How to hire a career coach

How to hire a career coach, step by step

Here's a step-by-step career coach hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a career coach job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new career coach
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a career coach do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your career coach job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a career coach for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect career coach also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of career coaches and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Career Coach	Description	Hourly rate
   Career Coach	School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.	$14-27
   School Counseling Internship	A school counseling internship is a student program where an intern is assigned to help school counselors deal with students' social and emotional development or educational needs. School counseling interns must aid their school counselors in developing a comprehensive school counseling program and adjusting schedules for their students... Show more	$11-29
   School Counselor	A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness... Show more	$17-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Career Development
   • Professional Development
   • Career Services
   • Career Exploration
   • Social Work
   • Community Resources
   • Mock Interviews
   • Financial Aid
   • Linkedin
   • Career Planning
   • Interview Preparation
   • Training Programs
   • Career Fairs
   • Data Entry

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Offer EEO training to members at various sites.
   • Schedule clients for work readiness training base on their IEP.
   • Create and update PowerPoint presentations and trainers' notes to reflect current curriculum.
   • Develop and implement a successful process to streamline the intake and orientation for the WIA customers.
   • Plan events, such as college visits, alumni relations efforts, panel discussions, and college/career fairs
   • Conduct vocational rehabilitation assessments and create action steps and goals cater to the client in finding stable employment.

   More career coach duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your career coach job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A career coach salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a career coach in Montana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level career coach usually earns less than a senior-level career coach. Additionally, a career coach with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average career coach salary

   $41,858yearly

   $20.12 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level career coach salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

   Average career coach salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$54,145	$26
   2	Georgia	$49,471	$24
   3	California	$48,831	$23
   4	Virginia	$48,692	$23
   5	Pennsylvania	$47,114	$23
   6	Maryland	$45,344	$22
   7	New York	$45,252	$22
   8	Kansas	$44,233	$21
   9	Texas	$42,930	$21
   10	Colorado	$42,797	$21
   11	Illinois	$42,532	$20
   12	Nevada	$42,045	$20
   13	Florida	$41,694	$20
   14	South Carolina	$41,390	$20
   15	Washington	$40,289	$19
   16	Ohio	$39,999	$19
   17	Massachusetts	$39,241	$19
   18	Tennessee	$38,594	$19
   19	Oregon	$38,590	$19
   20	New Mexico	$38,544	$19

   Average career coach salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Hartwick College	$59,853	$28.78	1
   2	University of Massachusetts Boston	$59,385	$28.55	1
   3	Mission Regional Medical Center	$59,374	$28.55	2
   4	Chicago Public Schools	$54,099	$26.01	16
   5	Prime Healthcare	$53,978	$25.95	1
   6	CHG Healthcare	$53,516	$25.73
   7	Yale University	$52,848	$25.41	2
   8	Management Leadership for Tomorrow	$52,287	$25.14
   9	State of West Virginia	$52,083	$25.04	95
   10	LA State University Continuing	$50,930	$24.49	73
   11	Washington State University	$50,771	$24.41	1
   12	State of Colorado	$50,702	$24.38	5
   13	Santa Clara University	$50,223	$24.15	1
   14	Research Foundation of The City University of New York	$50,215	$24.14
   15	Johnson County Community College	$49,855	$23.97	1
   16	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$49,407	$23.75
   17	Unity College	$49,181	$23.64	3
   18	Bucknell University	$48,745	$23.44
   19	University of South Carolina	$48,146	$23.15	25
   20	2U	$47,612	$22.89	7

4. Writing a career coach job description

   A job description for a career coach role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a career coach job description:

   Career coach job description example

   Jobs Plus Career Coach
   Salary: $17.21 Per Hour
   Position Type: Full-Time
   Close Date: Until Filled
   
   General Description: Under the general supervision of the JP SC/PM, this position is responsible for the intake, assessment, and evaluation of Jobs Plus program participants in accordance with the Jobs Plus Initiative grant agreement and guidance promulgated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
   
   Minimum Training and Experience:
   Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, social services, human services, education or related field and one year of full-time paid experience in human services involving direct services to clientele. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered. Special Certifications and Licenses: A valid driver's license is required.
   
   Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Considerable knowledgeable of the characteristics, needs and interests of public housing residents. Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of program planning and evaluation. Considerable knowledge of federal, state and local housing regulations as applied to Resident Services programs. Good knowledge of accepted consultation and interviewing techniques. Good knowledge of community agencies, facilities and services which can be utilized to aid residents. Has ability to plan, organize, and direct activities and services. Knowledgeable of the methods, policies and procedures of the Authority pertaining to the specific duties of Jobs Plus Program. Is knowledgeable in the laws, ordinances, standards and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Has knowledge of the Authority and of related departments and agencies. Ability to comprehend, interpret and apply regulations, procedures and related information. Has excellent administrative, customer service and clerical skills. Has knowledge of modern office practices and equipment. Has knowledge of and skill in the maintenance of efficient filing systems. Has knowledge of proper English usage, vocabulary, punctuation and spelling; has knowledge of basic mathematics. Is able to use computers for data processing and records management. Is able to type accurately at a rate sufficient for the successful performance of assigned duties.Knows how to operate and maintain a variety of office equipment as necessary in the performance of daily activities. Skilled in applying a responsible attention to detail as necessary in the preparing reports and correspondence. Is able to read and interpret various materials pertaining to the responsibilities of the job. Ability to maintain confidentiality as required. Is able to take the initiative to complete the duties of the position without the need of direct supervision. Is able to use independent judgement in performing routine tasks. Has the ability to plan, organize and prioritize daily assignments and work activities Ability to work under stressful conditions as required. Knows how to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations. Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. Ability to maintain positive customer-focused relationships with co-workers, supervisors, agencies, the general public, and all other internal and external customers. Personally demonstrates appropriate customer service skills. Work is performed onsite. The incumbent must be present at work to perform the essential functions of this job. Essential Job Functions:
   1. Provides career counseling and coordinate employment and education services to program participants. 2. Conducts routine follow up with caseload to evaluate participant progress. 3. Provides status reports on caseload. 4. Provides overall program coordination and leadership to the Jobs Plus Program and its staff. 5. Assists in the hiring of Jobs Plus staff. 6. Develops an annual budget and monitor budget expenditures to ensure fiscal goals and benchmarks. 7. Develops an annual operational work plan. 8. Effectively markets the Jobs Plus program to workable residents and community partners. 9. Recruits, enrolls and retains program participants. 10. Interviews and determines the eligibility of participants for the Jobs Plus Program. 11. Assesses service needs of program participants, and through service coordination, assists participants in accessing appropriate public or private community agencies to obtain specialized types of assistance. 12. Establishes and conduct initial assessments to determine needs to be used as a basis to develop programs and services. 13. Develops and update individual service and training plans for program participants. 14. Coordinates with community agencies for the provision of services for clients. 15. Ensures that program participants are linked to supportive services needed to achieve self-sufficiency. 16. Coordinates and sponsors educational events, which may include topics relating to financial literacy, health care, job search seminars, life skills training, and digital literacy. 17. Makes and tracks referrals; Monitor and track the ongoing provision of services including supportive services provided through other agencies; Coordinate and oversee the delivery of services, ensuring services are provided on a regular, ongoing, and satisfactory basis. 18. Keeps the case management and provider agencies up-to-date regarding the operation of the Jobs Plus program. 19. Prepares and maintains program materials, reports and records, intake assessments, financial records, activity reports and other pertinent records. 20. Establishes comprehensive and strong alliances with community service providers. 21. Builds an array of programs and services, and a broad network of referral options. 22. Facilitates on-site programs and services. 23. Maintains comprehensive records of all programs, services, and referrals provided, including attendance and follow-through and outcome-based records. 24. Maintains all documentation, filing and reporting, including HUD reports, associated with the Jobs Plus program. 25. Attends trainings and meetings as scheduled. This Notice is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties, knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the job. This is intended only to describe the general nature of the job. A more comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities and essential job functions is available on the job description. The City of Rock Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, political affiliation, disability, national origin, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), or age.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right career coach for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with career coaches they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit career coaches who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your career coach job on Zippia to find and recruit career coach candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting career coaches requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new career coach

   Once you have selected a candidate for the career coach position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new career coach first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a career coach?