09 Should I Work With a Career Coach? How to Choose an Ethical Career Coach as a Black Woman

Are Career Coaches Unethical? How to Choose the Right Coach in This Job Market

There’s a lot of talk on the internet right now saying “career coaches are unethical” and that nobody should be selling career services in this job market. As a Black woman who has coached hundreds of professionals in the workplace and in my coaching practice, this conversation felt icky. So let's talk about it! 

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Should I work with a career coach right now?”

• “How do I choose a career coach I can actually trust?”

• “Is career coaching even ethical when people are getting laid off left and right?”

…this episode and blog post are for you.

In this podcast, I’m unpacking:

• Why so many people feel like career coaching is unethical

• How systemic issues and capitalism show up in your job search

• What ethical career coaching actually looks like

• How Black women can vet a career coach before investing

• Free and low-cost ways to get support if coaching is not in the budget right now

And of course, I’ll share how the Career Love Mission and the Career Love Community are my answer to making career support more accessible for Black women.

Are Career Coaches Unethical or Is the System Broken?

Let’s keep it real:

Plenty of people have had harmful or disappointing experiences with career coaches, therapists, doctors, and even HR. So when people say “career coaches are unethical”, they’re usually reacting to:

• Systemic inequity (especially around race, class, and employment)

• Manipulative marketing that preys on desperation

• Broken systems that fail people, then outsource the blame

Career coaches, like lawyers, healthcare providers, and therapists, are operating inside systems that are already inequitable especially for Black women. That doesn’t automatically make every coach unethical…but it does mean:

• Job seekers are a vulnerable population right now

• People are more likely to be exploited when they’re scared, unemployed, or underpaid

• Any industry serving vulnerable people needs to be held to a higher ethical standard

So when you ask, “Should I work with a career coach?” the real question is: Is this the right time for me? And if so, am I working with someone who understands the system and refuses to exploit my vulnerability?

Should I Work With a Career Coach in This Job Market?

Short answer: Maybe but not at any cost, and not with just anybody.

Here’s the nuance:

When a career coach can be helpful

A career coach may be helpful if you:

• Are stuck in a toxic, draining job and don’t know your next step

• Want to pivot industries but feel overwhelmed and have a job search knowledge or skill gap

• Struggle with interviewing, resumes, or telling your story as a Black woman

• Need accountability and strategic support to actually follow through

• Want a thought partner who understands DEI, bias, and the realities of corporate life for Black women

When you may not want to invest in a coach

You may want to pause before investing if:

• Paying for a coach would put you in financial crisis if you lost your job tomorrow

• You’re hoping coaching will be a magic fix that guarantees a job in 30, 60 or 90 days

• You haven’t yet explored free or low-cost resources in your area or online

• You’re making a decision from panic instead of clarity

Because the current job market is so challenging, even the best strategy doesn’t guarantee a quick job offer. An ethical coach will tell you that up front.

How to Choose a Career Coach as a Black Woman

If you’ve decided, “I do want support, but I need to be careful,” here’s how to choose a career coach who aligns with your values.

1. Look beyond titles and certifications

Coaching certifications and fancy titles don’t automatically equal ethics or skill.

Ask yourself:

• Do they have real-world or industry experience relevant to what I need (e.g., HR, recruiting, leadership, DEI, business building)?

• Do they demonstrate a clear understanding of the job market and the specific challenges you're facing?

• Do they show a track record of working with Black women specifically, not just “women of color” in theory?

2. Pay attention to how they talk about results

Huge red flag language:

• “I guarantee you’ll get a job in 30 days.”

• “If you don’t have results, it’s because you didn’t want it badly enough and you're doing something wrong.”

• “This is your one shot, if you don’t join now, you’ll stay stuck.”

Ethical language sounds more like:

• “Here’s what I can help you with; here’s what I cannot promise in this market.”

• “You’ll still need to show up and do your part. I will support you with strategy, feedback, and accountability.”

• “These are typical client outcomes, but your timeline may look different.”

3. Check how they handle vulnerability

A good question to ask yourself: Are they centering my goals and needs?

Unethical coaches:

• Use pain-point marketing to scare you into a sale

• Over-emphasize your “mistakes” or “mindset issues” to get a sale

• Push you into a program even when your finances are unstable

Ethical coaches:

• Encourage you to consider your financial stability and do not rush your decision before investing

• Acknowledge the systemic barriers you’re facing

• Offer other options (free content, community, resources) if their services aren’t right for you right now

4. Notice how they talk about Black women

If you’re a Black woman, you deserve support that sees your reality clearly.

Look for coaches who:

• Explicitly serve Black women or clearly center Black women’s experiences

• Understand layoffs, bias, and burnout in our communities

• Don’t use our trauma as “content,” but as a call to build solutions, community, and rest

Red Flags: When You Should Not Work With a Career Coach

If you see these, gather your coins and run in the opposite direction:

• They promise specific job outcomes in a specific time frame in this market

• They guilt-trip you for asking about pricing, unique considerations or payment plans

• They get defensive when you ask clarifying questions

• Everything is urgency, scarcity, “you’re missing out,” with no nuance

• They are offering a service or a solution that sounds too good to be true

What Ethical Career Coaching Looks Like at Career Love

In the episode, I talk about my own journey as The Career Love Coach and how I had to sit with my feelings when I saw people calling coaches unethical.

