There are hundreds of types of coaches out there, and it can be hard to keep straight what is what.
In this article I’ll help you get clear on the difference between a life coach and a career coach.
Whether you feel like you could benefit from working with a coach and want to make sure you find the right type, or you are looking for a career change and want to know what kind of coach to become, this article will be your guide.
If you feel stuck in your career or personal life, you may be considering working with a professional coach. But how do you decide between a career coach and a life coach? While there is some overlap, these two types of coaches take very different approaches.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain the key differences between career coaches and life coaches. By understanding their distinct areas of focus, ideal client profiles, and service offerings, you can determine which type of coach is the best fit for your needs and goals right now. Let’s dive in!
Career Coaching: An Overview
A career coach partners with clients to help them advance professionally and reach their career goals. Sessions are highly strategic and action-oriented.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, common career coaching objectives include
- Finding a new job or career path
- Securing a promotion
- Improving work performance
- Developing leadership skills
- Achieving better work-life balance
Career coaches often work with clients who are entering the workforce switching roles or industries, seeking professional development or transitioning into retirement.
Ideal career coaching clients are motivated to make tangible progress in their careers within a defined timeframe, They view their coach as an accountability partner and expert resource
Life Coaching: An Overview
A life coach takes a broader approach focused on the client’s overall well-being and happiness. Sessions explore the client’s values, passions, and relationships.
Common life coaching objectives include:
- Discovering purpose and meaning
- Achieving health and fitness goals
- Strengthening personal relationships
- Developing self-confidence
- Managing stress and anxiety
Life coaches work with clients navigating major life changes, challenging transitions, or feelings of being stuck or dissatisfied. Their focus extends beyond career performance into all domains of life.
Ideal life coaching clients want to live more fulfilled, authentic lives. They view their coach as a thought partner for self-discovery rather than just achieving tasks.
6 Key Differences Between Career and Life Coaches
While career coaching and life coaching both utilize motivating techniques to help clients reach their goals, some distinct differences emerge:
1. Scope of Focus
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Career coaches zero in on professional achievement and success within an organization.
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Life coaches take a holistic approach covering family, health, spirituality, leisure, and community.
2. Type of Goals
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Career coaching goals involve promotions, higher salaries, new jobs, and skill development.
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Life coaching goals relate to finding purpose, reducing stress, improving relationships, and increasing happiness.
3. Client Motivations
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Career coaching clients want to optimize job performance and earning potential.
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Life coaching clients aim to live authentically, find meaning, and enjoy life fully.
4. Timing Horizon
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Career coaching focuses on near-term objectives measured in weeks or months.
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Life coaching explores deeply personal journeys that can take years to unfold.
5. Structure of Sessions
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Career coaching sessions follow a solutions-focused, agenda-driven format.
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Life coaching sessions feel more relaxed, conversational, and exploration-based.
6. Coaching Techniques
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Career coaches utilize strategic planning, goal setting, and accountability.
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Life coaches leverage visualization, journaling, and mindfulness exercises.
As this illustrates, career coaching and life coaching take very different perspectives based on a client’s immediate needs and aspirations.
When Should You Hire a Career Coach?
If you are focused squarely on professional advancement and performance, then a career coach is likely the best fit.
Here are some common signs it’s time to engage a career coach:
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You want guidance preparing for a promotion or job interview.
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Your career trajectory feels murky and undefined.
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You need help positioning yourself for a raise or leadership role.
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Changing industries or careers feels overwhelming.
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Networking and personal branding don’t come naturally.
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Imposter syndrome or lack of confidence holds you back.
Look for an experienced career coach with a proven track record of helping clients achieve tangible job and career goals.
When Should You Hire a Life Coach?
If you are seeking deeper personal growth across all facets of life, then a life coach may be a better choice.
Here are some signs a life coach could provide value:
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You want help figuring out your passions and purpose.
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Toxic relationships or social isolation drain your energy.
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You struggle with work-life balance and self-care.
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Stress, anxiety, or repetitive negative thoughts feel overwhelming.
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You have major life changes ahead.
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You feel stuck in an inauthentic or unfulfilling life routine.
Choose an empathetic life coach focused on guiding you toward self-knowledge, wisdom, and lasting fulfillment.
What is the Cost of Coaching?
On average, career coaches charge $200 to $500 per month while life coaches charge $100 to $350 per month. Many offer discounted packages for multiple sessions purchased upfront.
Here are some factors that influence the cost:
- One-on-one vs group sessions
- Frequency and length of sessions
- Coach’s experience level and specialties
- In-person vs virtual meetings
- Additional resources or assessments
Regardless of budget, look for a coach you genuinely connect with. Coaching is deeply personal, so rapport and trust are key.
How to Pick the Right Coach for You
As you evaluate career coaches and life coaches, here are some helpful filters:
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Specialties: Look for niche expertise relevant to your situation like corporate leadership, college grads, working moms, retirees, mindfulness, etc.
