What My Most Successful Coaching Clients Have in Common
“Better is good.” – Barack Obama
In my time as a career coach, I’ve seen my clients transform from feeling trapped in unsatisfying roles to thriving in careers that energize them. While each journey is unique, I’ve noticed consistent patterns among those who achieve their goals and those who excel beyond the goals they set originally.
It’s not about making perfect moves or having everything figured out from day one. It’s about progress, moving forward and taking action one step at a time.
What My Most Successful Coaching Clients Do
They Are Prepared To Share The Details
The clients who make the most progress arrive at our sessions with data about their search:
- How long they’ve been looking for a new job or a promotion
- Specific roles, level and industries they’re targeting
- Number of applications submitted or notes from their performance reviews
- Interviews conducted
- Offers received
This information helps to identify patterns and adjust strategies for better results.
They Maintain Consistent Communication
Whether through email or shared documents, successful clients establish a communication style that works for them. They update me and reply to my messages about:
- Job search activity
- Communications with recruiters and hiring managers
- Roadblocks they’re experiencing
Many clients follow our recommendations to make detailed “brain dump” notes during or after interviews—capturing questions asked, their responses, and moments they wish they’d handled differently. This exercise provides invaluable insights that help us understand their interview approach and personalize our strategies to improve their interview performance.
They Balance Stress and Productivity
Job searching is emotional and stressful. My most successful clients recognize when they need to recharge and aren’t afraid to:
- Take a break from applications when they need it
- Schedule interviews with enough time to prepare and prevent burnout
- Make time to include hobbies and interests daily or weekly
- Practice self care and remain thoughtful about how you organize your space
They understand that allowing themselves this space isn’t procrastination—it’s essential rest that makes them more effective when they return to their search.
They Develop an Exit Strategy
You do NOT have to feel stuck where you are and miserable.
My most successful clients understand they can work on changing things in the background at their own pace. They start by:
- Researching potential next steps
- Networking and building knowledge about other opportunities
- Maintaining hope and an open mindset
They recognize that being grateful for current employment doesn’t mean closing yourself off to something better. Having an exit strategy—even a long-term one—provides both peace of mind and a sense of agency.
The Power of Having a Support System
Think about the people in your life who’ve helped you grow: a mentor, a teammate, a best friend. What do they have in common? They create a space where you feel confident and supported. This is precisely what working with a coach can provide—someone dedicated to your growth who helps you get unstuck.
The job search process can be isolating and overwhelming. No one should have to navigate it alone. My most successful clients understand the difference between needing help and needing support:
- Help is what you seek when you don’t know what to do and need direction.
- Support is what you need when you know what to do but require someone to share the experience, maintain momentum, and dedicate focused time to your goals.
Coaching provides both, creating a team approach to what’s often treated as a solo journey.
Book a free consultation with our team to discover how career coaching can help you transform your professional journey. Our team’s experience covers job search strategy, interview preparation, offer negotiation, and relocation support across the US, Europe, LATAM and select countries in APAC.
You’ll find details of our experience on our team page here.
Chez Jennings
Chez helps people level up their careers in tech. She is passionate about helping people find opportunities for career advancement and accelerating their career development. As an inclusive coach, she helps people explore the career paths where they belong and she strengthens the voice of her community. She has worked with talent from early careers to leadership hiring in the US and Canada.
