Hi there,

Honestly? I firmly believe yes. But, of course I'm biased! And, of course, it truly does depend on the individual.

Now, please remember, you can get the interview + job yourself, without help. (Heck, I went 8 for 8 on my own). But you're basically playing the odds. Earlier is definitively better. You have to decide do you prefer:

1. Investing, a little too late but with the interview, with lower odds of success
2. Investing early. When you get the interview you have higher odds of success (and you received more interviews). BUT, maybe having no interviews.

One thing to really think about though is how badly do you want this job. Because, 100% your chances of getting the offer are higher if you get coaching earlier. This is a fact. It just depends on how you want to “play” the risk.

Think about this decision like you did getting a degree.

Off the top of my head, here are a few scenarios where people would have been better served getting coaching earlier:

1. Yesterday someone who has been interested in coaching for months just told me they find out they got the application dates wrong and will miss the deadlines. I could have helped. Whoops!
2. Last week someone started coaching with me after prepping for 3 months. They told me they had been using Rocketblocks for frameworking (worst site ever for frameworking). They wasted 3 months (seriously! Their frameworks were terrible)
3. Last year someone opted to not get coaching. They did not get any interviews. This year they opted to get coaching with me. After I got their resume to killer status and taught them the right application/networking approach they got a half dozen interviews
4. The most common problem I see is people waiting until 1-2 weeks out, getting a coaching session from me, expecting me to just check the box and say “you're good to go”, only to find out they're not ready. Then, it's a last minute scramble to reset their mindset and get them . (totally do-able, just not fun)

Yes, there is absolutely risk beforehand.

But there is so much more risk NOT doing it.

Coaches help you:

1. Increase chances of getting the interview
2. Drastically reduce case prep time + energy
3. Increase chances of passing the interview (ideally with a longer runway)

Feel free to reach out for an intro call. I'm genuinely not trying to upsell - happy to have a chat and see if coaching is genuinely right for you or not (you might be one of those types that is perfectly capable on their own…heck, I was myself with 8 offers!)

Just an example here:

Dear candidate,

Any time is great:

A) if you hire one now the advantage is you can work out, how to secure the best interviews and to actually be invited. Also you have enough time and expertise to prep. You can fully prep and then apply for interviews and do only a light coaching throughout. It is really up to you considering your overall situation.

b) Coaches also often handle cases in which candidates already have interviews and help them excel as much as feasible in that time. Some of these candidates however have already prepped a lot beforehand to the point that this is enough to succeed and to the point that they are fine with the implied time pressure. 

C) coaching is generally valuable, you can also discuss an achievement plan with your coach based on your  if your situation. For example if you think you get out more of the coaching if you do it so that you have more than two week's time, it sounds great. This way you have more freedom to do that.

Best regards.

Hello,

You've precisely pinpointed the main pros and cons here - there's no right answer, and it is ultimately up to you. A coach can help you with your application (e.g., resume and cover letter review, networking tips), but cannot guarantee that you will be invited to interview. However, once you receive an interview invitation, there may only be a small time window to prepare. 

Different candidates approach this differently. For instance, if you are applying widely as opposed to just applying for 1-2 firms, it is more likely that you will get an interview, so the risks of investing in a coach beforehand is a bit lower. Similarly, if you are coming from a target school that's doing on-campus recruiting, your odds of getting an interview are greater, so the risk is lower again. Alternatively, you might choose to spend lots of time preparing by yourself/with case partners before receiving an interview, and then work with a coach once you get an invite.

It all depends on your risk preferences and financial situation.

That's a fantastic question, and it's something many people grapple with as they consider investing in coaching. I'll share my perspective based on my experience as a coach and a former interviewee.

• Foundational Skills: The value of coaching is not limited to succeeding in interviews. Many of the skills and techniques you'll develop during coaching, such as problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication, are transferable and will benefit you throughout your career.
• Improved Readiness: As you've rightly pointed out, there can often be a short window between receiving an interview invitation and the interview itself. Engaging with a coach beforehand allows you to build a strong foundation, making you better equipped to utilize that limited time for specific interview preparation.
• Reducing Stress: Preparing for interviews can be stressful. Having a coach guide you through the process can provide a sense of clarity and confidence, reducing anxiety.
• Networking and Application Support: A coach can also provide support during the application process, help fine-tune your CV and cover letter, and offer valuable networking strategies, potentially increasing your chances of landing an interview.
• That being said, coaching is an investment, and it's essential to weigh the cost against your personal budget and the potential benefits. Remember, there are many paths to success, and while a coach can be a valuable resource, plenty of people have also succeeded with self-study, online resources, and peer practice.

If you're considering coaching, I'd be happy to chat more about what that might look like and how it could support your journey. Best of luck with your decision!

It really depends on the coach. 

I believe I give candidates advice for FIT interviews that will stay with them for life and will be useful in any interview they get, i.e., mindset changes that will make them perform at a higher level in every interview they get after that.

Similar to problem solving. If this was a coaching session on problem solving, it would probably cost a few hundred dollars / euros as well. In this context, it is wrapped up as a case interview preparation, but once again, it is a transferable skill - of course, it is something that needs to be practiced, but if you take the session + practice cases using what you learned, you should be able to improve significantly in a critical business skill.

I know that reading the above sounds like a sales pitch, but regardless, the fact is that you will improve on relevant business and interview skills. Of course, this happens because I don't just do interview simulations (i.e., case simulation + feedback at the end), but actually try to mentor /coach you during the session. So the value is really there, even if you don't get the interview.

Another thing I can do is to help the candidate figure out additional options - if this is something they care about, there's value for them.

Other coaches provide other type of value: they can be really good at helping you get the interview (how to network, how to get a referral). That's not my thing, by the way (although I've shared a few CVs with my connections). But here's another source of value you can get from a session.

Of course, sessions can be expensive for someone who isn't working yet, and obviously you get more value if you get the interview. My point is that with a good coach you will still get value out of the coaching session.

I guess the short answer is: the coach is there to help you to secure the interview in the first place! ;)

The long answer is that a coach will:
 

• understand you as a person & your motivations
• help you formulate that in a top-notch CV
• prep you for the interview along that very same personal story with USPs, etc.

The interview is really not that different from writing the CV. You need to think about your strengths and what you bring to the table, who you are as a person, and what your motivations are.

After this point, it’s just telling the story over and over and over and over again, but in different formats: written (CV), verbal (interview), example situations (assessment center), etc.

Naturally, above this, your hard skills will also be checked (these will differ by the domain) but the coach will help you here as well, how to polish those until you get to the big day! So make sure, your coach is in the domain you are interested in.

From my perspective, good coaching is not giving you "the perfect answer" but to help you give "your perfect answer" because that is what delivers value and that takes time.