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Qualifications: Search for coaches holding certifications like Certified Professional Coach (CPC) or credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) or International Association of Coaches (IAC).
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Coaching Style: Schedule intro calls to get a feel for each coach’s temperament and approach. Make sure your personalities mesh well.
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Logistics: Consider preferences around location, virtual versus in-person meetings, daytime versus evening availability, etc.
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Cost: Weigh what you can afford against the value you believe coaching will provide. Remember: invest in yourself!
When you find the ideal coach who clicks with your needs and style, the benefits can pay dividends for years to come.
Career and Life Coaching: Better Together!
The differentiation between career coaching versus life coaching is not black and white. In fact, many coaches specialize in both realms to some degree.
For example, career coaching may touch on work-life balance while life coaching explores professional purpose. There is natural overlap between optimizing your career and living your best life.
Some coaches even provide blended career and life coaching services to take an holistic view. You could begin focusing on immediate career challenges and later shift to deeper life fulfillment with the same coach over months or years.
Look for a coach who offers versatility while also aligning with your current top priorities. As your journey unfolds, a skilled coach will meet you where you are.
Ready for Clarity, Purpose, and Progress?
As you stand at the crossroads of career and life, coaching can help lead the way. Whether you choose a career coach, life coach, or blended approach, an experienced guide provides wisdom and accountability.
Remaining open and committed to self-discovery, a coach empowers you to pursue your personal definition of professional success and lifelong happiness. With clarity of vision and renewed passion, you will feel energized, focused, and inspired to take the next steps toward creating your ideal life.
The journey begins with a first conversation so you can articulate your dreams, challenges, and aspirations. From there, the road ahead comes into view one coaching conversation at a time. Are you ready to invest in yourself and start mapping out your future? The time is now!
What a session is like
So, if a client sits down with the coach for 60 minutes or so, what does that time actually look like?
A life coach will likely take a client through activities to help them reflect on every area of their life.
For example, a life coach might help a client get clear on their top five personal values, or imagine who they’d be without the belief “I am not enough,” or develop strategies on how to work with their anger issues.
One popular activity that a life coach might use is the “Wheel of Life” (which looks like the below), where a client rates and reflects on each domain of their life. This type of activity helps the coach understand where to focus their work and helps the client take an honest look in the mirror.
Lots of life coaching looks like a focused and intentional conversation where the coach asks provocative questions to help alter the client’s thinking.
Career coaches will also ask reflective, powerful questions, often at the start of a relationship, to help the client clarify what their ideal job might include. When I help clients with this, I’ll often look for patterns in what they loved and hated about previous jobs and give them space to talk about their dreams.
Below is a graphic that career coaches here at the International Association of Career Coaches might use to help clients clarify their career aims.
Once a career coach has helped the client clarify their ideal job, sessions will orient around practical, on-the-ground support to help them move toward that job. In a session, the coach might help their client edit their résumé, practice charismatic storytelling, or learn the subtle art of networking.
Coaching is not therapy
While both life coaches and career coaches can be profoundly helpful for a person’s mental health, they are both distinct from therapy.
Therapists require a Masters Degree, which takes about two years. And then, they must engage in about 3,000 hours of supervised sessions. Coaching trainings can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, and many coaches tend to bring a lot of informal training to their practice.
Another difference is that therapy tends to focus on creating healthier, happier people by healing wounds from the past. Many therapy modalities look at a client’s upbringing, seek to disrupt unhealthy patterns that the client developed as childhood survival strategies and work through traumas.
Coaching, on the other hand, tends to be less about healing and more about growth. Less about the past and more future-forward. Coaches tend to help clients build the skills and find the right mindsets to create the life (or career) that they really want for themself.
What Do I Think About Life Coaches?
What is the difference between a life coach and a career coach?
Life coaches often rely more on conversations to help guide their clients toward personal advancement. Their focus is more on helping clients better themselves through changing their mindsets or outlooks. Career coaches offer detailed advice about topics, such as tips on interview techniques and writing resumes, to their clients.
How long does it take to become a life coach?
Most career coaches have a bachelor’s degree in counseling, business or a related field and NCDA certification, which typically requires more than four years of study. Becoming a life coach often takes just a few months, as most life coaches only need to receive the ICF certification to begin their careers.
Do life coaches talk about careers?
Life coaches may talk to their clients about their careers as they relate to personal topics, such as work-life balance and purpose. However, conversations about their professional lives are a relatively small element of the discussions people have with their life coaches. Life coaches often work with people who seek self-discovery.
Why do people hire life coaches?
People hire life coaches for all kinds of reasons—perhaps they’re seeking help with navigating a difficult relationship, staying organized or attaining a better work-life balance. Career coaches don’t tend to get into your personal life all that much. Of course, when I’m working with clients, I learn things about their personal lives.
