Results From Trying Career Coaching for the First Time

If you’ve never tried career coaching before, it’s hard to know what to expect. And when you don’t know what to expect, it can feel scary to give career coaching a try.

I get that!

My name is Crystal Lee and I’ve been a career coach for over 10 years. I often hear people say they’re not sure what career coaching is and how it can help them. Sometimes, there are also misconceptions about what career coaches do.

That’s why I’ve invited a client (thanks, Emma!) to join me for a Q&A so she can share what the experience was like to try career coaching for the first time.

I hope this first-person perspective will help you feel more relaxed (and maybe even excited?) about trying career coaching!

Q&A with a first-time coachee

C: Hi, Emma! Thanks again for joining this Q&A. To help folks get to know you a bit more, could you share a brief summary of your career situation right now?

E: Rewinding to a few years ago, I was preparing to go to law school and was studying for my LSAT. Around that time, I also worked as an Executive Assistant to the COO of a real estate brokerage which revealed my interest in commercial/residential real estate and property management. Then, to my surprise, I got pregnant when I was about to apply to law school.

On top of that, after I had my child, my husband got accepted to his dream school for an MBA program in a different country. I resigned from my job and took a break to fully focus on being a mother and support my husband’s American dream. Now, after moving to a new country with new family dynamics and with no work permit in the US, I’m feeling stuck with what I want to do in my career. I’m trying to reassess my career goals, dreams and values, so that I’ll have more clarity about my next steps.

C: Thanks so much for sharing your background. You’ve experienced a lot in the past few years. We recently had a coaching session and it was your first time trying career coaching. What did you expect before the session and how did the actual experience compare to your initial expectations?

E: I did not know what to expect. I’ve tried therapy and also had a mentor before so I thought it would be an experience that is similar to both. I never really had a chance to verbalize all my career goals or thoughts, and it was refreshing to actually talk about it with someone and have a neutral third party to hear me out without judgment or opinions.

C: You raise an interesting point. I often describe that therapy focuses more on the past and coaching focuses more on the present and future. Meanwhile, mentors usually share their personal experiences while a coach usually talks less and asks more questions. Aside from these differences, how do you feel career coaching differs from other sources of support in your life, like family and friends?

E: Career coaching feels different from my other sources of support because it’s a neutral, unbiased third party. Being Asian and coming from a family background where reputation, not giving up on what you’ve started, and salary greatly impact career decision-making, I tend to have conversations leaning toward those values. Ultimately, I want a career that makes me happy and fills my cup every day, and having a coach who listens to me with no opinions, judgment, or cultural bias is crucial to help me sift through what I truly want.

C: Thanks for sharing that insight about cultural influences. What would you say was the most important thing you got from our first career coaching session?

E: I got a boost of energy to start my next steps, whereas before, I felt insecure about being out of touch with work. You encouraged me to take baby steps. After taking a year break, I felt very lost about where to even begin. Our career coaching session gave me the tools and tips to start and it boosted my confidence.

C: I often share that most of the work (and progress) happens between coaching sessions because that’s when you’re out in the world taking action. Can you share a few examples of what you did as a result of our career coaching session?

E: Actually, right after our first session, I felt a surge of energy to look into volunteer opportunities, webinars and course certifications. I applied to one job and a volunteer opportunity.

C: That’s amazing! Now that you’ve had a taste of career coaching, what message would you have for someone who’s unsure about trying career coaching?

E: Just try at least one session! I was a bit skeptical about how it might help me because ultimately, I always think we have the answers ourselves. But having someone pull out what you’ve been thinking career-wise helps you to organize your thoughts and reevaluate your goals and passion.

C: Absolutely. As a coach, I also believe you have your own answers and I’m here to help you connect with what’s already there. We move through the complex feelings and busyness of everyday life, so you can find the clarity and confidence to pursue your definition of success. Thank you so much for giving career coaching a try and sharing your experience!

So there you have it. Hope this Q&A helps shed light on what career coaching is all about!

Do you want to try career coaching for yourself?

Every coaching session is different and I make it a priority to meet you where you’re at. So whatever is happening in your work/life right now, we can talk about it. Get started with a coaching call.

Photo by Sean Kong on Unsplash

Crystal Lee, MPH, CPCC is a holistic career coach who helps mid-career professionals transform their work and life with clarity, confidence, and kindness. Let her know if you have a career question and join her newsletter to get the answer!