I have a kid who really wants a new job. For whatever reason, they are having a really hard time when it shouldn’t be that hard (meaning has had a decent job in a career with good job prospects). I have some ideas but think that there are some self esteem issues and a need for some advice with networking and interviewing.
Anywho, I’ve been thinking that maybe a life coach would be a good idea. I see that the alumni association has a couple of life coaches and one looks like a good fit for what my kid is looking for.
What I am looking for is if anyone has any real life experience? Was it helpful? Also an idea of costs would be super helpful.
The kid is being very adverse to any advice my H and I have and I wonder if an outside source would be helpful.
A good friend of mine – a very successful corporate attorney – has used a life coach off and on for YEARS. She says coaching has been very effective in helping her become a shark in the office (required by her career) and a supportive empathetic mom and wife. She also says the life coach was very good in helping her deal with the day-to-day logistics of being a mom, an attorney who often has to travel internationally, and a life partner to an equally busy husband. I could ask her about the costs, but I believe her company pays for some of it, so I don’t know if that would be helpful.
A friend is a life coach and I have found her "counseling methods " effective in our (unpaid, just friends) conversations. She is very good at asking the right questions. There is sometimes advice, but it is usually in the “if you tried xyz for 2 months, what do you think would happen?” “What would that look like?” “Why are you resistant to that idea?”
She has helped several mutual friends make career and life changes. A big part of this is figuring out what they want and why they are stuck. Some of the value is simply being accountable to someone else for taking action.
Years ago, I worked with a therapist on some work relationships and it was very helpful. Partly understanding myself, partly realizing some of it wasn’t my doing, and partly understanding what might happen as I changed things.
It is not unusual for a Board to recommend that a CEO use a coach and to pay for it, so there is certainly no stigma!
I’d strongly recommend it. Family members really are too close to be completely helpful, and a professional can also use established assessment tools to facilitate a productive conversation. I will say it’s important to find someone you click with.
My son has been seeing a life coach for a few years. It started when he was deciding between majors and taking a year off. He has just kept on going, through grad school decisions and now she is being paid by his employer to help with some of the skills needed in his new job. So with all of this, is she effective? Yes, in spite of all the years it has taken. She generally gives him the same info and advice my husband and I give. He hears better coming from her. The cost is about $100/ hour for 4X/month. More per hour if you use the 2X/month option. Northern Virginia area.
Thanks so much! It sounds exactly what is needed. I hope she will be amenable to exploring a life coach.
I think the only problem would be the cost, but if it leads to a new job (better happier life) I know it would be worth it.
The key will be whether your kid has buy-in to the idea. If not, it probably will likely be a waste of money.