov
Management Consultant
2
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Peter E.’s Answer
In my view, your energy would be better directed towards building relationships with people in the industries and careers that intrigue you. If you're unsure where to begin, it's understandable - the sheer volume of options can be daunting. Start by exploring careers that align with your abilities, passions, principles, and ambitions. There are several free career aptitude tests available, such as the ones found at https://brainmanager.io/career-test?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=career_test&msclkid=55abde845ce11bc0d0b8b832651510a6&utm_term=career%20interest%20test&utm_content=career%20test%20exact and https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/best-free-career-assessment-tools.
These resources can give you a starting point to understand the potential pathways. Once you've identified a few potential career paths, share your findings with your parents, teachers, and school counselors, and delve deeper into learning about them. If you're over 18 years old, consider setting up a professional profile on a platform like LinkedIn and start networking with people who are in your dream job (there's no better way to learn than from those who are living your dream!). It won't be a walk in the park and will require a significant amount of your personal time, but the rewards will be worth it.
Remember, this is just one of many routes you can take, and I strongly advise you to further investigate this topic. However, this should give you a good starting point.
I sincerely hope this advice sets you off on the right foot. Wishing you all the best!
These resources can give you a starting point to understand the potential pathways. Once you've identified a few potential career paths, share your findings with your parents, teachers, and school counselors, and delve deeper into learning about them. If you're over 18 years old, consider setting up a professional profile on a platform like LinkedIn and start networking with people who are in your dream job (there's no better way to learn than from those who are living your dream!). It won't be a walk in the park and will require a significant amount of your personal time, but the rewards will be worth it.
Remember, this is just one of many routes you can take, and I strongly advise you to further investigate this topic. However, this should give you a good starting point.
I sincerely hope this advice sets you off on the right foot. Wishing you all the best!
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
599
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
Be cautious. Before committing, I’d ask for references or search online for reviews. With the rise in people looking for work, there are many out there that are taking advantage of others.
You can find free assistance through local nonprofits and libraries. I’d explore these free options first.
You can find free assistance through local nonprofits and libraries. I’d explore these free options first.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
5724
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello CVOH,
Should I Pay for a Career Coach?
Deciding whether to pay for a career coach is a significant choice that can impact your professional development. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the factors to consider when making this decision.
1. Understanding What a Career Coach Offers
A career coach provides personalized guidance and support in various aspects of career development, including:
Career Exploration: Helping you identify your strengths, interests, and potential career paths.
Resume and Cover Letter Assistance: Offering insights on how to craft effective job application materials.
Interview Preparation: Conducting mock interviews and providing feedback to improve your performance.
Networking Strategies: Teaching you how to build and leverage professional relationships.
Goal Setting: Assisting you in setting realistic career goals and creating actionable plans to achieve them.
2. Assessing Your Current Situation
Before deciding to hire a career coach, evaluate your current circumstances:
Career Stage: Are you entering the job market for the first time, looking to change careers, or seeking advancement in your current field?
Challenges Faced: Identify specific challenges you are encountering that a coach could help address (e.g., lack of direction, difficulty in networking).
Financial Considerations: Determine if you have the budget for coaching services without compromising other financial obligations.
3. Evaluating the Value of Coaching
Consider the potential benefits of hiring a career coach:
Expertise and Experience: Coaches often have extensive experience in various industries and can provide valuable insights that may not be readily available through self-guided resources.
Accountability: A coach can help keep you accountable for your goals, ensuring that you stay on track with your career development plans.
Personalized Approach: Unlike generic advice found online or in books, coaching offers tailored strategies based on your unique situation.
4. Researching Potential Coaches
If you decide that coaching may be beneficial, take time to research potential coaches:
Credentials and Experience: Look for coaches with relevant certifications or backgrounds in career counseling or human resources.
Client Testimonials: Seek reviews or testimonials from previous clients to gauge their effectiveness.
Specialization Areas: Some coaches specialize in specific fields or demographics (e.g., recent graduates, executives), so find one whose expertise aligns with your needs.
5. Weighing Costs Against Benefits
Finally, consider whether the investment aligns with your expected outcomes:
Cost of Services: Understand the pricing structure—some coaches charge by the hour while others offer packages.
Return on Investment (ROI): Reflect on how much value gaining clarity on your career path or landing a job could bring compared to the cost of coaching.
In conclusion, whether or not to pay for a career coach depends largely on your individual circumstances and goals. If you’re facing significant challenges in navigating your career path and believe that personalized guidance could make a difference, investing in a career coach might be worthwhile. However, ensure that you conduct thorough research before making any commitments.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
International Coach Federation (ICF) - A leading global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession through standards and accreditation.
Harvard Business Review - Provides research-based articles on management practices including insights into coaching effectiveness.
Forbes - Offers expert opinions and articles discussing trends in professional development and coaching services.
God Bless Y ou,
JC.
Should I Pay for a Career Coach?
