How to hire a career coach

Getty ImagesYou're stuck. You want to change careers and can't figure out how or what you're even good at. Maybe you've been on scores of interviews, but no one's biting. Or worse, you've sent out hundreds of cover letters and resumes and the phone is not ringing. These are all indicators that it might be time to hire a career coach.

When I changed careers nearly 10 years ago, hiring a coach completely jumpstarted my process. Career changes and job searches take a long time and I'm impatient. I also had a lot of fear and anxiety about the process and I didn't want to overburden supportive friends and family with my constant need to talk about my process. I figured that working with a professional who'd seen hundreds of others through transitions was a way to speed things up. And it did. I used my coach for about 8 sessions to come up with a plan and a strategy; after that, I called her for advice now and then, but mostly felt comfortable on my own.

Here's some things to think about if you're wondering whether it's time to bring in a pro to help moves things along:

How do you find a coach?
One approach is to go about it the way you'd find a dentist, a hair stylist or a babysitter - ask everyone you know for referrals. Another way to go is to search directories of the organizations that train coaches. The International Coaching Federation offers a free search service where you can request information on coaches anywhere in the world that meet certain criteria -- so if you're looking for a French-speaking female coach in Albuquerque with a real estate background, that would be the place to look (I can't promise you they'll send you any names, but you can plug in pretty much any criteria you can come up with.) Many other organizations, some national like the Coaches Training Institute and some local, like the Career Counselors Consortium (focusing on the New York tri-state area), offer a similar search feature. A lot of coaches are blogging and doing podcasts, which provide a nice lens into some one's coaching philosophy. Carol Ross, a career coach in Denver, suggests reading the blogs of coaches as a window into how a coach thinks. To find coaches who are blogging, search on directories like Alltop for blogs or WeFollow for Twitter (search under #coach to find the Twittering coaches on WeFollow). Once you find a few coaches to consider, interview them about their coaching style and ask if each will offer you a sample session. Be wary of someone who doesn't at least want to talk to you by phone for a half hour before deciding she can help you.

How do you know if your problems are more appropriate for a coach or for a shrink?
If you're even asking that question, it's possible that you need something a career coach can't offer. "If it's about going from where they are to where they want to be and we need to tackle negative thinking, that's coaching and I can usually help," says Maggie Mistal, a coach and the host of "Making a Living With Maggie," on XM's Martha Stewart Living Radio. "But if they consistently stay in a negative mindset, live in the past, blame others -- and if it's more about the history of why the people are the way they are, that's when I'll gently suggest that maybe a therapist would be more helpful."

How much should you expect to pay?
According to a study done by the International Coaches Federation, the international average is about $200 for an hour-long session. But pricing varies widely. A coach in Wichita will likely be a lot less expensive than one in New York City. Many coaches will offer a discount if you buy a package of sessions. Some coaches offer coaching in a group setting. And in these times, some organizations are offering discounted or free coaching programs to help those who have been laid off. If you can't pay at all, contact the International Coaches Federation or the Coaches Training Institute; sometimes coaches in training need to work with clients to acquire the necessary hours for certification.

Do you need a specialist or can any good coach help you?
Most experienced coaches work with people across different fields, but you might feel comfortable with someone who has a background in your industry or who works on a particular job search skill that you want to work on. Miriam Salpeter, for example, specializes in job search and resume writing. She even helps people work on their LinkedIn profiles. Carol Ross, a former engineer, specializes in helping people she calls "boundary crossers," who work at the intersection of more than one field. Michael Melcher works with all kinds of professionals, but as a former lawyer with an MBA, he tends to attract clients with those backgrounds.

Will a coach actually find you a job?
A good coach will help you figure out how to find a job, but don't confuse a coach with a recruiter. Several coaches I spoke to, including Alisa Cohn and Miriam Salpeter, said that good coaches should feel comfortable introducing you to relevant people. But keep in mind that a coach will be mindful of her reputation and will only make introductions if she is confident that doing so will make her look good.

Is it a good idea to work by phone?
As long as you make a commitment to the sessions and properly focus, it shouldn't make too much difference whether you work in person or by phone. Marty Nemko, a coach and author of Cool Careers for Dummies, says he actually prefers working by phone: "It's so easy to develop hard-to-break preconceptions about a person based on the visual. By-phone work precludes that. And of course, with my clients busier than ever, they welcome coaching by phone: no gridlock-laden drive to and from my office."