Many candidates struggle to perform at their best in interviews, leading them to wonder, “Is hiring an interview coach worth it?”
With 2,000+ results for “interview coach” and 9,000+ for “interview coaching” on LinkedIn alone, the search for the right professional can quickly become overwhelming.
How do you effectively sift through these choices to find a coach who will genuinely enhance your interview skills and boost your confidence?
In this article, I outline 7 scenarios where working with an interview coach can significantly improve your job search outcomes. I also provide tactical steps to identify and evaluate potential coaches, including red flags to watch out for in this industry.
What Is An Interview Coach?
In today’s competitive job market, an interview coach can be your secret weapon. As the name implies, an interview coach is a professional who supports you in preparing for job interviews. They provide guidance, strategies, and feedback to help you present your best self.
Notably, the coaching industry is currently unregulated, which means anyone can claim they’re an “interview coach,” even if they possess no certifications or advanced training. This requires you to conduct thorough research before moving forward.
What Is Interview Coaching?
Interview coaching is the process of enhancing your interview skills through personalized, strategic sessions. This typically happens via one-to-one meetings between you and a coach, either virtually or in-person.
You will meet with the coach in the period leading up to your interview and may also meet with them afterward to conduct a comprehensive debrief, discuss how it went, and identify areas for improvement.
There are many types of interviews, including recruiter screening calls, hiring manager conversations, and peer interviews. Coaches will vary in the types of interviews they can support you with, so it’s important to find one who aligns precisely with your needs and industry.
If you’re going for a technical role, you can also invest in a separate interview coaching service specifically focused on preparing for technical interviews. These specialized coaches can help you navigate the unique challenges posed by tech assessments.
7 Times To Hire An Interview Coach
Knowing when to seek professional help can make all the difference in your job search. Here are a few situations where it’s worth hiring an interview coach:
1. You haven’t interviewed in several years (or more).
If it has been several years (or longer) since you last interviewed for a role, consider an interview coach to be your personal GPS on your new journey.
A lot has changed in job interviewing, particularly in the tech industry, even in the last several years. Using outdated interview approaches can quickly derail your job search.
2. You are vying for a senior management or executive role.
Although interview coaching isn’t exclusive to leaders, it’s particularly beneficial for them. At this level, being qualified is the baseline, so you must differentiate yourself through the interview process. Executive-level interviews demand a strategic, nuanced approach.
These interviews are often more lengthy and high-pressure and involve additional stakeholders, and your preparation needs to take all of this into account.
The techniques you used earlier in your career simply won’t work for leadership interviews.
3. You’ve had unsuccessful interviews.
Repeated interview rejections are a clear signal that something needs to change.
If you’ve interviewed for 3 or more roles without securing an offer, it’s time to invest in professional help.
You’ll want to partner with your interview coach to clarify where in the interview pipeline you’re stuck, since each stage will require a different strategic approach.
4. Your mind blanks during interviews.
Interview anxiety is normal, and it can stand between you and a job offer. Whether trick questions make your mind go blank or stress causes you to freeze, a coach can help you develop personalized strategies to minimize stage fright and maximize performance.
Depending on their background and training, they might also be able to help you identify why your mind is blanking in the first place.
5. You struggle with storytelling.
Another common reason to hire an interview coach is that you struggle with storytelling. This may look like rambling, going off-topic, or failing to create a compelling narrative.
Additionally, some professionals simply don’t like workplace small talk, which is important when interviewing with a prospective employer, since they want to get to know you as a person beyond your resume. Fortunately, an interview coach can support you in flexing this muscle, even when it doesn’t feel natural.
6. You have a last-minute interview.
Interviewing is already stressful enough, so if you’ve been scheduled for a last-minute interview, working with a coach can make the process of preparing for your conversation less disorienting and more productive, allowing you to put your best foot forward.
