What to Consider When Choosing a Coach: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hello, cycle breaker.Choosing the right career coach is a big decision. With so many coaching styles, approaches, and personalities, finding a coach who understands your unique goals and can provide the right guidance is essential. Whether you’re navigating a career change, looking to advance in your current role, or seeking clarity in your professional life, this guide will help you select a coach that’s the best fit for you.
1. Define Your Coaching Goals
The first step in choosing the right coach is to identify what you want to achieve through coaching. Are you looking to:
Navigate a career change?
Advance within your current field?
Develop leadership or soft skills?
Gain clarity on career direction?
Find a new job?
Start your own business or become self-employed?
Transition into freelancing and build a sustainable client base?
Clearly defining your goals helps narrow your search for a coach who specializes in those areas.
Pro Tip: Some coaches offer a free consultation call, which can be a great time to discuss your goals and see if their approach aligns with what you’re looking to achieve. Book a free, no-strings-attached consultation with me today and let’s explore how I can support you in reaching your goals.
Considering a career change, looking to land your next job, or ready to start your own business? Each path has unique needs. A career change typically involves moving into a completely new field or industry, requiring new skills and experiences. If this sounds like you, check out Making a Career Change? Here’s How Career Coaching Can Help for insights tailored to career transitions. If you’re aiming to find a new job within your current field or role, 11 Ways Career Coaching Can Help You Land Your Next Job covers how coaching can boost your job search and set you up for success. And, if your goal is to start your own business, become self-employed, or transition into freelancing, keep an eye out for my upcoming post on 'Gründercoaching to learn how coaching can support you in building a sustainable, rewarding business. (STAY TUNED FOR THIS POST—COMING SOON).
2. Research the Coach’s Background and Specialization
Career coaches often have different areas of expertise. Some may specialize in career transitions, while others focus on executive coaching, job search strategies, or skills development. Investigate a potential coach’s background, training, and areas of focus to make sure they’re equipped to address your specific needs.
Look at their training: Coaches with ICF (International Coaching Federation) accredited training have often committed significant time and financial investment to their development. The ICF only approves programs that adhere to the highest standards in coaching, making it the “gold label” for coaching programs and ensuring a quality experience. Vetting coaches based on whether they’re ICF-trained can be a reliable way to ensure you’re receiving high-quality service.
Check out their experience: When looking for a career coach specifically, consider a background in HR, or, even better, headhunting, recruiting, or talent acquisition. Coaches with experience in these fields have firsthand knowledge of hiring processes, selection criteria, and job market dynamics—making them particularly effective at helping you achieve your career goals.
3. Explore Their Coaching Style and Approach
Every coach has a unique style. Some focus on practical, action-oriented steps, while others may dive into mindset shifts and self-reflection. To understand what would work best for you, consider:
Are you looking for direct, structured guidance or a more reflective, supportive space?
Do you prefer an empathetic approach or a candid, “tell it like it is” style?
Many coaches provide details about their style on their websites or social media, and a discovery call can offer a firsthand look at their approach.
Don’t be afraid to schedule multiple test sessions: These initial consultations are there to help you assess chemistry with your coach, and coaches themselves often use them to determine if the client is a good fit. This is why these sessions are typically free and no-strings-attached, not intended to sell anything to you. So, don’t be shy—try a few different coaches and see who feels like the best match.
4. Read Client Testimonials and Success Stories
Client testimonials and success stories can provide invaluable insight into a coach’s track record and the kind of impact they’ve had on others. Reading about real experiences from past clients can help you gauge whether the coach's approach and expertise align with your own goals. Look for feedback that specifically mentions the challenges clients faced and how the coach helped them overcome those hurdles. Testimonials that highlight tangible outcomes, like securing a new job, improving leadership skills, or finding greater clarity in career direction, can be especially telling.
When reviewing testimonials, consider whether the feedback points to any specific strengths of the coach, such as their communication style, ability to hold clients accountable, or skill in tailoring strategies to individual needs. Positive reviews and success stories that mention repeat clients or referrals can be another strong indicator of client satisfaction and trust in the coach’s methods. Overall, a history of successful outcomes and enthusiastic recommendations from past clients can signal that this coach is capable of providing the guidance and support you’re looking for in your career journey.
