How to choose a career coach

• Ask who they usually work with: level, field, and the kind of move you are making.
• Ask for the full price, what it includes and what happens if you stop early, and get it in writing.
• Check a listed credential with the body that issued it.
• Use the free consultation, when they offer one, to see how they work before you pay.
• No coach can guarantee a job, interviews or a placement rate. Be careful with anyone who does, and with promises of a "hidden job market" or exclusive recruiter access.

Executive career coaches

• A search coach and a leadership coach do different jobs: ask which one they mostly do.
• Ask how they handle a confidential search while you are still employed.
• Packages run from a few sessions to a retainer until you land: ask what ends the engagement.

Resume writers

• Ask whether they write the resume themselves or pass it to another writer.
• Ask how many revision rounds are included and whether you keep editable files.
• Be wary of very fast turnarounds and of anyone who guarantees interviews.

Interview coaches

• Ask whether sessions are mock interviews with feedback or general advice.
• Bring a real job posting to the first session.

Career change coaches

• Ask how they help people choose a direction before they rewrite a resume.
• Ask whether they use assessments and which ones.

Career counselors

• A licensed counselor is regulated by a state board: you can check the license there.
• Counseling often covers more than the job search; ask what they focus on.