career coaches

[Anonymous]

an acquaintance of mine started a coaching company and has kept urging me to use her business - we have a set of friends in common, so she sometimes hears me complain about work and always has good ideas. she sends me non-stop emails (and calls me and texts me) about her company bt i;m hesitant to use her b/c of our connection through friends, also, she hasn't had a job in years - she lived with her parents for a long time ,etc. i know she is short on money, but coaching seems like a super pricey expense, and while i'm sure i could benefit, i'm just not sure i should spend it all on her...

my employer has approved me to use a coach for a short term period and will cover the expense, so i really can't blow this.

thoughts?

[Anonymous]

You've asked your employer? Sounds like you know you have problems - and your boss agrees?

The "who" may not be as important as "the why"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You've asked your employer? Sounds like you know you have problems - and your boss agrees?

The "who" may not be as important as "the why"

Executive coaching is not for problem employees, it is for high-potential employees who need help to get to the next level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've asked your employer? Sounds like you know you have problems - and your boss agrees?

The "who" may not be as important as "the why"

Executive coaching is not for problem employees, it is for high-potential employees who need help to get to the next level.

And it doesn't work.

[Anonymous]

I am a career counselor and so have licensing and credentialing for certain things and my work often overlaps with coaches or former hr types. Here's the thing.....there are some wonderful career coaches out there but also some who might not be. (Realize people think this about counselors too?) There are a lot of people calling themselves coaches now that was not there 15years ago.

my understanding is you do not have to be licensed but many do a certification program. They go through georgetown locally ( very popular)or the big one in CA - can't remember the org. However, there is no way of knowing qualifications really. Even hard to know track record as all clients private and not xyz corp.

I would be hesitant mainly because she is so pushy. She must not have clients ( or enough) so do you want to be one of the first? I have worked for universities, govt, and private institutions, Private clients. I have never asked anyone for business. All referral-- and direct application for a vacancy.

I understand marketing a business so do not mean that. But if repeatedly asking...would make me nervous. Look at Georgetown's coaching program and call a few on the listbso you get a sense of whatvthey offer, fees, etc. Then speak with this one and if sounds good, you can go for it with confidence.