Many tech companies will schedule last-minute interviews to prevent candidates from over-preparing, so they can see how the candidate naturally shows up. But “natural” doesn’t mean unprepared; you can still work with an interview coach and prepare as well as you possibly can for your big day.
7. You could use a confidence boost.
Lastly, working with an interview coach is an immediate confidence booster. Knowing that you hired a professional and dedicated time to practice can help you show up more confidently during your conversations with employers.
Beyond the mental preparation, you’ll learn strategies for navigating the interview more effectively and standing out from fellow applicants, which will increase your chances of converting the conversation into a job offer.
[Listen: Real Confidence – How to Confidently Interview for that Job]
Benefits Of Interview Coaching
Investing in interview coaching can be a game-changer for your job search. There are many benefits of investing in a coach, including:
- Developing strategies to calm your interview nerves and remain centered during the conversation.
- Identifying and articulating your unique talents and strengths.
- Bolstering your confidence in sharing your interview talking points and accompanying stories.
- Preparing to answer common and curveball interview questions.
- Improving how you articulate your leadership style and examples of your achievements.
- Crafting thoughtful strategies to stand out from fellow applicants.
- Gaining insights into the latest recruiting and hiring trends.
- Learning how to better evaluate prospective employers and effectively assess company cultures.
If you pick the right coach, you can learn how to effectively and confidently navigate the modern-day interview process from start to finish.
Is Interview Coaching Worth It?
Only you can decide whether interview coaching is worth it.
That said, consider how much you’d be willing to pay to increase your chances of securing a new job versus risking the possibility of coming in second place.
Many of my clients are targeting roles with total compensation packages that are multi-six and -seven figures. To them, the investment pays for itself many times over after they cash their very first paycheck.
Important: Many coaches offer to guide job seekers through mock interviews. However, few specialize in the art of coaching and executive storytelling. You’ll pay more for true interview coaching than you will for a simple mock interview, which you can do for free with a family member or friend.
Also, some companies will charge a percentage of your future salary, sometimes as much as 10 to 15% (or more!). Personally, I advise job seekers to pay a transparent, flat fee for interview coaching rather than be locked into a long-term contract with a company, since you are the one in the interview room.
[Read: “Can I Hire Someone To Find Me A Job?” Answered]
How Much Does Interview Coaching Cost?
The cost of interview coaching can vary significantly, with prices ranging anywhere from $150 to $1,000+ per hour.
Your industry and seniority will have a significant impact on the cost of interview coaching. Additionally, the coach’s experience, qualifications, advanced training, and track record of success will all influence their pricing. While the cost of interview coaching is not a direct indicator of quality, if a coach is charging significantly less than others, it’s wise to ask yourself why that might be.
As you review the price of a coach’s services, take note of whether additional support is provided outside the session itself, or if you’re limited to the session alone. For instance, will they continue to review your interview answers and correspondence with recruiters and hiring managers after your session? Much of the “magic” of true coaching happens between sessions!
How To Choose An Interview Coach
Once you decide to invest in an interview coach, how do you find the best one for your needs and goals? Here are a few steps:
Evaluate their typical clientele.
For starters, you want to find a coach who has supported clients who are similar to you in terms of career level and industry. Make sure to understand their typical interview coaching clients and whether they share your background, experience, and caliber.
If you’re a manager or executive, it’s crucial that you choose a coach who has worked with clients at your seniority level. Similarly, if you’re in the tech industry or looking to break in, the coach must specialize in tech.
Hiring processes for tech and C-suite roles differ significantly from those in government, so it’s important to find a coach in your niche. I always refer out to coaches who specialize in government hiring, since it’s outside my Zone of Genius.
Review client testimonials (beyond their website).
As you do this, be sure to review a coach’s client testimonials to ensure they’re from people like you.
It’s important that you do these through a third-party source, as anyone can add a stock photo and post a fake testimonial on their website. Sadly, I’ve seen this more times than I can count.
Moreover, ensure the testimonials are from actual clients, not just fellow coaches giving them reviews, which is also a common practice.