Deciding whether to pay for a career coach is a significant choice that can impact your professional development. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the factors to consider when making this decision.
1. Understanding What a Career Coach Offers
A career coach provides personalized guidance and support in various aspects of career development, including:
Career Exploration: Helping you identify your strengths, interests, and potential career paths.
Resume and Cover Letter Assistance: Offering insights on how to craft effective job application materials.
Interview Preparation: Conducting mock interviews and providing feedback to improve your performance.
Networking Strategies: Teaching you how to build and leverage professional relationships.
Goal Setting: Assisting you in setting realistic career goals and creating actionable plans to achieve them.
2. Assessing Your Current Situation
Before deciding to hire a career coach, evaluate your current circumstances:
Career Stage: Are you entering the job market for the first time, looking to change careers, or seeking advancement in your current field?
Challenges Faced: Identify specific challenges you are encountering that a coach could help address (e.g., lack of direction, difficulty in networking).
Financial Considerations: Determine if you have the budget for coaching services without compromising other financial obligations.
3. Evaluating the Value of Coaching
Consider the potential benefits of hiring a career coach:
Expertise and Experience: Coaches often have extensive experience in various industries and can provide valuable insights that may not be readily available through self-guided resources.
Accountability: A coach can help keep you accountable for your goals, ensuring that you stay on track with your career development plans.
Personalized Approach: Unlike generic advice found online or in books, coaching offers tailored strategies based on your unique situation.
4. Researching Potential Coaches
If you decide that coaching may be beneficial, take time to research potential coaches:
Credentials and Experience: Look for coaches with relevant certifications or backgrounds in career counseling or human resources.
Client Testimonials: Seek reviews or testimonials from previous clients to gauge their effectiveness.
Specialization Areas: Some coaches specialize in specific fields or demographics (e.g., recent graduates, executives), so find one whose expertise aligns with your needs.
5. Weighing Costs Against Benefits
Finally, consider whether the investment aligns with your expected outcomes:
Cost of Services: Understand the pricing structure—some coaches charge by the hour while others offer packages.
Return on Investment (ROI): Reflect on how much value gaining clarity on your career path or landing a job could bring compared to the cost of coaching.
In conclusion, whether or not to pay for a career coach depends largely on your individual circumstances and goals. If you’re facing significant challenges in navigating your career path and believe that personalized guidance could make a difference, investing in a career coach might be worthwhile. However, ensure that you conduct thorough research before making any commitments.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
International Coach Federation (ICF) - A leading global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession through standards and accreditation.
Harvard Business Review - Provides research-based articles on management practices including insights into coaching effectiveness.
Forbes - Offers expert opinions and articles discussing trends in professional development and coaching services.
God Bless Y ou,
JC.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1737
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Career Village !
It is my belief that grade school, high school and college students should not hire a Career Coach because of many practical reasons. I do, however, believe that individuals should be free to start any business they choose, but charging a fee to guide students about college and career is not meaningful when for centuries students never had the need to pay for information regarding these topics. Suddenly Career Counseling is a thing, when people have gotten along very well without paid coaching for a very long time.
Career Coaches, regardless of their experience or qualifications, charge a lot of money. Do students really need to pay out fees for information that they can obtain for free ? Their parents pay walloping high prices for school taxes and other taxes that support other ways to seek assistance. Paying a Career Coach $75.00 to $200.00 an hour or getting packaged deals for 2 - 5 sessions for up to $1,000.00 is unreasonable.
Also, Career Coaching, in my estimation, is not exactly a profession in itself, rather it is part of some careers which I will discuss further. Career Counseling is a job duty, but like I said, if people want to become this coach and have their own business, they should be free to do so. Let's look at some venues in which career counseling is part of (not a sole career) other careers and where people can go to be advised and counseled about their future for absolutely free of charge or no extra monetary expenditure.
The first place that I can point to for people to obtain free career counseling is no further than their own backyard. Friends, relatives and adult friends are capable of taking students under their wing and steering them in the right direction with extra care. For free. For grade school children, there are After School programs. Another place that provides this service with no extra monetary expenditure is at school. Besides on site academic counselors, teachers can be a positive and important influence and counsel students about college and career options.
While in college, students have access to - for no extra charge (fees included with tuition) - academic counselors, a Career Center, a Student Center, professors, Department Heads who all have traditionally guided students for free for centuries. On campus, there are even free services for students that have a disability.
Another place is at the many social service agencies and assistance organizations that are free of charge. People can see case workers or case managers or employment service specialists at any number of community programs - all free to the public. Local Libraries also provide free assistance and programs for students. Last but certainly not least is online information. For the cost of monthly internet service which people pay for anyway, many resources are at hand for students. Information and guidance about available jobs, job path information, job descriptions, guidance on how to write a resume, CV and cover letters, information and advice about job interviews and more, all available in text and video. And as Gurpreet Lally importantly points out, Career Village is a rich resource for students to obtain advice and guidance as well as additional resources right on the website. Free, no charge.
