“I need a career coach, but how do I find one? I work in a very specialized industry and I don’t think there are many career coaches in my field. What do I do next?”
An excellent question! But first, to lay the foundation,let’s talk a little bit about what coaches are — and are not.
I see a great many people who call themselves a “coach” because they have life or professional experience in a certain field. They hang out a shingle and say they’re a “moms coach” or a “business coach” or a “rocket-science coach.”
While they are no doubt good people, and may have had 12 kids or been a serial entrepreneur all their lives or helped astronauts reach outer space, they are more likely mentors or even trainers – but not coaches.
A mentor can provide valuable advice and share personal expertise in that particular field. But that is not the coach’s place. One of the major things a coach is trained not to do is offer advice, no matter how great the temptation. And this is one of the great advantages to finding a coach with no experience in your field – they come to your situation with fresh perspectives and no preconceived notions.
The coaching relationship is not about telling someone what to do, but rather help clients find their own solutions in a holistic and very personal matter. What’s good for one person is not going to be good for the next, and the coach honors that. Coaches work with clients to help them design their own lives, their own path forward, and provide support and accountability along the way. Coaches are there to assist, not teach or dictate.
Coaches are specially trained, through programs accredited by the worldwide governing body, International Coach Federation (ICF).
There are multiple levels of credentialing for coaches, and they all require a certain number of hours (60 hour is the lowest) of training in an accredited coach training program. They also must have at least 100 hours of actual client coaching. They must undergo a performance evaluation and demonstrate the minimum skills required to call themselves “coach.”
It’s not an easy process to undergo, but the end result is someone who is specifically trained to help people learn about themselves and find their own solutions to the challenges they are facing.
Questions to ask
So the first thing to do when searching for a career coach: Find someone who has been trained as a coach. Ask which school they attended, and if the program is accredited. Some, but not all coaches, will be a member of the ICF; you may do a search of its database to see if they are a member.
The other questions are very similar to anyone looking to hire someone, but with a coaching-related twist:
- Have you had coaching training?
- How long have you been a coach?
- How many clients have you coached?
- How many total coaching hours do you have under your belt?
- Do you have any references? While a happy client will often provide a testimonial for a coach, understand that the coaching relationship is completely confidential; the coach pledges to never reveal the name of a client (except under court order!) or the particulars of the coaching relationship.
- Have you done career coaching with people who (fill in the blank)? This is your specific situation dealing with a bad boss, finding a new career, dealing with workplace harassment or whatever it is you’re bringing to the table.
- What are some of your coaching success stories?
- Are you a member of ICF?
- Do you have a coaching specialty?
- How do you deliver coaching? (Most coaching is done over the phone, some in person, but it is always done at the mutual convenience of the client and coach.)
- How long can I expect to be coached?
- What is your fee and how is it paid?
- How often will we meet and for how long?
- What should I know about you as a person and a coach?
I recommend interviewing three coaches before you pick one. Some coaches will offer a complementary coaching session, usually lasting between 45-60 minutes. This is a great way to tell how well your personalities mesh, which is a vital part of a successful coaching relationship. If you’re not “feeling it” during either the interview or the free coaching session, keep looking.
Again, this is about you and your life and where you want to be. Without a good relationship with your coach – the foundation of which is mutual trust and respect – your experience will not be as successful as you deserve.
If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to email me at jackie@key-dynamics.com, or call 305/451-9295 for a free consultation.