A handy directory of top career coaches who let you try before you buy.

50 Career Coaches Who Give Free Consults On Every Topic You Need
Photo by Austin Neill

Why do top athletes have coaches?

Simple: to get better results, faster.

Similarly, in 6 Reasons You Might Need a Job Search Coach Now, job seeker coach Rita Ashley said that having a coach helps in “securing a better job, reaching it faster and gaining the intangible benefit of control over” your job search.

Who doesn't want that?

But then, how do you find a good career coach who can get you that?

You could try googling ‘career coaches near me', but where you live will largely decide how useful that is. Plus the fact that a career search coach is local in no way guarantees they're any good.

You could try asking your network of contacts for recommendations, and if you're lucky, someone you trust will actually be able to speak from experience. But what if they're in a different industry, or at a different stage in their career?

It's not so easy to find the best career coach for you, which is why I've compiled this list of career coaches from around the world who offer a free consult upfront.

Most of the coaches here offer initial phone or Skype consult calls you can use to explain your situation and discuss their coaching services and pricing, while some give free resume and CV reviews.

Use the free call to see if there's good chemistry with the coach to be, and try to understand if you'd enjoy working with them.

Have you ever had a paid coach of any kind?


Free bonus: Download JobMob's Free Coaching Consults Guide which contains a directory of coaches offering free consults, and a list of the top questions to ask them during those consults.

Coaches who offer free phone consultations

thea-kelley-career-services-logo

Name: Thea Kelley

Based in: San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA

Consult: Phone consultation

Duration: 15 minutes

Target audience: Professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the USA

 

 

the big game hunter logo

Name: Jeff Altman

Based in: Asheville, NC (USA) and works nationally.

Consult: Phone consultation

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: “I work with people from the C suite to manager level guiding them with their search. Unlike recruiters, I work as an ally for the executive and management job hunter helping to guide you throughout the search, reminding you of what it is like to be on the other side of the process so you can present yourself as the expert you are and land your next leadership role.”

 

sharon mccormick logo

Name: Sharon McCormick

Based in: North Carolina. Sharon has a virtual practice and serves other cities around the USA.

Consult: Free consultation to assess our fit in achieving your career goals

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: Consists of mid-career changing professionals who want to advance in their jobs or make a career change. I work with my clients virtually, so I work with clients across the country. I assist clients from most industries including Government, Non-profit, Corporate and Higher Education.

 

kevin tucker logo

Name: Kevin Tucker

Based in: Ohio and Arizona

Consult: Strategy Session

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: mid-career professional going through a life and/or career transition

 

sydney career coaching logo

Name: Tina Monk

Based in: Neutral Bay NSW, Australia

Consult: Coaching Introduction

Duration: 15 minutes

Target audience: job seekers – people who have been made redundant or are looking for a new/better job, they know what they want but don’t know how to get it; career changers – people who are not happy in their current career and want to make a change but don’t know what to; and people who want to achieve life goals, such as relationships; and leaders who want to improve their leadership skills. They are Sydney-based.

 

simon scantlebury logo

Name: Simon Scantlebury

Based in: Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Wiltshire and other locations across the UK

Consult: Consultation

Duration: 2 hours

Target audience: executives, directors, managers, and professionals in southern counties of England.

 

christiancareercenter logo

Name: Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck

Based in: Howell, MI, USA

Consult: Career Services Consultation

Duration: 20 to 40 minutes

Target audience: “individuals who think they could benefit from professional career coaching/counseling, and who are ready to invest financially in professional career services.”

 

margaret buj logo

Name: Margaret Buj

Based in: London, UK

Consult: Needs Assessment Call

Duration: 15 minutes

 

career potential logo

Name: Ford Myers

Based in: Haverford, PA, USA

Consult: Career Breakthrough Session

Target audience: Senior Executives and Accomplished Professionals (residents of the US and Canada only)

 

kick start logo

Name: Mark Anderson

Based in: Brighton and Sussex, UK

Consult: Consultation

Duration: 10 to 15 minutes

Target audience: school leavers and adults who are looking for a career transition.

 

beard avenue logo

Name: Leonard Lang

Based in: Minneapolis, MN, USA

Consult: Consultation

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: anyone who wants to discover what their most fulfilling career and job would be and a way to achieve it. This is a creative, individualized 4 step process. It works best with people willing to determine what they’d like first, and then figure out what they need to do to get there. It’s not a good match for people who want to start with their skill set and see who’s asking for that set. It’s also not for people who prefer to use standardized assessments. Can meet in-person if in Twin Cities, Minnesota area.