Here’s what ethical career coaching looks like in the Career Love Community:

• Community first. I created the Career Love Community as a space for Black women to get support whether she chooses to become a client or full community member or not. 

• Free and low-cost access. There is a free tier of the community with resources like peer resume reviews, mock interviews, accountability groups, and chats.

• Honesty about the job market. I refuse to promise that working with me means a job offer in 90 days. I’ll tell you the real even when it might make you think twice about investing.

• Values over manipulation. I’m not here to scare you into buying. I’m here to help you think clearly, feel seen, and take aligned action. If that means it's the right time, then lets DO this! 

And beneath all of that is the Career Love Mission: To help Black women discover their Black Woman Brilliance, fall in love with their careers and businesses, and ultimately enter their Black Woman Bliss Era—with as much liberation, rest, and joy as possible.

Free & Low-Cost Career Support for Black Women

If you’re reading this like, “Okay, love the ethics, but my bank account says naw,” please know: You still deserve support. Here are a few ways to get it:

1. Join the Career Love Community (Free + Paid Tiers)

The Career Love Community is a safe, warm space for Black women working on big career, business, and life goals.

Inside the free tier, you’ll find:

• Peer resume reviews

• Mock interviews and feedback

• Job search chats and accountability

• Networking with other Black women navigating the same chaos

• Wellness support like our seasonal mental health & holiday chats

You can learn more and join here: https://www.mercedesswan.com/join 

Members of the paid tier also get access to much more in Black Woman Bliss Training Portal, Group Coaching and Special training sessions which you can access via the member library.

2. Attend the Black Woman Bliss Blueprint Webinar

The Black Woman Bliss Blueprint Webinar breaks down the framework I use to support Black women as they:

• Discover their Black Woman Brilliance

• Make aligned career and business decisions

• Start moving toward career liberation and a life that actually feels like them

You can find information about upcoming Black Woman Bliss webinars here: https://www.mercedesswan.com/bliss 

3. Book a Free 15-Minute Clarity Chat

If you’re wondering:

• “Should I hire a career coach?”

• “Is this the right season to invest?”

• “Would your offers even make sense for my situation?”

…you can book a free 15-minute Clarity Chat with me. It’s a no-pressure conversation to help you decide your next aligned step whether that’s coaching, community, or something completely different.

Schedule your Call here: https://calendly.com/mercedesswan/info 

Frequently Asked Questions about working with Career Coach 

You can add these as an FAQ section on the page. I’ll write them in natural language so both Google and AI search can easily surface them.

Should I work with a career coach in this job market?

It depends on your situation. A career coach can help you with strategy, clarity, resumes, interviewing, and navigating bias but no coach can guarantee you a job right now. If investing in coaching would put you in financial crisis, start with free resources, community, and low-cost support instead and revisit coaching when you’re more stable.

How do I choose an ethical career coach?

An ethical career coach:

• Is honest about what they can and can’t promise

• Doesn’t guarantee job offers in a specific timeframe

• Encourages you to consider your financial reality before investing

• Has experience that matches your needs 

• Respects your decision and does not play off of your fears

As a Black woman, you also want a coach who understands systemic racism, bias, and the unique challenges Black women face at work.

 What red flags should I watch out for when hiring a career coach?

Red flags include:

• Promising you a job in “30 days or less”

• Using guilt, shame, or extreme urgency to get you to buy

• Blaming you entirely if systemic issues slow your job search

• Lacks detail when answering questions about their approach, background, or policies

Are career coaches unethical by default?

No. Career coaches operate inside an unethical system shaped by capitalism, racism, and inequity. That system creates vulnerability and makes it easy for some coaches to act unethically. But many coaches are actively working against those dynamics by being transparent, centering equity, and offering accessible support. The key is learning how to vet who you work with.

Is career coaching worth the money?

Career coaching can be worth the investment if:

• You’re financially stable enough to handle the investment

• You have clear goals and know what you want help with

• You choose a coach who is aligned with your values and needs

Coaching is not a magic wand, but with the right coach, it can shorten your learning curve, help you advocate for yourself, and support you in creating a more aligned career or business.

How can Black women find career support if they can’t afford a coach?

If coaching isn’t financially accessible right now, you can:

• Join free communities like the Career Love Community

• Look for local workforce or career centers in your area

• Ask trusted peers to do peer resume reviews and mock interviews

• Use high-quality, culturally aware content (podcasts, blogs, videos) to guide your process

You still deserve support and can find it even if a paid coach isn’t realistic in this season.

How does AI fit into career coaching?

AI tools can help with things like:

• Drafting a resume or cover letter

• Practicing interview questions

• Researching companies and roles

But AI can’t replace lived experience, cultural understanding, and nuanced coaching, especially for Black women navigating bias at work. Ideally, you’re using AI as a support tool not a substitute for your voice, your judgment, or your community. Many AI resume writing tools are not developed by recruiters, hiring managers or career coaches, so the formatting and recommendations are frequently wrong. Some resume writing services have also been accused of manipulating their results to increase the likelihood that you'll purchased their service. Tread carefully. 

If you are seeking to leverage a culturally responsive AI tool to support your career, I have developed one specifically for Black women. Her name is Bliss AI and she is available with the full Career Love Community. Many community members have leveraged her and you can learn more about in the Career Love Community.