How To Get An Honest Transition Coach

I got an email today from someone who does not live in Denver.  He indicated that he had been scammed by a so-called Executive Transition Coach.  Unfortunately, I hear this from person after person.

When there is a recession, especially with the high unemployment of this one, the cockroaches come out of the woodwork to prey on unsuspecting people with promises of quick placement and fantastic salary increases.  When asked to deliver, they cannot and do not.  Then you read your contract and see that it is pretty vague on what the “coach” will do for you.  In fact, if you read the language, you find that he or she has really promised nothing.  When you ask for at least some of your money back, the coach points out that you have signed satisfaction forms, and that their work is done.  They tell you that it was ALWAYS clear that they weren’t going to do much for you.  You’re out thousands or tens of thousands of dollars for nothing.

As an Executive Transition Coach myself, I want to help you avoid (and report) the slime.  Here are some tips for you.

1).  Read the contract.  We spell out, in excruciating detail, everything we’re going to do and what the client is required to do.  Any coach that has a vague contract is either careless or a con artist.  Ask for EXACTLY what you’re going to get IN WRITING.  Don’t believe verbal promises.  A good and honest coach will be happy to put it in writing.  If they aren’t…run.

2).  Try to only give half of your money up front.  I’ve always thought that most coaches require a great leap of faith in asking for all of their money up front.  We only ask for half for a very good reason.  Then everybody has “skin in the game.”  While this isn’t the policy of most coaching firms, many will make the deal to take 50% up front and 50% a couple of months after employment.  In my opinion, this should be industry standard.

3).  Don’t believe promises like “we do the work, you get the job.”  Finding a job is the hardest job you’ll ever have.  This is why so many people are such easy prey.  People go to headhunters to do the work, and pay thousands of dollars on the hope someone will do it for them.  They won’t.  YOU must find your own job.  A good coach with a great network can help you meet people and eliminate the stupid mistakes that every job seeker makes.  But get you a job?  No.

4).  Don’t believe claims of “exclusive networks.”  There aren’t any.  There are good networks, broad networks, and so on.  But there are no exclusive networks, no exclusive databases, and no secret list of job openings.  A good coach know enough people to help you meet people who can introduce you to hiring authorities of companies that are flying under the radar.  But they don’t have “exclusive contacts,” or exclusive anything else.  Others have at least some access to everything they do.

5).  Don’t believe claims of “reverse headhunting.”  Reverse headhunting is when someone calls companies to market you.   This is very time consuming.  If you’re paying less than 1/3^rd your annual salary, with no guarantee of success, it is hooey, and you should walk.  They simply can’t afford to do it, although a well-connected coach will often make a FEW calls for you.

6).  Check the coach out thoroughly.  Don’t call the BBB.  They can be bought, and often are.  Some of the biggest scam firms who have been CLOSED DOWN by the attorneys general of several states often had great BBB ratings.  I’d like to give examples, but I don’t relish lawsuits.  Check the coach out on Google and with people that have done business with the coach.  But be reasonable.  Everyone has a few people who are dissatisfied, especially if the coach has been in business a long time.  If they’ve been in business a very long time (I’ve been dealing with people’s careers for about 30 years) with the same or a very similar company name…they’re probably OK, and also probably have a couple of negative Nellie customers.  Look for the bulk of what is said.

7).  DO NOT go out of the state you want to live in!  If you want to move, for example, to Denver, call a qualified coach in Denver.  If you want to go to Seattle, call one in Seattle.  But if, for some unfathomable reason, you want to stay in Los Angeles, go to a coach in LA, not Denver.  Most coaches are only connected in their home town.  Very few people, regardless of what they say, have a “national network.”  It is very difficult, and those few who actually do have a national network are very, very expensive or lying to you about how deep it is.

See my article on why you shouldn’t conduct a national job search at www.ceojobexpert.com for more info on this.

These are all the tips I have room for.  Please feel free to email me at jheckers@heckersdevgroup.com with any questions, or go to my website at www.heckersdev.com for more free advice in my “articles” section.  Good luck, and beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing!