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Which Career Coaching Services are Right for You?
Brand New Career Coaching Services Comparison Chart for 2022
Everyone knows that coaching makes champions, no matter what profession you are in. Whether in professional sports, corporations or entertainment, coaches guide professionals and employees to better develop their skills. For example at most successful corporations, C-level executives have management coaching to keep them at the top of their game. Sales and marketing have development coaching as well.
Every sports team, such as the The Dallas Cowboys football team has a ton of strength and conditioning coaches to help their players excel. All your favorite celebrities, from Rihanna, to Chris Hemsworth to Lady Gaga all have talent coaches to develop their talents professionally.
No matter what job role or career you are in, the right career coaching services can help you to identify where your greatest marketable value is, and how to develop it to the fullest.
A career coach is not for everyone - this career coaching services comparison chart will help you choose which one may be right for you
Career coaching can be extremely helpful, but it’s not for everyone. You don’t use career coaching ongoing, instead, you typically use a career coach on a project basis to accomplish a specific step in your career path. For example to help you in your job search if you are having trouble finding one that suits your needs, or to assist you in a career change to a new field.
But since career coaching packages can be quite expensive, you need to carefully vet that they align with your specific goals. For example if your coach specializes in job search, but you need career counseling, they won’t do you much good.
To help you simplify finding the best career coach for your needs, I developed this comprehensive guide to career coaching services.
This guide can help you if:
- You are uncertain as to what career is right for you, and would like a coach to help you pick a career
- You are ambitious and competitive and want to accelerate your career development plan
- You are making a career change or job transition and want assistance to make the jump
- You think you need help with your job search
- You have particular requirements, such as finding a career without a college degree or if you are looking for the best job for introverts
The right career coach can help you with any of these scenarios, as long as you choose the right one for the right problem. For example, career counselors are usually not experts in job search, but they are trained to help you through an employment crisis or the pain of a job separation.
Career coaches typically are used to help you with all aspects of your job search, but you’d need a Career destiny coach like myself helps you to choose a career you will love.
Read on to choose the right career coaching for your particular situation.
In this comprehensive guide, Which Career Coaching Services are right for you? (Brand New Career Coaching Services Comparison Chart for 2022) we cover:
A career coach is not for everyone – this career coaching services comparison chart will help you choose which one may be right for you
There are many kinds of online career coaching services, how do you choose the right one?
What does a career coach do, and how they are helpful to your particular situation
Career coaches specialize in helping you with skills and tactics to secure a job.
Career counselors often have higher levels of education in specific field
Career transition coaches specialize in helping you make transitions to new jobs or careers.
Recruiters, Executive Recruiters, Staffing agencies and Job Placement agencies
Career Discovery Coach – Larry LaFata
Career Coaching Services – Comparison Chart for 2022
What to watch out for in the Career Coaching Industry
Career Coaches wide use of psychometric tests
Emotional empathy
Use of pre-screening intake forms
Career Coaching best practices
If your goal is to discover what career is right for you or decide on a career
What does a Career Discovery Coach specialize in?
A Career Discovery Coach can add a powerful spiritual dimension to your employment path, giving it depth, stability and longevity
There are many kinds of online career coaching services, how do you choose the right one?
There are many kinds of coaches with countless levels of expertise. You have to choose the right coach for your particular need, to get the results you are seeking. Especially since the costs for most total packages can be $299 to $2,500 and up.
First, we cover what each kind of career coach does, so you have a good handle on what they specialize in.Then, the career coaching services comparison chart for 2022 below helps you to navigate the specific service offerings. So you can easily find which one specializes in what you need assistance with.
Note: There are many overlaps of services in the career coaching industry, this chart intends to give you a “ballpark idea” of what you can expect.
What does a career coach do, and how they are helpful to your particular situation
Not all career coaches provide every service. To better understand the role of each kind of career coach, let’s look at the main focus of what each does:
Career coaches typically specialize in helping you with skills and tactics to secure a job.
They provide job search strategies, polish your resumes, interview prep, assist new grads with jobs out of college, may help with career planning, negotiating salary, using LinkedIn to find a job and the like. They also offer, but don’t specialize in, career change, career transition, relocation and management consulting.
They can have a wide range of qualifications and experience, so you need to do your research before choosing.
Tools used: Intake form or pre-call screening; in-depth phone/zoom/in person interviews; aptitude tests, personality tests, strong interest tests and other psychometric testing; online jobs sites, various career skills tools and documents
Credentials: typically, HR experience, Career Coaching Certification, Accreditations and BS or Masters College Degree, on the job training.
Did you know: A typical Career Coach accreditation only includes 8 to 12 hours of actual career coaching training? Udemy offers a coaching accreditation for only $16.99!
Experience: This is the wildcard. Career coaches come in all different levels of expertise.
- Many career coaches have certificates of accreditation, but don’t always have the practical hands-on job coaching experience or background
- Most career coaches don’t have coaching experience managing employees in a department, running a business, operating a website blog or executive experience
- Even fewer have written books, website blogs or courses – so are unable to show mastery of the career topics they claim to specialize in
- Sadly, the biggest limitations of a majority of career coaches is their reliance on aptitude tests, personality tests and other psychometric tests to match you to a job, which can be quite constraining to your job horizons
Costs: can vary widely, just like expertise can:
- Per session: From $49 to $259 per session or more; for example, FlexJobs career coaching is $79 and up
- Packages: Hallie Crawford offers a $599 monthly subscription package while
- Peak Careers has 6 hours Job Search packages for $799
- The Muse offers a wide variety of Job Search coaching packages
On average you’ll end up in the $700 to $2500 range for most career coaching packages, even if they use psychometric tests to match you to job categories.
Career counselors often specialize in institutional settings, and have higher levels of education in field of specialtyc
They may be board certified, may be therapists or psychologists. Career counselors provide ongoing student career counselling in higher education. In institutional settings, they guide job seekers with emotional challenges to move through the complex side of employment problems.
Career counselors provide career planning assistance after rehab, after incarceration, as part of public assistance programs, with interpersonal issues, through job loss crisis and other personal issues.
They are employed by institutions such as Colleges, Schools, Dept of Labor, State Govt Agencies, Municipalities, Community services, and hospital or clinic in outpatient services.
Tools used: Heavy use of Aptitude Tests, Personality Tests, Strong Interest Tests lots of other psychometric testing; DOL – Standard Occupational Classification for job classifications. They also oversee one on one counseling sessions.
Credentials: Usually hold higher level college degrees such as Masters, MSW or PHD, are more specialized in focus, typically with psychology and psychiatric background. Many are board certified though the National Board of Certified Counselors They typically work in adherence to Federal and State Guidelines for psychology and psychiatry. May have written thesis or books in their area of specialty.
Experience: Counselors tend to work in one dept or silo in government, hospitals and academia for a long period of time.
Costs: Often are in career positions paid and provided for by public funding to institution
Career transition coaches specialize in helping you make transitions to new jobs or careers
Often assist with career change, midlife career transition, or provide emergency services after major job disruption such as layoff or plant closings.
This is the most vague of all coach disciplines, in that there is no clear agreed upon job description. Career transition coaches offer all kinds of services. Some offer resume help, others job placement, some spirituality or psychology, others are just career coaches. Some recommend additional education.
Be careful in this category, since career transition can be the most difficult undertaking you can ever do and you need to make sure you get solid advice.
Tools used: Aptitude Tests, Personality Tests, Strong Interest Tests other psychometric testing; online jobs sites, various industry skill building tools, courses and training
Credentials: include HR experience, Certificates, Accreditations and College Degree
Experience: is uneven, many have certificates of accreditation and HR experience, but not specific career change or transition counseling credentials or experience.
Costs: Similar to career coaches
Recruiters, Executive Recruiters, Staffing agencies and Job Placement agencies
connect you directly to job openings you may qualify for. They often have relationships and connections to specific employers within specific industries and verticals (such as IT, Healthcare, Financial industry) related to your current experience. They can usually help you find a job quickly, as they are looking to fill spots for an employer in need.
The larger recruiters now provide all kinds of career related services, including job placement and executive search, as shown on Forbes list of top recruiters in 2021
Tools used: Employer job database, AI, specific job profiles, employer, govt or municipal offices. Many require psychometric testing of some kind such as Strong Interest tests
Credentials: Typically HR background, 4 year college degree, corporate background, sales background.
