By Annie Pelissier, | Founder, Elevate Consultings, LLC

As someone with 20+ years in HR, I’ve watched career coaching evolve and succeed. Whether you’re deciding between a mentor or coach or considering coaching for your team, here’s what I’ve come to understand: coaching delivers targeted results, measurable growth, and long-term confidence.

Mentor or Coach: What’s the Difference?

Mentors are invaluable by their experienced peers or leaders who offer guidance, industry wisdom, and career advice based on their own journey. The relationship is informal, often long-term, and focused on learning from someone else's experience.
Coaches are trained professionals who use structured models, assessments, and accountability to guide you toward your goals. A coach helps you develop clarity, uncover blind spots, set action plans, and stay committed through targeted support.
In short: mentors share. Coaches build transformation.

Why Career Coaching Delivers More

🎯 Structure + Accountability
Coaches use proven tools like GROW or CLEAR models to help clarify your next step and hold you accountable. A mentor may offer insight, but a coach guides action.

🧠 Personal Insight & Breakthroughs
Mentors may rely on experience. Coaches use assessments and reflective questioning to help you understand what’s stopping you and how to move forward.
🎯 Measurable Outcomes
With coaching, you’ll often see promotions, offers, or renewed confidence within months not years. It’s not luck. It’s design.
📉 Avoiding Stagnation
Mentors offer advice. Coaches equip you with strategies to change behaviors that are holding you back.

What the Numbers Say (2024–2025)

- The career coaching industry generated $17.8 billion in 2024 and is growing steadily.
- Clients surveyed report an average ROI of 7x the cost of coaching.
- 61% of coaching clients said their leadership and management skills improved significantly after coaching.
- 80% of employees who received coaching report increased job satisfaction.

Practical Benefits You’ll Experience

- Develop clarity about your next career move
- Set and achieve specific goals (like salary negotiation, role pivot, or leadership launch)
- Build leadership presence, confidence, and communication skill
- Adapt to workplace changes and navigate transitions
- Stay accountable with regular sessions and deliverables

Considering Coaching-For Yourself or Others?

If you feel stuck, undervalued, or unsure where to go next, a trained career coach can help. I’ve seen how even seasoned professionals can get new clarity and momentum from coaching. If you’re the trusted advisor in your community, coaching could be your next step too.

Earn Over $150,000 as a Career Coach

Certified career coaches aren’t just motivated they’re also compensated well:
- Average annual salary for career coaches ranges from $60K to $96K depending on employer and experience.
- Top earners especially self-employed or certified coaches make $140K to $160K or more. Some even top $400K annually.
You can build a flexible, purpose-driven business helping others navigate career transitions and earn exceptionally while doing it.

Ready to Launch Your Own Coaching Practice?

At Elevate Consultings, LLC, I offer a Certified Career Coach (CCC) course. In 8 to 10 weeks, you’ll learn essential coaching models, work with real clients, and build a coaching practice that:
✔ Creates measurable change
✔ Is grounded in ethics and confidence
✔ Pays well often beyond six figures
You don’t need prior coaching experience. Just your passion for helping others and commitment to growth.

📩 Want to become a certified coach and begin your own practice?
👉 Book a Free Discovery Call