What Is Career Coaching?

What Is Career Coaching & How Does It Work?

Career coaching is a professional service designed to help individuals gain clarity, make informed decisions, and take intentional action in their careers. People seek career coaching for many reasons, including job searching, career transitions, professional development, and goal setting or accountability.

At its core, career coaching helps professionals step back, evaluate where they are, and determine how to move forward in a way that aligns with their skills, values, and goals.

Types of Career Coaching

While every coaching engagement is unique, career coaching commonly supports professionals in the following areas.

Job Search Coaching

Job search coaching supports individuals who are actively looking for work. This may include people returning to the workforce after time away, those who are unemployed or underemployed, or professionals seeking a role similar to their current position.

Job search coaching often focuses on strategic planning, resume development, interview preparation, and navigating the job search process. Coaching sessions typically focus on the areas where the client wants the most support, allowing the process to adapt to individual needs.

Career Transition Coaching

Career transition coaching is designed for professionals who are considering a more significant shift in their career path. This may involve changing industries, roles, or directions altogether.

Early coaching sessions often focus on exploring interests, transferable skills, values, and professional needs. From there, a transition strategy is developed. This may include upskilling or training plans, job search strategy, networking activities, resume or CV development, and interview preparation.

Professional Development Coaching

Professional development coaching supports individuals who are not actively seeking a new job but want to grow within their current role or prepare for future advancement.

This type of coaching may focus on developing soft skills, navigating workplace dynamics, strengthening leadership abilities, and identifying growth opportunities. Coaching begins with understanding where development is needed and creating a plan to support ongoing professional growth.

Goal Setting & Accountability Coaching

Goal setting and accountability coaching focuses on helping professionals define meaningful goals, create actionable plans, and maintain momentum over time.

This approach can support professionals seeking advancement as well as entrepreneurs or leaders who want structure, focus, and accountability as they work toward specific objectives.

How Does Career Coaching Work?

Career coaching is a collaborative process that adapts to each individual’s needs. Coaching typically begins with an initial conversation to understand goals, challenges, and expectations. From there, coaching sessions focus on building clarity, exploring options, and taking practical steps forward.

Coaching may include structured exercises, reflection, discussion, and between-session activities designed to support progress. While pre-session work is not always required, many clients find that engaging with activities between sessions helps them get the most value from coaching.

Effective coaching relies on open communication, feedback, and a strong working relationship between coach and client. Choosing a coach whose style and approach align with your needs is an important part of the process.

Is Career Coaching Right for You?

Career coaching may be a good fit if you are feeling stuck, uncertain, or ready for change but unsure how to move forward. It can support both immediate career decisions and longer-term professional growth.

If you’d like to explore whether career coaching could be helpful, a brief introductory conversation can provide clarity and help you decide on next steps.

Schedule Free Consultation