Experience: executive recruiters typically have strong industry experience in their specific recruiting field, are often sourced from HR departments. While staffing agencies and job placement experience levels can vary.
Costs: Recruiters and Staffing agencies usually are no cost to you, they are paid a fee by employer for filling a qualified job slot
Career Discovery Coach - Larry LaFata
Larry specializes in helping you find the career you will love by assessing what career you are meant for, regardless of your work experience, background or level of education.
He is your best option if your main concern is to discover what career or business is right for you, or if you are having difficulty with how to choose a career.
Tools used: Career Self assessments; Career Destiny questionnaires; infographics, charts and graphs to clarify intangible concepts; affirmations, visualization and intentions; techniques to overcome limiting beliefs, to manifest what you want, and to maintain a strong mindset
Credentials: BA Degree in Business Administration and Marketing, member of NCDA National Career Development Association, and founder of defineyourcareer.com a website dedicated to help you manifest your Career Destiny.
Experience: Founder and operator of career coaching site defineyourcareer.com since 2011, author of 6 career courses including Define Your Career Destiny and Career Destiny workshop for Friends, Author of 4 books including How to motivate your team using rewards. In his corporate employment, Larry earned multiple sales and marketing awards from Fortune 500 companies including AT&T and Ceridian, managed several marketing departments including Dr. Computer.
Cost:
- FREE video call session: 30-minute intro session, no charge
- Define Your Career Destiny – One Week Home Study Course $147
- Career Destiny Workshop for Friends $99 per person
- Career After College – Group workshop for grads $99 per student
Career Coaching Services - Comparison Chart
Now that you have a better idea of career coaching roles, you also need the specifics of the services they provide.
I’ve put together this Career Coaching Services Comparison Chart to help you navigate which coaching service will assist you with your career, business, mindset, entrepreneurial or job-related concerns.
It is grouped by services you need, such as job search, career goals, aptitude tests, and how to choose a career.
Note: All career coaching services are classified by 1 of 3 levels
- Specializes: The coach specializes in this area and it is their main focus
- Offers: The coach offers this service as one of their offerings, may or may not be their specialty
- N/A: The coach typically does not offer this service or it is not available
Which Career Coaching Services Are Right For You?
If you need assistance in this area | Choose this type of career coaching service | ||
Career Aptitude Tests, Personality Tests, | Career Coach | Staffing Agencies, | Career Destiny |
Career Aptitude Tests | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Career Interest Tests & quizzes | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Career Personality Types | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
DOL - Standard Occupational Classification | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Job Search prep, Interview Prep, | Career Coach | Staffing Agencies, | Career Destiny |
Job Search prep | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Interview prep | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Job Search Campaign | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Online Job Sites search | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Find you a job in industry you have experience | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Job Placement Services for layoffs/closures | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Place you in semi-skilled employment quickly | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Resume assistance | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
Executive Search | Specializes | Specializes | Not Offered |
What Career is Right for Me? | Career Coach | Staffing Agencies, | Career Destiny |
Discover what career is right for you | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to find a career you love | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to choose a career | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
What am I good at? | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
Identify "who do I want to work with all day?" | Not Offered | Not Offered | Specializes |
What career is right for me if I'm an introvert? | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
What career can I go into without college | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
Discover your ideal customer/target market | Not Offered | Not Offered | Specializes |
Career Destiny Group Workshop for college grads | Not Offered | Not Offered | Specializes |
Career Destiny Workshop for Friends together | Not Offered | Not Offered | Specializes |
Career Destiny Fast Track - Career Action Plan | Not Offered | Not Offered | Specializes |
Career Direction After College | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Strengthening Your Mindset | Career Coach | Staffing Agencies, | Career Destiny |
How to manifest an abundance Mindset | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to develop a creativity mindset | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
Employment values and beliefs | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to change your mindset to positive | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to manifest what you want | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to maintain a peaceful mindset | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to remove limiting beliefs | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
How to build a strong mindset | Offers | Not Offered | Specializes |
Money management mindset | Not Offered | Not Offered | Offers |
Career Change, Career Transition | Career Coach | Staffing Agencies, | Career Destiny |
Career Change | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Career Action Plan | Specializes | Offers | Specializes |
Long term Career Planning | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Career Destiny Action Plan | Not Offered | Not Offered | Specializes |
Career Decision Making | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Career transition coaching | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Career change at 30, 40 or 50 | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Midlife Career Change | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Career Goals, Personal Goals | Career Coach | Staffing Agencies, | Career Destiny |
Career Goals | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Personal goals for work | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Professional development goals | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Career Development coaching | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Employee development plan | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Individual development plan | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
Career role development | Offers | Offers | Specializes |
As you can see, you have many options for online career coaching to choose from.
