A handy directory of top career coaches who let you try before you buy.
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.
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
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
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.”
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.
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
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.
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.
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.”
Name: Margaret Buj
Based in: London, UK
Consult: Needs Assessment Call
Duration: 15 minutes
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)
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.
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.
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
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
Name: Mo Faul
Based in: Florida, USA
Consult: Clarity Call
Target audience: “Anyone in a leadership role should be required to take this program.”
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”
Name: mba Mission
Based in: USA
Consult: Consultation: Career Coaching
Duration: 30 minutes
Target audience: “Business school students”
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)
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.”
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
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”
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.
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.”
Name: Career Creators Consulting
Based in: Austin, Texas, USA
Consult: Consultation
Duration: 30 minutes
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.”
Name: Jeff Neil
Based in: New York City, NY, USA
Consult: Consultation
Duration: 15 minutes
Name: Bethany Wallace
Based in: North Central Arkansas, USA
Consult: One-on-one call
Duration: 15-20 minutes
Target audience: Every candidate/job seeker
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.”
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
Name: Jeff Flannery
Based in: Paradise Valley, AZ, USA
Consult: Resume Review
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.”
Name: CV Now
Based in: UK
Consult: CV Critique
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.
Subscribe to JobMob via RSS or email and follow me on Twitter for the most creative job ads anywhere.
Pingback: 50 Career Coaches Who Give Free Consults On Every Topic You Need - Expert Career Change & Leadership Development Coach
Pingback: 📞 Top Free Consultation Questions To Ask Job Coaches
Pingback: 🤖 Is My Job Going To Be Automated?
Thanks for including me, Jacob – I’m honored to be on the list!
Happy to have you, Angela. Welcome aboard 🚢
Pingback: 🎸 365 Top Tips to Rock Your Job Search Every Day of 2020
Pingback: ♣ How To Find Job Clubs Near You
Pingback: Awesome New Year's Career Resolutions Ideas for Job Seekers
Pingback: 🛫 13 Really Good Things To Do Between Jobs
Pingback: 15 Ideas For Job Seekers To Do While Lonely in Coronavirus Quarantine
Pingback: 📆 Almost 4,000 Events in the JobMob Job Search Events Calendar