Am I the only one who spent $200 on a career coach and it backfired?

I paid a coach from Denver $200 an hour to help me switch industries, and she spent half the time talking about her own startup instead of my resume. It left me more confused than before and I ended up missing a job deadline I had lined up. Has anyone else had a career coach steer you wrong instead of helping?

3 comments

3 Comments

tylerj2224d ago

That Denver coach charging $200 an hour just to talk about her own stuff sounds like she was using you as a free therapy session, not helping you switch jobs.

anthony12921d ago

...and honestly that's exactly why I started asking for referrals before I even book anyone now. Noahmartin nailed it about checking their track record. What worked for me was finding a coach who had actually been in my exact industry for years before she started coaching. She didn't just talk about her own life, she walked me through building a network step by step and we practiced mock interviews that were brutal but helpful. $200 an hour is steep, but if they can show you five people who made the switch and are happy, then it might be worth it. I'd rather pay someone who's done the thing themselves than someone who just reads books about it.

noahmartin24d ago

The whole coaching industry is full of people who talk a good game but cant actually deliver results. A good coach should be asking you questions about your goals and helping you map out a plan, not rambling about their own life. Next time, ask for a free 15 minute intro call and pay close attention to how much they listen versus how much they talk. Also check their LinkedIn to see if they've actually helped people make the switch youre trying to make. If they cant show you real examples of past clients landing jobs, thats a huge red flag. Sorry you had to learn that lesson the hard way, but at least now you know what to look for.