Just dropped $500 on a 'career coach' who basically just read my resume back to me

So I was feeling stuck in my job search and saw an ad for a career coach promising to 'unlock your potential.' I paid for three sessions upfront, which was a big chunk of change for me. The first call, she just asked me to read my resume out loud, then repeated it all back in slightly different words. The second session was the same thing, but with my LinkedIn profile. By the third, I asked for actual advice on switching fields, and she just told me to 'network more' and sent me a generic link to a networking event site. I felt so dumb for not asking more questions before paying. Has anyone found a good way to vet these kinds of services before you pay, or was I just unlucky?

3 comments

3 Comments

verab762mo ago

My old company hired a career coach for a group of us during layoffs. The real test was asking her to describe her own worst client outcome and what she learned. The good ones will have a real, humble story. The fakes get flustered or give a fake humblebrag.

felix_lane992mo ago

Yeah, I'd probably be the coach's worst case study, right @fiona_young?

fiona_young2mo ago

Damn, that's rough. Did she have any actual examples of people she helped switch fields, like case studies or real testimonials? I feel like anyone can call themselves a coach, but proof they've actually gotten results for someone in your exact situation is key. A vague promise isn't enough.