Often times you won’t know exactly what the problem is in your career path, you just know you can do better. The more specific you can be, the better a coach can help you.
What to watch out for in the Career Coaching Industry
Because of the uneven level of experience, credentialing and use of psychometric tests, career coaching can provide a wide range of results.
There are few key things to watch out for to determine if they are the right fit for you.
1. Career coaches wide use of psychometric tests
Most career coaches are passionate and caring, however if they use psychometric tests, they are not doing you any favors. They want to put you into an aptitude category box so they can match you to a job category.
This takes control away from you, by using a 3rd party tool to determine your destiny. Worse, these tests categorize you into a box, a box which can trap you for a lifetime.
It’s not the coach’s fault, in that their training and accreditation relies heavily on psychometric tests as tools to assist you. Testing companies may pay a commission to a coach to use their tests.
2. Emotional empathy
Many coaches are experts in helping you feel better emotionally. They know you are vulnerable and in pain about your career situation and try to spend a good amount of energy empathizing. This can be valuable short term.
However, in this regard a career coaching consult can be like a shot of Novocain. It can provide a full measure of pain relief but does not fix the underlying issue. Make sure they have an explainable career coaching plan that relates to what you need.
3. Use of pre-screen intake forms
Career coaches typically have you fill out an intake form so they can get a handle on your background as to what direction to take the first coaching session call.
Ask them for their credentials and experience as well. Do they have a book or course they have authored in their specialty? Do they have a website or blog they publish? How do they explain their career coaching process?
Often the first live call does not resolve any issues. It is just a starting point to more coaching packages and options such as career aptitude testing and job search tools. Set your expectations accordingly.
Career coaching best practices
The best career coaches have a plan of action that works for all candidates, using a consistent process, like a dentist or lawyer. Look for that consistency when you make your choice.
If your goal is to discover what career is right for you or decide on a new career
Career coaches are experts and specialize in job search skills, resumes, interview prep, using online resources to find a job etc. and in that area they can be excellent.
If your goal is to discover what career or business is your Destiny, however, a Career Discovery Coach is the best choice.
Often times, when you can’t find a good job, you think it’s your resume, your interviewing skills or job search skill. However, your skills may not be the problem, your choice of employment is!
You may have chosen your current or most recent job for the wrong reasons in the first place and are in conflict on some level. An opportunity opened up and you jumped on it, without really thinking through the long term of it.
Like any pros sports coach would tell you if your performance is coming up short, get back to the basics!
By defining your career destiny, you can align your values and beliefs to the basics of the career path that best suits you.
What does a Career Discovery Coach specialize in?
A Career Discovery Coach specializes in one area – helping you choose the career or business you are meant for.
This is done by helping you to identify the 5 factors of your Career Destiny:
- What am I good at?
- Who is my ideal client or customer?
- Who do I want to work with all day?
- What workday lifestyle do I want?
- What are my employment and money values and beliefs?
A Career Discovery Coach can add a powerful spiritual dimension to your employment path, giving it depth, stability and longevity
- Helping you to manifest your destiny by using affirmations, intention and positive visualization so you deeply internalize your career roles
- Strengthening your mindset by identifying and removing limiting beliefs so you can manifest what you want in a career or business
- Converting your Career Destiny into lifetime goals: lifetime, long term, midterm and short-term career goals
- Vetting your career goals for validity to ignite your Career Destiny Action Plan
- Help you self-manage your career action plan with an innovative Weekly Review tool
When you identify your Career Destiny and step into the career role you are meant for, you are transformed:
Conclusion
There are many kinds of career coaching services to assist you in whatever job related area you have need. Use this handy Career Coaching Services comparison chart to compare what coach works for your particular employment related needs and what to watch out for.
Your Career Destiny awaits!
