Wondering whether it’s a life coach or a career coach that you need? Here’s the difference and how to know which type of coach is best suited for you.
What’s the difference between a life coach and a career coach?
This is a common question for people doing research into possible coaching options, so I thought I’d help shed some light on the key differences to help you decide which type of coach would be best for you.
A life coach is a coach who provides more general services for improving your life. Career often comes into this because our enjoyment of work has a big impact on our overall satisfaction with our lives and ultimately our level of fulfillment.
A life coach will help you to assess where you’re at in your career, your level of engagement and satisfaction, and where you’d like to get to. They will help you to figure out what a meaningful career path could look like for you, and how it fits with your life and wellbeing in general. However, a life coach will not help you create a CV like a career coach would.
A career coach is a type of coaching niche where the coach focuses solely with clients who wish to work on their careers in some way. This could include career advancement, such as getting a promotion, changing jobs and negotiating salary, or a complete career change.
The key difference between a life coach and a career coach is that a life coach is more general and holistic with regards to helping a person to make positive changes in their life, whereas a career coach is specialised in helping people make positive changes in their career.
What are the key differences between a Life Coach and a Career Coach?
A life coach will:
Help you work out what would make you happy in your career
Help you get clarity on your pathway forward
Help you find work-life balance
Help you uncover your values, strengths and weaknesses
Help you set goals with your career, create a plan for achieving them, and keep you accountable
Coach you through a career change if needed
Help you overcome roadblocks and limiting beliefs holding you back
Help you look at other important areas of your life for improvement holistically
A life coach will not:
Help you create a CV or cover letter
Help you with a job application plan
A career coach will:
Help you work out what would make you happy in your career
Help you get clarity on your pathway forward
Help you make a job or career change
Assist with your CV and cover letter
Help you with a job application plan
Help you overcome roadblocks and keep you accountable
A career coach will not:
Coach you on any other areas of your life outside of your career
Help you set and achieve goals outside of your career goals
How do I know if I need a life coach or a career coach?
If you’re wondering whether it’s a life coach or a career coach that you need, start by considering where you’re currently at and what you’re wanting to change in your life.
For example, if you are certain you need a career change, and everything else in your life is going great, then a career coach may be the best option for you.
If you are feeling unhappy and stuck in your career and life, and you feel it’s more than your job that’s the issue, a life coach may be the best option for you as they can address more than your career.
If you’re unsure, take this free quiz: Free Career-Life Health Check
Life vs career coach - what’s best?
Now that you know the key differences between a life coach and a career coach, what type of coaching do you feel will be best suited for where you’re at currently?
At the end of the day, your situation is unique and no one can tell you what’s best for you. Look into your options, and find a coach who you resonate with when you visit their website. Does it speak to the problems you’re facing and how they can help you solve them? If so, you’ve found a great option!
If you’re looking for a hybrid between the two, I’m a life and career coach who specialises in working with ambitious career-focused women who are feeling unhappy and stuck in their careers to find purpose and meaning, achieve work-life balance, and lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
I know what it feels like to not be living the life you want. You can book a free 1-hour Career-Life Clarity Session with me to help get clarity on what’s not working in your career and life, where you’d like to get to, and how you can get there. Limited spaces available, so make sure you get in quick to secure your spot. Learn more here.
Thanks for reading! If you want more, check out my other blogs, follow me on Facebook: @Janellekeesue and IG: @janellekeesue. You can also book a free session with me here!
About the author, Janelle Kee-Sue
Janelle Kee-Sue is a certified life coach, accredited cognitive behavioural therapy practitioner, writer, storyteller and marketing specialist based in Wellington, New Zealand. She’s been to almost 50 countries, is a former professional bikini bodybuilding champion with a world title under her belt, and is passionate about helping women who are feeling stuck and unfulfilled in their careers and lives to get clarity on their next steps and start living the life they're meant for. In her spare time, you’ll find her at the gym, working on her novel, or hanging with her floofy Samoyed Zeus and her husband Ricky. Learn more.
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