Synonyms: Career Advisor, Career Counselor, Career Consultant, Career Expert, Career Mentor, Career Strategist, Job Coach

Table of Contents

• Quick Facts
• Day in the Life
• Common Characteristics
• How to Become a Career Coach
• Specialties and Similar Career Paths
• Advice from Kelsey

Quick Facts

What career coaches do:

A career coach helps people figure out their career goals, build essential skills, and handle job-hunting challenges to succeed professionally. They provide personalized guidance and support throughout the job search process.

Median income:

A career coach’s earnings vary widely based on their client base, experience, reputation, and the range of services offered. Annual incomes typically range from $40,000 to $100,000, but others earn up to a million dollars per year. 

Lifestyle:

Career coaches have the option to work in-house for companies or schools, typically adhering to regular business hours. Alternatively, self-employed career coaches enjoy the flexibility of setting their own schedules and often work from home offices or other preferred locations.

Education requirements:

There is no regulatory body for coaching professions; hence, there are no strict educational requirements but getting certifications may be beneficial.

This is perfect for you if:

• You enjoy helping and witnessing others succeed.
• You are passionate about personal and professional development.
• You are entrepreneurial and love leading.
• You are mission-driven.

If that sounds like you, definitely watch our interview with Kelsey Kemp to learn more about being a career coach here!

Day in the Life

Schedule:

In-house career coaches follow a typical 40-hour workweek. Self-employed career coaches enjoy the flexibility of setting their own schedules and may choose to work as few as 10 hours per week for client meetings or more, depending on their workload.

Setting:

Most self-employed career coaches work remotely from home, though some may use co-working spaces.  For traditionally employed career coaches, work settings can vary: those working for organizations might be required to work on-site, while those employed by academic institutions often work in-office. Hybrid options can also be available.

Tasks that fill up their day:

Conducting coaching sessions with clients, engaging in marketing efforts to attract new clients, handling administrative tasks like emailing, billing, scheduling meetings, and following up with clients to monitor their progress and provide ongoing support.

Topics:

Job market trends and changes, emerging career fields, and new coaching techniques and strategies.

Skills:

Proficient in enhancing resumes, preparing clients for interviews, developing job search strategies, goal-setting, and utilizing career assessment tools like Myers-Briggs or DISC to help clients understand their preferences.

Tools:

A laptop and phone to handle various tasks, such as online client meetings, emails, and other administrative duties.

Common Characteristics

Natural Talents (strengths):

Career coaches are naturally adept at understanding and connecting with clients’ emotions and experiences. They are strong communicators, effective problem-solvers, possess excellent active listening skills, and are skilled motivators, continuously inspiring their clients to pursue their career goals.

Interests:

Interacting with people and helping their clients one-on-one, handling the entrepreneurial aspect of building their clientele, and enjoying adapting creative approaches to coaching.

Personality:

Career coaches typically have social, enterprising, and artistic personality types. They are very supportive, entrepreneurial, proactive, creative, and innovative.

Values:

Client success, empathy, professionalism, continuous learning, and their impact and contribution to their clients’ lives and careers.

*Terms used to describe interests and personality are based on the Holland Framework.

How to Become a Career Coach

Education requirements:

There are no strict educational requirements to become a career coach, but relevant education and training can enhance credibility and effectiveness. Certification programs through recognized coaching organizations, such as the International Coach Federation (ICF), can provide valuable training and credentials.

Preferred majors:

While there’s no specific academic requirement, pursuing majors in psychology, counseling, human resources, education, or a related field, can be beneficial.

Specialties and Similar Career Paths

Advice from Kelsey

Job hunt tips to set yourself apart:

Build your network and establish a strong online presence across various social media platforms. Engage with your audience by offering tips, sharing client success stories, and interacting actively. These efforts help build trust and credibility, making it easier for potential clients to reach out to you.

Fastest way to get your foot in the door:

Start by offering your services for free to a few clients, which can be controversial but effective. Then, focus on building credibility by delivering tangible results, such as helping with resumes or LinkedIn profiles, in exchange for testimonials. This approach not only helps you gain practical experience but also builds a portfolio of client success stories that you can showcase to attract paying clients in the future.

Recommended resources:

Kelsey recommends getting a coaching certificate from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) certificate from Transform Destiny, listening to podcasts, and utilizing free online resources to start.

What Kelsey would tell her younger self if she was just getting started:

“If you have a heart to go help, go help. If you have a heart to create, go create. And if people don’t believe in you, that’s okay. Have compassion on them. I really think that you could create a job out of anything and for my 20-year-old self who was still in college, you’re not stupid and crazy. You’re not less than others because you’re more soft-skill-oriented and you’re not the best coder or the best finance person. That’s okay.”

Watch the full interview with Kelsey:

Connect with Kelsey: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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