Questions about career change coaching, answered
Everything you might want to know before we work together, from how coaching works and what it costs, to burnout, leaving teaching and support for employers.
Experienced professionals who want to change career, or recover from burnout, without starting from scratch. My clients come from education, healthcare, the public sector, charities, finance, retail management and corporate roles. What they share is the feeling that they've outgrown where they are.
I also offer specialist support for teachers, and for employers who want to support their people.
No. I started out coaching teachers, and I still offer specialist support for teachers, but I now work with experienced professionals from any sector.
Coaching is a good fit if you know something needs to change but can't see the way forward yet, or if you've tried on your own and keep getting stuck. It works best when you're ready to put in some time and take action between sessions.
It isn't a quick CV tidy or a job-finding service. If you're not sure, the free discovery call is the easiest way to find out, with no pressure either way.
It's a 30-minute online call with me, Kelly. Not a sales team. We talk about where you are and where you'd like to be, and you leave with a clear next step, whether or not we work together. You don't need to prepare anything, and there's no hard sell, ever.
Book a free discovery call. If you already know you want direction and a new CV, you can book a Career Clarity Session straight away.
That's absolutely fine. You can start with my free tools: the Career Language Translator and the burnout risk assessment. You can also read the blog or join my newsletter.
No. Many of my clients are in their forties, fifties and beyond. Your experience is an advantage, not a barrier. The key is knowing how to present it to a new sector.
By identifying the skills you already have that a new employer values, and learning to describe them in that employer's language. Most people need far less retraining than they expect.
That's where most people start. The Career Clarity Session and the Reflect stage of the full programme are designed to help you narrow it down. You don't need to arrive with answers.
Every career change is different. For some clients it takes around a month, for others it takes substantially longer. It depends on things like the salary and seniority you're aiming for and the sector you're moving into. My full programme runs for three months.
If you've been actively applying for three months and haven't had any interviews, that's a good time to reach out for professional support.
Yes, and most of my clients do. Coaching is designed to make things simpler, not add to your workload. We work around your job, and even 15 minutes a day adds up to nearly two hours a week on your future.
Not necessarily. Some people move across on a similar salary, some take a short step back to get a foot in the door, and many go on to earn more. It depends on the role, the sector and how well you present your experience.
No. I'm a coach, not a recruiter. I help you choose a direction, present your experience in the right language, reach the right people (including roles that are never advertised) and prepare for interviews. The job you land is yours.
Yes. You don't need to be burnt out to want a change. Whether you're certain about leaving or still exploring, I can help you look at your options, recognise your transferable skills and plan your move.
No. Many of the teachers I work with have taught for a decade or more. Your experience is an asset. The key is translating it into language employers outside education recognise.
More than most teachers realise. Common moves include learning and development, corporate training, EdTech, HR and people roles, project and operations work, curriculum and content design, customer success, wellbeing roles, charities and the public sector. The right one depends on your strengths, values and what you want your life to look like.
For most teachers in England and Wales on standard terms, the resignation deadlines are 31 October to leave at the end of December, the last day of February to leave at the end of April, and 31 May to leave at the end of August. Always check your own contract, as academies and independent schools can differ.
Yes, and most of the teachers I work with do. We work around your timetable, including evenings and school holidays.
Burnout is more than being tired. It's exhaustion that a weekend off doesn't fix, feeling detached or cynical about work you used to care about, and feeling you're no longer good at what you do, even when you are.
If you're not sure, take the free burnout risk assessment. It takes about five minutes and shows which areas of work are putting you under the most pressure.
Stress usually feels like too much: too many demands, too much pressure. Burnout often feels like not enough: not enough energy, motivation or care left to give. Stress can ease when the pressure drops. Burnout tends to linger, even after a holiday or a weekend off.
No. Coaching is forward-focused and practical. It helps you understand what led to burnout, rebuild your energy and boundaries, and decide what comes next. It isn't medical or mental health treatment. If you're experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health difficulties, please speak to your GP, and coaching can sit alongside that support.
Not necessarily. For some people, recovery means changing how they work, setting firmer boundaries or asking for adjustments. For others, it becomes clear that the job itself is the problem. Coaching helps you work out which is true for you, without pressure either way.
Often, yes. Many people find it helpful to use time off to understand what happened and plan their return or next step. If you're under the care of a doctor, it's a good idea to check with them first.
It's different for everyone, and recovery is rarely a straight line. Many people feel a noticeable shift within the first few sessions, as they start to understand what's happening and make small changes. Full recovery can take longer, and that's normal.
Yes. The Full Career Transition Programme can be paid in three monthly payments of £315, and you can pay for the Career Clarity Session with Klarna at checkout. For other options, payment plans may be available, so just ask on your discovery call.
Payments are taken securely online. You can pay by card, Apple Pay or Klarna.
Yes. If you join the Full Career Transition Programme later, the £99 you paid is credited towards it.
It's included with the Full Career Transition Programme. You can read the full terms on my pricing page, and they're set out in your coaching agreement before you start.
Just get in touch as early as you can and we'll find another time that works.
All coaching is online by Zoom, so you can work with me wherever you are in the world. I'm based in County Durham, in the North East of England.
Weekday mornings, afternoons and early evenings, Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings. If you're in a different time zone, or none of these work, get in touch and we'll find a time that does.
Yes. The Full Career Transition Programme and burnout recovery coaching both include support between sessions by email or WhatsApp.
Yes. What you share in coaching stays between us. The only exception would be if I were seriously worried about your safety or someone else's.
I've changed career and recovered from burnout myself, so I know how it feels from the inside. My coaching combines practical career strategy with NLP, so you leave with both a plan and the confidence to follow it.
You'll always work with me, not a team. I'm honest, practical and I treat you as a whole person, not just a CV. Read my story
I'm an award-winning coach with an ICF-accredited coaching qualification, and I'm a certified NLP practitioner. I also hold Level 7 certificates, including in psychometric assessment. Before coaching, I spent nearly 20 years in education, including leading careers in an inner-city school. More about me
A membership for career changers who want to work through it at their own pace, with support. You get monthly group mentoring, tools and templates, and Helix, your AI career coach. Explore the Lab
Helix is an AI career coach, available to Lab members whenever you need it. It's there to help you think things through and keep moving between mentoring sessions. It doesn't replace human coaching, and it has safeguarding built in.
The Lab suits you if you're happy to work independently with group support. The Full Career Transition Programme suits you if you want one-to-one support all the way. It also includes full access to the Lab, so you don't have to choose.
The Career Accelerator Lab FAQs answer the most common questions about membership.
Yes. Outplacement and career transition support helps people facing redundancy or restructuring to work out their next step, present their experience and move on with confidence.
Use my contact form and choose "Support for my organisation". I'll reply personally within two working days.
No questions match that search. Try a different word, or ask me directly.
Book a free 30-minute call. You'll be talking to me, Kelly, not a sales team, and there's no hard sell, ever.
Book a free discovery callPrefer to write it down? I reply to every message personally within two working days.
Contact me