"I am Karen L. Kelsky, Ph.D. ." (in their words, on their website)
Services
| Service | What is included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tenure Track Academic Job Application Materials Editing PhD job seekers for tenure track academic positions |
editing cover letters, CVs, teaching statements, research statements, diversity statements, dissertation abstracts, syllabi · multiple rounds of edits until documents are short-list-worthy | on request |
| Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Materials Editing PhD postdoc applicants |
editing postdoc applications to demonstrate urgency, legitimacy, viability · cost depends on number and length of documents · discounts for recycling content across applications | on request |
| Post-Tenure Job Application Materials Editing Tenured faculty and academic administration job seekers |
editing cover letters, CVs, teaching statements, research statements, diversity statements, dissertation abstracts, syllabi · multiple rounds of edits until documents are short-list-worthy | on request |
| Job Talk Editing Academic job candidates |
editing job talk scripts for professionalism, clarity, organization, persuasiveness, evidence, argumentation, balance of data and theory, soundness of conclusion | on request |
| Syllabi/Course Proposals Assistance New scholars |
developing syllabi and course proposals · reviewing wording, organization, content, rigor, reading load, appropriateness for student/institution | on request |
| Offer/Negotiation Assistance Academic job offer recipients |
evaluating offers · clarifying requests · crafting email and verbal communications · interpreting responses · strategizing negotiation intensity and timing | on request |
| Retainer Fee for Job Market-Related Queries and Consultations Previous document editing clients |
4 sessions · 4 weeks · answering up to four emails per month on job search-related small questions | $125 |
| Grant Application Editing Academics applying for grants |
editing grant applications using Foolproof Grant Template · cost depends on number and length of documents · discounts for recycling content across applications | on request |
| Book Proposal Editing and Consulting Academics preparing book proposals |
3 sessions · organizing book proposals with required elements · focusing on marketing aspects · standard 6-8 page proposal takes 3 hours | $210 |
| Tenure and Promotion Documents Editing Academics preparing tenure and promotion documents |
3 sessions · 4 weeks · 5-day turnaround · 4 revision rounds · editing tenure statements related to teaching, research, service, outreach, administration · reviewing teaching portfolios · 4 drafts of edits · edits promised within 5 business days · minimum 20 business days turnaround | on request |
As published on their website, read Sep 30, 2026.
How they compare
- Their packages start at $400. Of the 905 career coaches in our directory who publish a package price, 48% start at the same price or lower.
- $210 a session. Of the 683 career coaches who publish a session price, 72% charge the same or less.
- 10 years coaching; the median for career coaches in our directory is 14.
Computed by Callings from the prices and experience coaches publish. Not a rating.
Where they fit
| Students | Early | Mid | Manager | Director | VP / C-suite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resume and LinkedIn | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Interviews and offers | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Job search strategy | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Career direction and change | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Leadership | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Personal brand | no | no | no | no | no | no |
How they work
- Process
- Client purchases service · Client emails to schedule start date (for CV Strategizing) · Coach reviews documents or conducts sessions · Coach provides edits, feedback, or coaching · Client revises as needed (for document editing) · Multiple rounds of edits for some services
Do it yourself, or hire a coach?
| Doing it yourself | Usually enough when | A coach earns the fee when | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resume | 4 to 8 hours for a strong base, then about 30 minutes per posting. Callings can tailor it to each job. | You are staying in the same field and level and have recent results to cite. | You are changing field or level, coming back after a long break, or many applications brought no interviews. |
| Interviews | 3 to 6 hours of practice out loud per interview process. Callings can prepare you for each job you track. | Early rounds in a format you know. | Final rounds, panels, a new kind of role, or you tend to freeze. |
| Job search | A target list, a weekly plan and steady outreach. Callings builds the weekly plan and tracks every application, free. | Interviews are coming in. | Three months without traction, or a senior search that runs on your network. |
Times are our estimates. Try Callings.
Questions to ask before hiring
- If I land a job partway through, what happens to the sessions I have not used? (multi-session package)
- What are your cancellation and refund terms? (no refund terms on their site)
- Who do you usually work with, and how long does a typical engagement last? (always worth asking)
What they publish
- Prices: yes
- What each service includes: yes
- A free consultation: not found on their website
- Refund or cancellation terms: not found on their website
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