How To Prep for a Coaching Call!

Even professionals can benefit from professional help.

It can be hard to admit we don’t have all the answers, but that’s why mentors and coaches exist! For job seekers, there are plenty of options when it comes to coaching. There are tons of coaches providing paid services (you can check out my recommended list here) and lots of recruiters who provide the occasional session (paid or free).

So how do you PREPARE for this session?

First of all, know your goal. You won’t have it all figured out (that’s why you need a coach!) but you should at least have a goal in mind. What do you want to learn during this session? Is there a specific issue you need help with? It could be anything from “I don’t know what I don’t know and need direction” to “I’ve done a lot of introspection and I need help with this specific thing“. For most of us, it’s probably somewhere in-between. It’s perfectly ok to not know EXACTLY what you need, but at least think about what you want to get out of the call.

Set expectations! The coach may help drive this as well – for a first introductory call, it may be pure discovery. The coach needs to get to know you a bit and understand your situation before proposing solutions. Other times, you’re able to quickly dig into problem areas and brainstorm potential fixes.

Some questions worth exploring during your coaching session:

• Is my perception of my situation ACCURATE?
• Is there NEW information that may help me?
• Do I need to COURSE CORRECT my current strategy?

Finally, give yourself permission to drive the conversation. A great coach will help you come up with solutions on your own – not hand you a one size fits all playbook. Everyone’s situation is unique! Take the time you need to think through what is best FOR YOU.

For more information, check out the video HERE.