What does a career coach actually do?
It's not therapy. It's not your friend over drinks. And it's definitely not someone who tells you to "follow your passion." Here's what career coaching actually looks like — and how to know if it's what you need.
Let me save you a Google search full of vague corporate copy: a career coach is someone who helps you figure out what's not working at work and builds a concrete plan to fix it.
That's it. That's the job.
But I get why people are confused. The coaching industry has done itself no favors with the branding. Half the websites out there make it sound like we're life gurus with vision boards. The other half make it sound like we're just recruiters who charge more.
Neither is accurate. So let me break down what actually happens when you work with a career coach — specifically, the kind of coaching I do at Make Work Suck Less.
What a career coach actually does
At its core, career coaching is structured problem-solving for your work life. You come in with a situation — "I hate my job," "I just became a manager and I'm drowning," "I think I need a career change but I can't afford to start over" — and we work through it together.
Here's what that typically involves:
Clarity. Most folks who come to me don't have a clear picture of what's actually wrong. They know something's off, but they can't articulate it. A big part of what I do is help you name the problem. Is it your boss? The role itself? The company culture? A skill gap? A values misalignment? Until you know what you're solving for, you're just throwing darts in the dark.
Strategy. Once we know what's going on, we build a plan. Not a motivational poster — a real, step-by-step plan with timelines and milestones. If you need to have a difficult conversation with your manager, we'll map out exactly what to say. If you're planning a career transition, we'll build a 6-to-12-month roadmap. If you just got promoted and you're panicking, we'll figure out your first 90 days.
Accountability. This is the part people don't expect. Coaching isn't a one-time conversation — it's an ongoing relationship where I hold you to the things you said you'd do. Not in a guilt-trip way. In a "hey, you said you were going to update your LinkedIn this week, did you do it?" way. Turns out, that kind of gentle pressure is one of the most valuable things a coach provides.
Skill building. A lot of what makes work suck isn't about the job itself — it's about the skills nobody taught you. How to set boundaries. How to manage up. How to give feedback. How to navigate office politics without losing your soul. We work on those skills in real-time, often using situations from your actual work as practice.
What career coaching is NOT
Let me be direct about this, because the boundaries matter.
It's not therapy. I don't diagnose mental health conditions. I don't work through childhood trauma. I don't prescribe medication. If you're dealing with clinical depression, anxiety, or something that goes deeper than a work problem — a therapist is who you need. I'll tell you that straight up if I think that's the case, and I've done it more than a few times.
That said, there's a Venn diagram. If your work situation is causing stress, anxiety, or burnout, coaching can absolutely help — by changing the situation that's driving those feelings. The distinction is: a therapist helps you process and heal. A coach helps you change what's happening.
It's not mentorship. A mentor is someone in your field who shares their experience and opens doors. That's valuable, but it's different from coaching. A mentor says, "Here's what I did." A coach says, "Here's what you should do, based on your specific situation." I don't need to have worked in your industry to help you — because the skills that make work suck (or not suck) are universal.
It's not your friend over drinks. Your friends are great. They care about you. But they also have their own biases, their own fears, and a vested interest in not rocking the boat of your friendship. A coach has no agenda except helping you get to a better place. I'll tell you things your friends won't — because that's the job.
It's not a recruiter or placement service. I don't find you jobs. I help you figure out what job you actually want, how to position yourself for it, and how to navigate the process. Some coaches do offer job search support, and I do help with things like résumé positioning and interview prep. But the core of coaching is about you, not about filling a role.
When career coaching makes sense
Not everyone needs a career coach. Here are the situations where it's usually worth it:
You're stuck and can't figure out why. You've been in the same role for years, you're not growing, but you can't articulate what you'd rather be doing. You need someone to help you see the bigger picture.
You just got promoted into management. Nobody trained you for this. You were great at your individual contributor job, and now you're managing people who used to be your peers. That's a completely different skill set, and coaching accelerates the learning curve dramatically.
You need to have a hard conversation. Maybe it's asking for a raise. Maybe it's telling your boss their feedback style isn't working. Maybe it's negotiating an exit. A coach helps you prepare for high-stakes conversations so you don't wing it and regret it later.
You're planning a career change. Whether it's switching industries, going from corporate to non-profit, or returning to work after time away — a coach helps you build a transition plan that doesn't involve blowing up your financial life.
You know what you want but can't get there. You've got the ambition and the skills, but something keeps getting in the way. Maybe it's imposter syndrome. Maybe it's bad boundaries. Maybe it's a toxic workplace you need help navigating your way out of.
Your work situation is making you miserable. Not "I had a bad week" miserable — "I dread Monday morning every single week" miserable. A coach helps you figure out whether the fix is within your current job or outside of it.
How to pick a career coach
Since I'm one, I'm biased — but I'll give you the honest criteria anyway.
Look for someone with real experience. Not just coaching certifications (though those matter), but actual experience working in organizations. You want someone who's been a manager, who's navigated corporate politics, who's dealt with difficult stakeholders. Theory is nice, but battle scars are better.
Check the vibe. Coaching is a relationship. If the coach's style doesn't click with you, it won't work — no matter how good they are. Most coaches offer a free intro session for exactly this reason. Use it.
Ask about their approach. Some coaches are very structured (frameworks, assessments, homework). Some are more exploratory (conversation-driven, intuition-based). Neither is wrong, but you should know what you're getting and whether it matches how you work best.
Be wary of guarantees. Anyone who promises "you'll land your dream job in 30 days" is selling you something. Good coaching improves your odds and accelerates your progress. It doesn't guarantee specific outcomes — because you're the one doing the work.
Look at who they work with. A coach who specializes in executive transitions might not be the best fit if you're a mid-career individual contributor. Find someone whose typical client looks like you.
What it's like to work with me
I should probably tell you my version of this.
At Make Work Suck Less, coaching starts with a free first session. No commitment, no pitch — just a conversation to figure out what's going on and whether I can help.
If we decide to work together, sessions are typically every other week. We start by getting clear on what you're solving for, then build a plan, and then work that plan session by session. Between sessions, there's usually something to do — a conversation to have, a thing to write, a boundary to set.
My style is direct. I'll tell you when I think you're selling yourself short. I'll push back when your plan has holes. I'll also tell you when I think you're overthinking it and need to just go do the thing.
But I'll always start by listening. Because most of the time, the answer is already in your head — you just need someone to help you see it.
More on this topic → Making work suck less: your guide to workplace wellbeing
Let's make work suck less.