 

sinclair career consulting logo

Name: Julia Sinclair-Brown

Based in: United Kingdom

Consult: Consultation

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: healthcare professionals – I offer Skype or face-to-face in Cambridgeshire

 

 

hallie crawford logo

Name: Hallie Crawford

Based in: Atlanta, GA, USA

Consult: Career Strategy Session

Duration: 20 minutes

Target audience: “career seekers wanting to find their passion and career path for life.”

 

apaththatfits logo

Name: Adrian Klaphaak

Based in: San Francisco, California, USA

Consult: Career Consultation

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: “We’ve helped thousands of people find work they love and build successful careers.”

 

 

reslady logo

Name: Pat Kendall

Based in: Portland, Oregon, USA

Consult: Job Search Coaching

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: “If you have been unemployed for more than one year, you qualify for a free coaching session.”

 

career joy logo

Name: Brittany Knapp

Based in: USA

Consult: Complimentary intro call

Duration: 15 minutes

Target audience: “If you are not experiencing career joy, it’s time to find out why. We have helped a number of people like you.”

 

weinfive logo

Name: Bob Weingartner

Based in: New Jersey, USA

Consult: Career Coaching Consultation

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: “assisting entry to mid-level career and job seekers in attaining their career goals.”

 

thecareercoach logo

Name: Ros Toynbee

Based in: London, UK

Consult: Career Review

Duration: 45 minutes

Target audience: “Professionals (not new graduates) ready to make changes in their career at this time and serious about investing their time and money in receiving independent, professional support to achieve that aim.”

 

career coach london logo

Name: Lindsay West

Based in: London, UK

Consult: Coaching

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: “helping people to feel a sense of fulfilment in all aspects of their lives and she has had great success coaching clients to achieve their personal, career and life goals.”

 

seven coaching logo

Name: Seven Coaching

Based in: London, UK

Consult: Coaching Consultation

Target audience: “helping professionals since 2009 and has now helped hundreds of happy clients to find their next role, make big career changes, start businesses, develop confidence, get promoted and noticed, and much much more.

 

mo faul logo

Name: Mo Faul

Based in: Florida, USA

Consult: Clarity Call

Target audience: “Anyone in a leadership role should be required to take this program.”

 

Ashley Logo

Name: Ashley Stahl

Based in: UK

Consult: Phone consultation

Target audience: “20somethings and 30somethings around the world to discover their authentic careers, land more job offers and launch their dream businesses”

 

mba mission logo

Name: mba Mission

Based in: USA

Consult: Consultation: Career Coaching

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: “Business school students”

 

name your career logo

Name: Hamza Zaouali

Based in: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Consult: One-on-One Job Search Coaching

Duration: 30 to 60 minutes

Target audience: Mid-management to top executive level. I coach professionals around the world so no geographical restriction. I specialise in Job Search Coaching, CV Writing, Interview Preparation and Salary Negotiation (or Re-negotiation)

 

stefanie zizzo logo

Name: Stefanie Zizzo

Based in: Apex, NC, USA

Consult: Coaching Consultation

Duration: 20 minutes

Target audience: “If you have been unemployed for more than one year, you qualify for a free coaching session.”

 

acecis logo

Name: Naren Chellappah

Based in: Melbourne, Australia

Consult: Job search, Internships & Career coaching consultations

Target audience: International students or skilled migrants finding it tough to get employment in Australia

 

church jobs logo

Name: Church Jobs TV

Based in: Bryan, OH, USA

Consult: Video phone consultation

Duration: 15 minutes

Target audience: “churches and individuals during their search process”

 

flint careers logo

Name: Michelle Flint

Based in: USA

Consult: Initial consultation

Duration: 30 minutes

Target audience: Ideal for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who want to change careers, reenter the workforce, get promoted, or upgrade their job search for better results. My innovative, 6-step Career Map helps career changers design a perfect-fitting career that's customized to your unique life situation. And my 4-step Job Search 2.0 is customized to accelerate your job search results, no matter what your industry.

 

jd nation logo

Name: Annie Little

Based in: Philadelphia, PA, USA

Consult: Complimentary Consultation

Duration: 15 minutes

Target audience: “I work with lawyers like you to discover the career you want and rebuild the confidence you need to make it a reality.”

 

career creators consulting logo

Name: Career Creators Consulting

Based in: Austin, Texas, USA

Consult: Consultation

Duration: 30 minutes

 

tessa armstrong associates logo

Name: Tessa Armstrong

Based in: United Kingdom

Consult: Consultation

Target audience: “individuals in the UK and abroad to achieve the career that suits them best.”

