Takeaways from Coaching with Linda

Takeaways from Coaching with Linda

Linda Evans

Every prospective client has a similar question for me which is basically, “What will I get out of coaching with you?” Which is, of course, a very valid question considering the time and money they are ready to invest in working with the right coach.

I’ve had my career coaching business for over 14 years now and 6 years ago (after my business services has grown considerably from just offering resume reviews), I started asking clients what their biggest takeaway was at the end of every session.

Hundreds of sessions later, I’ve collected a tremendous amount of data! I used ChatGPT to summarize the main topics, which it did in a nice concise list and turned an hours-long project into a few keystrokes! Here are the results with my edits:

1. Coaching Relationship & Reflection

  • Having a coach as a mirror and accountability partner

  • Appreciating the structure, reflection, and space to talk things out

  • Realizing that they’re further along than they thought

  • Feeling cared for, seen, and understood in the process

2. Career Direction & Clarity

  • Aligning career decisions with values, strengths, and goals

  • Gaining focus and specificity in job goals and next steps

  • Narrowing down career options; identifying ideal roles or paths

  • Realizing there’s opportunity and hope; reassurance they’re not “stuck”

  • Seeing a clear, attainable future; confidence in making a career change

3. Strengths Awareness & Application

  • Using strengths to build confidence, direction, and intentionality

  • Deepening understanding of CliftonStrengths and how to apply them

  • Shifting mindset from weakness-fixing to leveraging strengths

  • Learning to articulate strengths authentically in resumes, interviews, and networking

  • Recognizing strengths like Harmony, Competition, or Context as assets

4. Confidence, Mindset & Emotional Growth

  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and negative self-talk

  • Building confidence in value, contributions, and compensation

  • Processing emotional baggage (e.g., anger, burnout, guilt, or loss)

  • Gaining validation and reassurance through coaching and structured reflection

  • Seeing progress and self-worth through wins, lists, and small achievements

5. Branding, Networking & Professional Presence

  • Developing their personal brand: strengths → brand → goals

  • Improving LinkedIn presence, profiles, and activity

  • Learning effective networking strategies (emails, informational interviews, follow-ups)

  • Understanding the power of conversation and connections

  • Using the CARLA framework to communicate stories clearly

6. Tools, Frameworks & Action Planning

  • Applying structured tools: CARLA, Career Factors, Career Progress Model, Holland/ONET, Strong Interest Inventory

  • Making tangible action plans, checklists, and weekly goals

  • Using platforms (LinkedIn, Google Docs, Idealist, etc.) effectively

  • Seeing career exploration as an ongoing process, not a single decision

7. Resume, Cover Letter & Interview Skills

  • Doing detailed, line-by-line resume work (structure, verbs, quantification, formatting)

  • Learning to tailor materials to job descriptions

  • Writing compelling cover letters and professional summaries

  • Doing interview preparation: organizing answers, thinking on feet, closing well

  • Seeing resumes and interviews as storytelling, not self-judgment

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If one or more of these seem helpful to you, reach out now!

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