I was a social service case manager for many years and I have done my share of employment services as PART OF that career. People were welcome to come for services for free and I had done a good share of resumes and workshops as well as conducted simulated job interviews for the young adults. Students need to know about resources that at out there, especially financially disadvantaged students and their families, so that they do not feel that they miss out when they should be included in learning about work and school. Financial status should not be a deciding factor in who receives support and who doesn't because they can't afford it.
So, although I am for people creating whatever business ventures they choose such a becoming a career coach, I believe that the alternatives to it benefit the students and that's what should matter most. A student's family, friends, school, college campus and websites have been around a long time. We are now fortunate to also have Career Village as an innovative and outstanding addition to the mix for career services and I do not see a need for paid career coaches. Many professionals do it as part of their job and services. With no cost to the students.
It is my belief that grade school, high school and college students should not hire a Career Coach because of many practical reasons. I do, however, believe that individuals should be free to start any business they choose, but charging a fee to guide students about college and career is not meaningful when for centuries students never had the need to pay for information regarding these topics. Suddenly Career Counseling is a thing, when people have gotten along very well without paid coaching for a very long time.
Career Coaches, regardless of their experience or qualifications, charge a lot of money. Do students really need to pay out fees for information that they can obtain for free ? Their parents pay walloping high prices for school taxes and other taxes that support other ways to seek assistance. Paying a Career Coach $75.00 to $200.00 an hour or getting packaged deals for 2 - 5 sessions for up to $1,000.00 is unreasonable.
Also, Career Coaching, in my estimation, is not exactly a profession in itself, rather it is part of some careers which I will discuss further. Career Counseling is a job duty, but like I said, if people want to become this coach and have their own business, they should be free to do so. Let's look at some venues in which career counseling is part of (not a sole career) other careers and where people can go to be advised and counseled about their future for absolutely free of charge or no extra monetary expenditure.
The first place that I can point to for people to obtain free career counseling is no further than their own backyard. Friends, relatives and adult friends are capable of taking students under their wing and steering them in the right direction with extra care. For free. For grade school children, there are After School programs. Another place that provides this service with no extra monetary expenditure is at school. Besides on site academic counselors, teachers can be a positive and important influence and counsel students about college and career options.
While in college, students have access to - for no extra charge (fees included with tuition) - academic counselors, a Career Center, a Student Center, professors, Department Heads who all have traditionally guided students for free for centuries. On campus, there are even free services for students that have a disability.
Another place is at the many social service agencies and assistance organizations that are free of charge. People can see case workers or case managers or employment service specialists at any number of community programs - all free to the public. Local Libraries also provide free assistance and programs for students. Last but certainly not least is online information. For the cost of monthly internet service which people pay for anyway, many resources are at hand for students. Information and guidance about available jobs, job path information, job descriptions, guidance on how to write a resume, CV and cover letters, information and advice about job interviews and more, all available in text and video. And as Gurpreet Lally importantly points out, Career Village is a rich resource for students to obtain advice and guidance as well as additional resources right on the website. Free, no charge.
I was a social service case manager for many years and I have done my share of employment services as PART OF that career. People were welcome to come for services for free and I had done a good share of resumes and workshops as well as conducted simulated job interviews for the young adults. Students need to know about resources that at out there, especially financially disadvantaged students and their families, so that they do not feel that they miss out when they should be included in learning about work and school. Financial status should not be a deciding factor in who receives support and who doesn't because they can't afford it.
So, although I am for people creating whatever business ventures they choose such a becoming a career coach, I believe that the alternatives to it benefit the students and that's what should matter most. A student's family, friends, school, college campus and websites have been around a long time. We are now fortunate to also have Career Village as an innovative and outstanding addition to the mix for career services and I do not see a need for paid career coaches. Many professionals do it as part of their job and services. With no cost to the students.
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1715
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
I don't know much about career coaches - but, if I was going to hire one, I'd make darn sure that they have a proven track record.
As others have stated, the jobseeker needs to be invested in the relationship. Sort of like in therapy. If you decide to filter what information you provide to the coach, you are hurting yourself. Let the coach decide what's important and what can be left out.
Finally, just a word about people who write resumes. Lots of people out there claiming to be professional resume writers. I've seen them produce horrible results - including a resume that contained somebody else's work history rather than the applicant's!! Try your best to write your own resume using available resources. The more time you spend thinking and writing about what it is you bring to the table, the more prepared you will be for the interview!
As others have stated, the jobseeker needs to be invested in the relationship. Sort of like in therapy. If you decide to filter what information you provide to the coach, you are hurting yourself. Let the coach decide what's important and what can be left out.
Finally, just a word about people who write resumes. Lots of people out there claiming to be professional resume writers. I've seen them produce horrible results - including a resume that contained somebody else's work history rather than the applicant's!! Try your best to write your own resume using available resources. The more time you spend thinking and writing about what it is you bring to the table, the more prepared you will be for the interview!