The Right Coach May Be Hard to Find

As with finding any kind of expert, word of mouth counts for a lot, so ask around for a recommendation and don't be dazzled by credentials

by Liz Ryan

Dear Liz,

Corbin

Dear Corbin,

The coaching field is large and complicated, so this is a great question. There are lots of different kinds of coaches, and a wide range in the experience levels of people in the field. So it pays to do your homework before engaging anyone's services.

First, a little background: About 10 years ago, the coaching arena absolutely exploded. Coaches began coming out the woodwork, and zillions of newly minted ones are still emerging every day. It is extremely easy to become certified as a life coach.

Of course, some certifying bodies have more requirements than others. But there are many, many people calling themselves coaches, career coaches, or life coaches, who have no more experience in the advice-giving realm than you do, and quite possibly less. This does a disservice to clients, and more of a disservice to very experienced coaches, who are having to fight to retain the credibility of their field against this swarm of greenhorns.

Life coaches, of course, focus on your life as a whole and often work with clients on their finances, their relationships, and lots of things besides job issues. I suspect that you want a career coach, and someone with broad experience in career development as well. You're looking for someone who can help you home in on your area of focus as you change careers, and then make a plan to get a terrific job in that new arena.

So, you must ask around. You must ask everyone you know, "Who have you heard recommended as a trustworthy and effective coach for a career-shifter like me?" Make your decision based on personal recommendations. Word of mouth keeps the great coaches booked, if not overbooked. Ask for a no-cost introductory consultation to make sure you and your prospective coach are a good fit. You will be very disappointed if you waste time and money with a person who can't really help you, but the right coach can help you move into your new career focus-area feeling confident and ready to roll.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Liz

Liz Ryan is an expert on the new-millennium workplace, a former Fortune 500 HR executive and the author of Happy About Online Networking: the Virtual-ly Simple Way to Build Professional Relationships. Liz speaks to audiences around the world about work, life and networking, and works with employers on attracting and retaining world-class talent. Liz can be reached at liz@asklizryan.com.