Does career coaching work? Is investing in coaching good value in advancing your product manager career goals? The answer is not as straightforward as you would think. Depending on the quality and experience behind your product management career coaching and your own personal goals and attitudes, a career coach may be either a waste of time or a game-changer.
Some might be of the mindset that it is fine for them to do it on their own, and that coaching is a waste of time and money. However, it is important you are honest with yourself about the bigger picture. If you were aiming to reach a fitness goal, would it be better for you to work out on your own? Or would you benefit from a trainer? For many of those wondering “does career coaching work?”, live interaction and guidance from an expert in your field can be instrumental to good results.
Decide What’s Important
Assuming that your career coach knows what they are doing, the decision to seek coaching is ultimately a question of your own risk threshold. If you chose to try and go it alone, are you comfortable with the risk of failure, lost time, or even or ending up at a job that you don’t care for? Most people can land a Product Manager job on their own, but can you guarantee that you’ll be able to land the right one? Are you going to be able to find it on a timeline that fits your needs?
Just like getting the body you want through working out, getting to where you want to be in your career is a process that takes time. On your own, you may be able to make progress and find the right fit for you. For example, if you are currently in a position where you are in no rush to change jobs — maybe you can wait six months or a year or two — you may find that you have the time and the resources to expand. Depending on the urgency of your plans it may be difficult but doable, and you will be able to use trial and error to test out different strategies, learning on your own what works and what doesn’t.
Good Coaching = Good Results
If you are someone who is looking to make a change sooner, a good career coach can mitigate and prevent all the challenges and problems that come with trying to figure things out all on your own. The more clear and aggressive your goals, the more critical good coaching will be to your success.
If you look at our testimonial page, you will see the track record which speaks for itself on this topic – Product Managers who have benefited from the guidance of our advisors and gone on to get multiple offers within 90, 60, or even 45 days from great companies with very good pay.
Commit to Your Own Success
In addition to the quality of your coach, it is important to ask yourself what your level of seriousness and commitment is. You need to have a good coach first and foremost, but you also have to come in ready to do the work and put out the effort. Our most successful members have excelled not only because of the expertise of their advisors but also because they were coachable and curious.
How many times do we see an athlete that has an entire team behind them making sure that they’re in the best shape possible, but they aren’t committed to making the right lifestyle choices? You have to let down the ego, leave your pride at the door and actually be ready to receive criticism and feedback. Good coaching will be uncomfortable at times, but it is important to embrace the discomfort in order to grow.
Does Career Coaching Work?
To summarize, successful career coaching is a tripod model; there are three legs that support it, all equally important. Quality coaching, clearly defined goals, and personal commitment to the journey will come together to support you and help you get the most out of your coaching.
Our coaches have gone through this program and walked down the same road; at some point, they were watching a YouTube video or reading an article just like this, and they decided to pick up the phone and schedule a call with us and enroll. Now they’re in the job that they really want and they’re in the right position for themselves, and they want to give back.
At Product Gym, our career coaching takes you through four key stages of the process that best prepares you for the dream Product Manager role you’re eyeing.
1. Learn
Learn from 20+ skills courses taught by industry experts. Get specific, practical direction that has been industry proven across multiple industries. With our extensive range of product, business, and career classes, not only will you get the job, but you’ll succeed in it too.
2. Optimize
Discover the best techniques for writing a compelling cover letter, building an attractive Product Manager resume that has everything your future employers are looking out for, and more. We’ll boost your credibility and optimize your personal branding to get you your dream PM job.
3. Apply
Over the past 20 years, we’ve tried and tested many different strategies – and we’ve found the one that scores the most interviews and lands the most Product Manager offers. All our tips, tools, and community support are at your fingertips, so you can apply to jobs with a job-hunting strategy that really works.
4. Convert
Learn how to ace every step and every question in your Product Manager interview – including behavioral questions, technical questions, case studies, salary negotiation, and more. Not only will you get offered Product Manager jobs in a much quicker time, but you will also start your first day extremely well-prepared.
If you’re ready to make that change, start by scheduling a free career coaching session with one of our in-house team members. We would love to talk with you and give you the guidance needed to get you into your own perfect product management position!
