Your Career: Pros and cons of coaches

This was an interesting article. It was slightly misleading, there are certifications for career coaches.

I work for a company that offers placement services. They are not for everyone. And you can find one at just about any level of pricing.

Ironically, when my husband lost his job, we opted to pay for a career coach that did not work for the company I contract with. The coach my husband used was up front about EXACTLY what services he would receive and it was money well spent. I would not use the company I contract with, because my coworkers are unprofessional jerks. However, they still offer a service and the company always meets all the specifications listed in the contract.

We are pleased with the coach he hired. He's got an amazing resume and good coaching for interviews.

So, what to look for? Here's a few suggestions:

1) Do your research. Google. (Complaints will often show up.) Check with the BBB, but not all companies are registered with the BBB. Ripoff Report can be a useful tool.

2) Ask for references or referrals from friends and coworkers. Many career coaches specialize in one type of job skill or type and you want to hit that target, particularly if you are highly specialized.

3) Check the background of your career coach. Make sure your coach or the placement firm offers good resumes. Some will do them for you, some will make you write them yourself with intensive help. ALL should make you work hard to get the information so you can have that information in your head. YOU also have to do the work. Be comfortable with the level of input before you go forward.

Many coaches will have degrees, alot of work experience, and certifications in coaching and resume writing.

4) Do all of the above BEFORE signing a contract. They'll all be there tomorrow. Don't give in to pressure. You want to spend your money wisely if you are out of a job.

5) Make sure you get a slamming resume. That's your foot in the door and if there are 50 other people vying for your job, you want the best resume in the pack. A great resume is more important than you can possibly realize.

6) Career Coaching is NOT a scam industry. It is an industry that has been around a long time. Are there scammers? Probably with all of them. Do your homework before you sign a contract and feel comfortable with the person you will be working with. Make sure the money spent is within your budget. If you don't have $5,000, don't spend it. You can find a good coach for various services for $1,000. You can even spend less on a resume if that's all you need.

7) ANYTHING you learn from a career coach you can get from a book.

8) Spend money on a good resume if you do nothing else.

These are GUIDELINES only, meant to help those of you interested in career coaching. It can be a hugely useful and vital too. Just remember the most important rule:

9) NO GOOD CAREER COACH WILL GUARANTEE YOU A JOB!! Run to the hills if you ever hear a guarantee like that. You've been had.

Remember, these are all suggestions. Things to think about and look for. I'm just offering you some simple, free advice. If you are reading this, you do not need to needlessly spend money and feel as if you've been ripped off.

I wish you all well who needs to take this advice. God Speed.

So sad to see an author's opinions being presented as fact based on the experience of publishing a book or two. I wonder how many job seekers has this author actually helped? How many testimonials can she offer to her readers?

There is NO comparison between self-study through books and regular human interaction with a trained/certified/experienced career coach. What book offers discourse on choices or empathy on personal situations endured?

There ARE credentialing bodies for career coaches, most notably the International Coach Federation and the Institute of Career Certification International (). There are even some colleges and universities now offering coursework in coaching.

As a Career Management Fellow through ICC International, a Master Certified Career Coach through Career Coach Institute, and an Officer of the Board of the Association of Career Professionals International (), I can attest to the fact that most career coaches are true professionals. Career coaches help people discover career options and make tough career choices; clarify/organize their thought processes; enhance their workplace communications; and support/guide them in solving their most challenging career-related problems. And NEVER do true career coaches find jobs for their clients!

In this very trying recession when layoffs happen at the drop of a hat, career coaches help layoff victims work through the shock and anger of job loss so they can find the courage to risk rejection as they submit resumes into a great abyss and compete for new jobs among hundreds on candidates for each position.

Active on both Twitter and LinkedIn, I have many times referred followers to MSNBC's career column. Too bad I won't be doing that anymore.

Oh, BTW, I'm celebrating 10 years as a career coach this year after working as a recruiter, job developer, and employment specialist since 1986.

I am an Executive Recruiter/Headhunter. One thing I will say is DO NOT ever pay a Recruiter to find you a job. They do nothing more than the contingent Recruiters do that charge no fee to candidates. I've talked to scores of people who just threw a few grand at some agency and ended up getting more prospect activity from me at no fee. In fact, I would be inclined to say they will do less for you since they already have your $$$$.

I thought the article was very well written and serves as a warning for the desperate and naive in this tough recession. There will always be frauds and swindlers who will take advantage of the uninformed and misfortunes of others. The unethical conduct seemingly rampant in the professional coaching industry is no different from the devastation of mortgage/investment schema served up by our wall street princes and bankers.

The same rules apply to anyone you are hiring for a service. or ANYONE for that matter. Research the coach, investigate the coaching business they represent, contact their past clients, and be sure to understand the services rendered in the contract before you exchange legal tender.

I see many parallels between Professional Coaching and Personal Training. Yes, you can find everything you need to know (and then some) to lose weight, get fit, stay active, or eat healthier, in a book. Yet, for some, hiring a great Personal Trainers can be more effective in achieving the desired results:

1. They inspire the client with their physical presence and mentally motivate
2. They creatively challenge the client to perform- give your best effort for best results
3. They review and assess where the client is currently (objective inventory)
4. They hold the client accountable to the task at hand (the best are relentless at this)
5. They provide the social context and interaction for change and/or development

So, surely many people are self motivated and can work off those pounds or obtain the mindset to redefine their body, However there will be many who need assistance to either get started, or move forward through the plateau.

Be wary of the snake oil salesman America, but also recognize a quality, experienced, and good business verified professional coach can assist you.

This article appears to have been written with great bias against coaching. I have a MA in Clinical Psych and 10 years of experience and study in alternative healing arts. Though, I am trained to be a licensed psychotherapist, I do not practice under the body that governs therapists because I take a much more holistic approach to working with clients. So, because I cannot legally call myself a "psychotherapist" I sometimes refer to what I do as coaching. So, I would just say that coaches may have extensive experience and education beyond whatever coaching training they have completed. I would look at the coach as a whole. Also, personal transformation cannot always be immediately measured by tangible results. As a client, your life is still your responsibility - nobody else can do it for you but the right person can sure help you along the way.

This article lacks the discussion of utilizing master's level career counselors vs. career coaches who are not required to have a college degree.  I have a M.S. in Counseling (having specialized in Career Counseling) from San Francisco State University.  I have a private practice and do not charge nearly as much as career coaches.  Instead I charge by the hour and no contract is required.  Please check out (National Board for Certified Counselors).  I do know some talented career coaches, but often they have an advanced degree related to the field and/or years of experience in a similar work environment.  Career Coaches usually cannot administer the well known career assessments that exist, such as the MBTI.  A master's in Counseling or Career Development is required.

Career Counselors are an excellent resource for those that are both employed and unemployed.  Their job is not to tell clients what to do, but to guide them in figuring out this information on their own.  I teach clients how to be successful so that they are not having to come back to me when similar issues arise later in their careers.

Andrea King, M.S., N.C.C.

Careerful Counseling Services

aking@careerful.com

The sad thing is that the writer doesn't understand a thing about coaching and misrepresent the profession as a result. As all too common in the media, a verdict is cast with little to no background research and investigation and the sentence is pronounced with emphatic sprinkling of rethoric.

Are there scammers? Hell yea! To get training, I had to plow through dozens of these just to select the ones I'd go with and listen to. Does this mean the entire profession is at fault? There are umpteen people fraudulently working in jobs they do not have the skills and knowledge for, so every profession has its share of leeches. Does that mean the entire profession is worthless or to blame except a few "somewhat helpful few"?

Plus coaching is new and I can tell you from first hand experience, it's hard to describe what it does and doesn't do. But most coached should set the expectation upfront clearly with their clients that it's listening and support; helping them find their own answers through the right questions. Anyone expecting to walk into a coach office or a shrink office expecting immediate salvation should seriously revise their pie in the sky expectations.

Keep in mind, this article was written by someone who doesn't need any real training to be a writer. There are no Governing Bodies to license writers.

There are many scam artists out there parading as writers. Don't unwittingly fall for or pay to read the work of these unlicensed people.

This writer doesn't understand, nor did she research, anything about career coaches. She greatly misrepresented what a career coach does.

If you are sitting there wondering what to do, you might need a career coach. You probably need one more than reading the rants of a misinformed writer with no license.

To point out that people need help from someone who understands then to say, "...that Person does not exist...", is a real disservice to the readers.

If no one can help, then why read this article?

This is another example of when an uninformed person tries to sum up something they don't understand in a rush to complete content for the internet.

It is misinforming the public. The real tragedy is not that it was written, but that it was accepted by an Editor; someone who is supposed to check the quality of the content created.

If I were Rupert Murdoch, I'd fire the writer and the editor. (I know they are supposed to be capitalized but they did not earn it today)

Then I would suggest they go see a career coach about the opportunities, oh that's right, they don't really believe anyone can help you with your career.

Luckily, Career Coaches can help and do help. If it were up to me, the Editor and Writer of this article would learn that today since they have not achieved that level of professional understanding as of the date of this article.

It's sad to see a big media outlet like this put such hubris on a large scale that would further discourage the hopes of American Job Seekers. Shame on you.

One last thing, this was written by CareerDiva.net and that is a career coach site. Why use a career coach or listen to one that does not believe it works. You should never talk bad about your industry.

I agree with many of the comments re: the writer's bias. It's unfortunate that she's cast such a negative light on what could be the light at the end of the tunnel for many. I am a professional coach with extensive training, experience and on the path to credentialing; that's my bias!

It is good that she highlights that it's important to do due diligence when hiring any type of coach.

Those seeking to hire a coach should look for credentials, formal training from an accredited institution/program, and International Coach Federation (or other professional association) membership. Yes, anyone can hang up their shingle, but there are very rigorous standards/ethical guidelines for professional coaches; take those into consideration.

Any coach who says s/he can "promise" anything is wrong! The coach's role is not to provide answers or give advice, but rather help you uncover your own answers (which are often hidden under fear, uncertainty, doubt, excuses and other life "noise.")

The point Henman raises, "Do they get results for their clients?" is the wrong question. Coaches don't get results, clients do. "Are their clients satisfied with their personal/professional progress?" is more accurate. The client gets out of it what s/he puts into it. A good coach can motivate, focus and support a client; ultimately, however, results are up to the client.

Coaching can be a fabulous investment in yourself. If you're ready for the journey, go for it!

I love Eva’s stuff (she is a very talented writer), but am disappointed by this article.

I am a career coach (surpassyourdreams.com) that has dedicated her life to help people find satisfaction in their career. I never promise the moon, but I do promise action. People in this economy are scared and as long as the media keeps telling them they are lucky to have a job, they are afraid to move or do anything about it. Career coaches help with clarity and courage. You may not get everything you want in your career instantaneously. But if you put together a plan that includes a clear vision with support and accountability, you will get where you want to go.

One note: I am certified through the governing body of coaching which is the International Coach Federation. It’s a serious process you go through and it’s not an easy test to past. If you work with a coach that is ICF certified, you are working with a coach that knows his/her stuff extremely well.