In this guide
Working with a career coach
What does a career coach do?
What happens in career coaching, the kinds of problems coaches help with, how a typical session runs and what a coach does not do, so you can judge if it fits.
The problems coaches usually help with
- Deciding what to do next when several options, or none, feel right.
- Preparing for a change of sector, role or level.
- Interview preparation and practising how you talk about your experience.
- Planning a promotion case or a conversation about pay.
- Rebuilding direction after redundancy, a break or repeated rejection.
Coaches differ. Some specialise in particular sectors, career stages or problems, so the first job is matching your question to someone who works on it.
How a typical session runs
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Check-in | What has changed since last time and what you want from today |
| Exploration | Questions that help you see the situation, options and what matters to you |
| Focus | Narrowing to one decision, plan or skill to work on |
| Actions | Agreeing specific steps you will take before the next session |
Good coaching leaves most of the thinking and deciding with you. Expect questions more than instructions, though many career coaches also give practical feedback on materials such as a resume or interview answers.
What a coach does not do
- Find you a job or place you with employers; that is a recruiter's role.
- Provide therapy or treat mental health conditions.
- Give legal, immigration or financial advice.
- Apply for jobs on your behalf using your accounts.
An example coaching plan
Illustrative example
Three sessions for someone weighing a move from retail management
- Session one: list what the person enjoys and avoids at work, and three possible directions.
- Between sessions: two short conversations with people working in operations and training roles.
- Session two: compare the options against what was learned; choose operations to test further.
- Session three: build the story for applications and plan the first five tailored applications.
An invented outline. Real plans depend on the person and the coach.
Common questions
Is a career coach the same as a careers adviser?
They overlap. Careers advisers often work in public services, schools or universities and give guidance and information; coaches are often independent and work over several sessions on a specific goal.
Can a career coach get me a job?
No coach can promise a job. A coach can help you decide on a direction, prepare well and act consistently, which improves the quality of your search.
Put it into practice
See how Luceria helps with thisDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.