5. Check Their Availability, Follow-Up Support, and Commitment
Consider how the coach structures their sessions, their availability, and the level of support they provide between sessions. Some coaches offer flexible scheduling and online sessions, which is not only convenient and efficient but often more affordable and provides greater flexibility than in-person meetings. Additionally, evaluate the type of support you’ll receive outside of scheduled sessions, as follow-up and accountability can be instrumental to your progress.
Think about:
Frequency of sessions: Do they offer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly options?
Accessibility: Are sessions virtual, and do they offer flexibility to match your schedule?
Level of support between sessions: Some coaches provide follow-up resources, email support, or check-ins to keep you accountable. Look for coaches who offer goal-tracking tools, templates, or resources to use between sessions, which can help you stay motivated and make the most of your coaching journey.
Personal Note: I, for example, use WhatsApp to stay connected with my clients, so they can ask questions or get quick support between sessions. Additionally, I frequently share blog posts on topics that address common challenges and questions raised by my clients, creating an extra layer of ongoing support.
6. Ensure You’re Being Coached in the Right Language
Make sure the coaching is offered in a language where you feel fully comfortable expressing yourself. Coaching is not the place to practice language skills; it’s where you undergo growth, and you need to be able to share your thoughts, feelings, and challenges openly for the process to be successful.
Personal Tip: If you’re registered with the Jobcenter or Arbeitsamt, you may find that advisors will encourage coaching in German. While that can be helpful if you’re fluent, I would strongly advise against it if you’re not near-native. For coaching to be effective, you must have a high command of the language to get the most out of the sessions.
7. Assess Their Communication Style and Compatibility
The coach-client relationship works best when there’s a genuine connection and compatible communication style. Think about what makes you feel understood and supported:
Do you need a coach who actively listens and asks questions, or someone who provides actionable steps and guidance?
Do they adapt to your pace or have a structured way of progressing through sessions?
Building trust is crucial, so finding a coach you feel comfortable and motivated with is key to maximizing the coaching experience.
8. Look at Pricing and Payment Options
Career coaching is an investment, and understanding the costs and payment options is essential. Some coaches charge per session, while others may offer packages or a flat rate. Decide what works best for your budget and inquire about flexible payment options if needed.
Considerations:
Cost per session or package: Some coaches offer discounts for bulk sessions or multi-month commitments.
Payment plans: If affordability is a concern, ask if the coach offers payment plans or success-based agreements.
If you’re looking for ways to finance coaching, check out my post, Practical Ways to Afford Career Coaching: Investing in Your Future, which covers various options to make coaching more affordable.
9. Trust Your Gut Feeling (Most Important of All)
Most importantly, trust your instincts. The right career coach will not only align with your goals and preferences but will feel like someone you genuinely connect with on a deeper level. This connection—sometimes referred to as “chemistry”—is crucial. When you meet or speak with a coach, pay attention to how you feel during the interaction: are you excited, motivated, and comfortable? You’ll often know you’ve found the right coach as soon as you meet them.
This chemistry is just as important for a good coach. Any truly effective coach will also be looking for this “fit” with you, as coaching should feel energizing for both sides. The last thing you want is to feel reluctant or unmotivated before each session. Even the most knowledgeable and well-prepared coach won’t be able to help you as much if you don’t feel comfortable and inspired working with them.
Personal Tip: Schedule a few initial trial sessions with different coaches—these are usually free of charge and no-strings-attached, which is standard practice in the coaching world. Most coaches also use these sessions to get an idea of whether they can support you effectively. Take advantage of these sessions, speak to a few different coaches, and see who feels like the best match. Choosing the right coach is a serious decision that can directly influence your success.
Ready to take the next step? Book a free call with me today, and let’s discuss how we can make coaching accessible for you. Together, we’ll create a roadmap that sets you up for success. Not yet ready to book a call but have questions? Feel free to reach out! Contact me via email or WhatsApp, and I’ll be happy to help.
Until our next breakthrough!
