Careers, as we know them are changing. People are changing jobs more often than before; 35% of employees have changed jobs within the last three years. That makes it much more likely you’ll have more than one career in your working lifetime. With that comes a requirement for adaptability of us as individuals. We need to develop new skills and continue learning throughout our careers. A career coach can be one way to help you keep the focus on personal learning, but why do you need a career coach, and how much does a career coach cost?
The changing working trend is a wake-up call for anyone and everyone who is pursuing a lifelong career. This study by The Foundation for Young Australians found that the average employee will have five different careers, with 17 job changes. There’s little reason to think that this will be any different in Europe or America. Further, the study found that careers will take place over a more extended period than ever before. Living longer means that the average working professional will now work for close to 60 years – three times what it was in 1900. Given the time we spent at work averaging 38 hours per week across the EU, we will spend a large part of our life at work. Therefore, it becomes more critical than ever that your job is challenging, a space for learning and developing self-esteem, and most importantly, enjoyable.
How can a career coach help?
The benefits of professional career coaching are innumerable. Coaching can help you to find a new job, explore future career options, change career, improve leadership skills, create a healthier work-life balance, and enhance your experience in your position.
The International Coaching Federation surveyed people who’d worked with coaches, and a staggering 99% of them were satisfied with the overall coaching experience. As many as 96% of those respondents said they’d repeat the process. More than two-thirds of the people who responded said coaching helped them improve their work performance, and 80% said it helped them improve their self-confidence.
So, how much does a career coach cost?
Typically fees can vary from €75 to €400 per hour, but average in the €1xx range. The cost depends on the coach and their experience. There isn’t any standardised pricing across the industry, so prices vary a lot. Several factors affect how much a career coach cost, including the type of session, the career coach’s experience, and geographic location, and whether you are working one-on-one or in a group setting. Some coaches also offer package deals which can help reduce how much the career coach cost per session if you are willing to commit to several meetings.
Some prospective clients are struck with “sticker shock” and are unable to look past the costs to the potential return they can gain from an investment in a career coach. Without a doubt, the out-of-pocket cost for career coaching is a significant consideration. That’s true for any big investment.
In terms of how much a career coach costs, it is as an investment in yourself. Career coaching can quite literally change your career and consequently, your life. Many will pay the same amount of money for a holiday abroad for a weekend. Whilst I am sure it will be a lot of fun, it’s a short term solution for happiness. Career coaching can increase your happiness and life fulfilment for the rest of your life. To get the most of this investment, you need to find the right coach for you.
So, when it comes to career coaching, how do you decide the career coach who is worth the cost?
A career coach’s work history is important.
When you want to make a career move, it’s good to find others who have done what you want to do. But, they don’t have to be in the exact same field in order for you to learn from them.
What Tony Robbins writes about finding an effective life coach is also applicable to finding a cost-effective career coach. They don’t have to specialise in exactly what you’re hoping to achieve. “What’s more important are the experiences your coach has had and their expertise to get you in the right mindset for success. In fact, you want a coach who has a different perspective than you and who can help you see your life from a different point of view, one that could completely transform your life,” he explains.
Interview your career coach
Like anything in life — people you choose to make your friends or colleagues — you have to vet them, and the same goes for a career coach.
It is useful to ask them about their methodology and approach to coaching. Following a proven method with data-driven assessments ensures the coaching is effective and achieves results.
Don’t be afraid to ask them for testimonials to demonstrate they have had success with others in a similar situation to you. While every engagement is unique, this at least demonstrates they have relevant experience and likely the resources and approaches which will be helpful to you and your situation.
Key characteristics to look for in a career coach
Think about the teachers, bosses, mentors, therapists, and other “coach” like figures you’ve worked with in the past. Who encouraged you, inspired you, and helped you get to the next level? What were the qualities they all had in common? In the end, the goal is to find a coach that understands you, and that speaks a language that you understand. What worked for others might not work for you. So identifying what has worked for you in the past is a good place to start.
There is no exact blueprint for a good coach, as each coach will have their strengths and weaknesses. We’ve asked career coach Aisling Healy for the key characteristics to look for in a career coach. “The key characteristics of a career coach are honesty, reliability, approachability and being a realist. When you work with a coach, you want to be able to connect with them. They need to be approachable and build a good rapport with you so that you feel comfortable to be vulnerable and share your challenges with them. You need to be able to trust your coach to be honest with you and also realistic with you about what you will achieve in your coaching sessions and how they will be able to support you. Your coach must also be reliable, respond to you in a timely manner and support you throughout the process. Make sure to check out testimonials before you engage with a coach and ask for a free consultation so you can assess these characteristics for yourself and ensure they are the right fit.”
Related: How much does a business coach cost?
Before you commit, ask for a free consultation.
Set free introductory calls with at least three coaches. You can compare how they work and the questions they ask and generally whether you think they’d be a good fit. This is also the time you can get the exact pricing, find out exactly how much your career coach cost and see if it works with your budget.
With many things in life, you can get a free trial before you commit. The same goes when trying to choose a career coach. Most of our coaches offer a free consultation, which is a great way to get a better understanding of what it would be like to work with them and confirm that your personalities are a match. Why not book your first free call today?