Personally speaking, I only collect testimonials on LinkedIn, as I want prospective clients to be able to verify the comments’ legitimacy as well as click through to each profile to see how clients’ careers have progressed as a result of our work together.
Understand their approach and methodology.
Next, you want to take time to understand how a coach partners with clients, as interview coaching programs can vary significantly.
Some coaches simply conduct a mock interview, while others will guide you through the interview process from beginning to end. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, so reflect on exactly what you need.
You might simply be looking for someone to conduct a mock interview and give you feedback. More likely, you want a coach who specializes in interview strategy, storytelling, and standing out in a saturated job market.
Confirm their coaching qualifications.
After your research, take time to understand the coach’s qualifications and whether they’ve taken the time and energy to pursue advanced training and certifications.
The Covid pandemic led to a rapid influx of professionals calling themselves “coaches” after successfully landing a job (or two) in big tech.
But let me be clear: There’s nothing wrong with maintaining a side hustle; I started my business on Fiverr.
However, there’s a difference between an interview hobbyist who guided themself through a tech interview process and a trained professional who is committed to the craft of coaching. If you’re going for a high-level role, you should probably opt for the trained professional.
The following are some examples of reputable career and coaching organizations your coach may belong to:
- Career Directors International (CDI)
- American Confidence Institute (ACI)
- The National Résumé Writers’ Association (NRWA)
Importantly, you want to independently verify their credentials and memberships. Unfortunately, there are coaches who will fudge their qualifications. You can quickly check these organizations’ websites to verify whether your coach candidate really has a credential. If they’re not listed despite saying they are, proceed with extreme caution.
Speak with multiple interview coaches.
Now it’s time to speak with prospective service providers. You’ll want to speak with several coaches so you can find one that best aligns with your needs, goals, and personality.
Be sure to note how they show up on their website and during the call. Are they calm and confident, or meek and uncertain? If the coach can’t sell themselves, how will they help you market yourself?
Very important: Confirm whether you’ll be working with the person on the call, or if they plan to hand your project off to a less qualified employee or subcontractor. It’s common to conduct a consultation with one person and then have your coaching be farmed out to one or more random subcontractors, which can come as a shock if you weren’t expecting it!
Questions To Ask When Choosing An Interview Coach
It can be challenging to come up with questions to ask a potential interview coach, especially if it’s your first time hiring one. Here are some thoughtful questions to consider:
- What’s your experience working with clients who have interviewed at [company]?
- Can you walk me through your interview coaching process? What support, if any, is provided between sessions?
- What’s your training in coaching? What professional organizations do you belong to?
- How do you stay up-to-date on the latest interview techniques? (Pay attention to whether they’re simply reading articles or deeply networked in your target industry.)
- Can you tell me about your most successful clients? What do they have in common?
- Can you tell me about your clients who struggle? What do they have in common?
- How do you tailor your coaching approach to individual client needs and learning styles?
Don’t hold back when asking questions; this is your opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the coach’s expertise and fit for your needs. If they resist answering these basic questions, it’s likely a sign that they’re not the right fit for you.
Keep in mind that a good interview coach should be transparent about their experience, process, and typical clients. They should also be able to clearly articulate how they can help you specifically in your career journey.
Final Thoughts On Interview Coaching
Hiring an interview coach is an intimate process that requires careful consideration. This is particularly true if it’s your first time, you’re uncomfortable interviewing, you’re struggling with your confidence or performance, or you’re vying for a senior leadership role.
Be sure to find a coach who specializes in your industry and has a track record of working with individuals of your caliber. Conduct thorough due diligence, including reviewing testimonials from former clients, verifying the coach’s credentials, and completing a chemistry call to ensure it’s a mutual fit.
If you have any questions about finding an interview coach or would like to learn more about my interview coaching services, please reach out or schedule a consultation. If I’m not the perfect fit, I’ll refer you to a trusted industry college. I’m here for you! You’ve got this!