 

new career breakthrough logo

Name: Jeff Neil

Based in: New York City, NY, USA

Consult: Consultation

Duration: 15 minutes

 

career coach bethany logo

Name: Bethany Wallace

Based in: North Central Arkansas, USA

Consult: One-on-one call

Duration: 15-20 minutes

Target audience: Every candidate/job seeker

 

insync resources logo

Name: Angela Loeb

Based in: Austin, Texas, USA

Consult: Initial Consultation

Duration: 20-30 minutes

Target Audience: professionals, from early career through executive level, who are going through or will soon go through a career transition. They’re considering another job or are thinking about freelancing, consulting, or coaching. They want help developing a resume/CV and online profile that attracts ideal opportunities and emphasizes personal brand/uniqueness. If they’re job hunting and not getting much success answering online ads, I advise them about more effective search strategies. I also coach them on interview preparation, leveraging my past experience as a professional recruiter.

 

briefcase coach new logo

Name: Sarah Johnston

Based in: Chapel Hill, NC and Columbus, OH (USA)

Consult: Needs assessment call

Duration: 15 minutes

Target Audience: High achievers in North America looking for their next great opportunity

 

deb goldstein logo

Name: Deb Goldstein

Based in: Boston, MA

Consult: Phone/Skype call about Career Coaching & Development or Resume Writing

Duration: 60 minutes

Target Audience: USA-based professionals in an active job search that needs strategical and logistical counsel and methodologies that include brand message, transitional strategies, resume writing, collaborative cover letter writing, LinkedIn Optimization, job search strategies and resources, interview preparation, career sounding board advice and negotiating an offer.

 

Tools for Transition logo

Name: Irene Marshall

Based in: San Francisco, CA

Consult: Phone/Skype call about Career Coaching or Resume Writing

Duration: 30 minutes

Target Audience: Anyone who is ready to be engaged in their own process to find a job and a career. I am very versatile as both a writer and a coach. I work with people at all stages of their careers, from recent grad to C-Suite. Writing services include resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, professional bios, thank you letters. Coaching services include career exploration, job search strategies and action plans, how to use LinkedIn, interview preparation.

 

Jaide Massin avatar

Name: Jaide Massin

Based in: NY Tri-state area

Free consult type: Phone/Skype call

Duration: 15 minutes

Target audience: job seekers in any industry within the United States, and people outside the United States who are looking for work within the United States. Services offered are: Resume Writing & Professional Bios, LinkedIn Profiles, Interview Preparation, Job Search Coaching. I am remote, so I cover the globe.

 

Free resume/CV reviews and critiques

 

cv squad logo

Name: The CV Squad

Based in: United Kingdom

Consult: CV Review

Target Audience: Those who want to help themselves take control of their careers, short, mid and long term. Our clients come from all industries and range from recent top talent graduates wanting to invest in their career map, to global CEO's seeking highly tailored executive 1-2-1 board support.

 

aresumefortoday logo

Name: Jean Cummings

Based in: Concord, MA, USA

Consult: Resume Consultation

Target audience: “I create executive resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles specifically designed for IT executives.”

 

provenresume logo

Name: Bernadette Innes

Based in: Melbourne, Australia

Consult: FREE Assessment: Résumé, Cover Letter, Key Selection Criteria and/or LinkedIn Profile

Target audience: Australia and Worldwide

 

jeff the career coach logo

Name: Jeff Flannery

Based in: Paradise Valley, AZ, USA

Consult: Resume Review

 

kamara toffolo logo

Name: Kamara Toffolo

Based in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Consult: Resume Review

Target audience: “established professionals at all levels from mid-career to executive across a diverse range of industries, specialties, and roles.”

 

cv now logo

Name: CV Now

Based in: UK

Consult: CV Critique

 

virginia franco resumes logo

Name: Virginia Franco

Based in: Charlotte, NC, USA

Consult: Resume Assessment

Duration: 20-30 minutes

Target Audience:

I work with clients based in the U.S. and abroad, targeting roles with multinational or U.S.-based companies – including:

  • Executives and High Achievers with long, lengthy and achievement-rich (detailed!) careers
  • Those who’ve never needed a resume – UNTIL NOW
  • Officers transitioning from Military to Civilian life who need their leadership accomplishments translated
  • IT/High-Tech Professionals who lead high-dollar, complex projects and programs
  • Industry and Career Changers

 

Question of the article

If you've used a job hunting or career coach in the past, what was most helpful?

If you haven't used one, what was the main reason why? Tell us in the comments.

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Jacob Share

Job Search Expert, Professional Blogger, Creative Thinker, Community Builder with a sense of humor. I like to help people.

This Post Has 11 Comments

  1. Angela Loeb

    Thanks for including me, Jacob – I’m honored to be on the list!

    1. Jacob Share

      Happy to have you, Angela. Welcome aboard 🚢

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