Life coach vs. career coach: who can help you take career steps?

Most people, at one time or another, have faced a crossroads in their professional life: Should they take a new job? Stay where they are? Move to a new city? Or maybe they’re just feeling “stuck” and don’t know what to do. If you’ve ever thought it would be great to hire someone to help you get over personal or professional hurdles, you’re in luck. You may have heard the terms “Life Coach” or “Career Coach” and wondered what they do, and if they’d be helpful. But how do you know what kind of “coach” would be right for your needs?

In this article, we’ll discuss life coaches and career coaches and how they might help your career, including:

• What is the difference between a life coach and a career coach?

• Is a life coach like a therapist?

• What do career coaches do?

• Why would someone want a life coach?

The difference between a life coach and a career coach

You might be wondering if you need the services of a life or career coach, and are unsure of which one to choose. There are some similarities, but they do have areas of specialization.

A career coach can work with you to figure out a strategy to set and reach career goals, as well as help you support a positive work-life balance. You might think that only top-level executives hire career coaches, but in reality, they can help you no matter where you are in your career. 

Career coach

You might benefit from the services of a career coach if you:

• Are transitioning to a new career

• Wondering if you should change jobs or careers

• Are facing a difficult professional choice

• Are uncertain of the next steps you should take to further your career

• Feel like you’re overwhelmed or unhappy in your career

Life coach

A life coach, on the other hand, will work with a client to take a more holistic view of their life and help them decide what changes they need to make and how they can work towards their personal goals. They will also often take stock of your emotional and psychological states and how they might be holding you back in your life (although it should be noted that life coaches are not therapists, and shouldn’t be treated as such). Additionally, life coaches can help you with:

• Setting goals for your life in general

• Practicing self-care and enhancing personal well-being

• Strengthening relationships

• Developing organizational skills

• Tapping into your creativity

• Figuring out your finances

• Setting health and fitness goals

Do you need a life coach or a therapist?

While the two positions might have a bit of overlap, a life coach is not like a therapist—they serve different functions and have very different training. Therapists have certain educational requirements and licenses that allow them to provide treatment to patients. On the other hand, “coach” is a broader term with no required education or experience. They work with a client to determine their wants and needs and devise an action plan to get them there. A therapist, whether a psychologist, psychiatrist, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker, can work with you and help you gain a greater understanding of your emotional and psychological state and help you why you behave the way you do. Think of it this way: if you’re stuck under a large boulder, you want a specialist who has the tools to remove the boulder, since no amount of coaching will get you out from under it. 

Why you would hire a life coach

They say no man is an island, so sometimes you might need a little help from other people. Or maybe you just need a little assistance in creating a life that is more joyful, productive, or fulfilling. A life coach will help you figure out any negative behaviors or patterns that have been getting in the way of living the life that you want. In general, life coaches work with their clients over extended periods, to ensure that the changes you're making actually "stick."

And it's not just "emotional mumbo jumbo." Some studies show life coaches can affect real change in their clients’ lives. For example, studies have shown that working with a life coach can help you gain greater personal insight and possibly increase your quality of life and general mental health. 

Why you might work with a career coach

A career coach is much more focused on their efforts—namely, your career. He or she works as a partner to help build your skills with resume writing, planning, career motivation, and identifying your greatest strengths as well as the areas you need to work on, with the end goal of moving your career forward. But remember, the coach won't do the work for you. It's up to you to take the skills you learn in your coaching sessions and run with them. They can offer objective feedback and offer tools to maximize your health and well-being on the job, but they're not recruiters, and can't get you a job. A career coach is someone you'll work with for a defined length of time (as opposed to a life coach, who might take a longer-term approach). 

No matter if you’re working with a career coach or a life coach, remember that you’re in charge. You decide what’s important to you and what you want to focus on. Coaching sessions should make you feel motivated and empowered, so make sure you're working with a coach whose style and values align with your own. Consider using the International Coaching Federation (ICF) to find a qualified and experienced coach to help you get to where you want to be.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Check out our Job Search Strategy tool, which will help you with the tools, coaching, and guidance to help you navigate the job search process with confidence.

Key takeaways

1. A career coach can work with you to figure out a strategy to set and reach career goals.

2. A life coach works with clients to help them decide what changes they need to make in their lives and how they can work towards their personal goals.

3. A life coach isn’t a therapist, and shouldn’t be used to give mental health diagnoses or treatment.