Paid $400 for a career coach and got told to smile more

Last year I was stuck in a dead end admin job in Phoenix and splurged $400 on a career coach someone at the gym recommended. First session she watched me talk for 20 minutes then said my problem was I don't smile enough in interviews. Second session she taught me how to write a cover letter using ChatGPT and charged me extra for the template. I canceled before session three and landed a better job on my own two months later by just networking at a local meetup. Has anyone else wasted cash on 'professional help' that gave you nothing but common sense?

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1 Comment

nina_clark25d ago

Is it possible the coach was actually doing her job by pointing out something that felt obvious but was still true? Because I've seen hiring managers pass on qualified people just for having a flat affect, even if it sounds dumb to charge $400 for that nugget. The real waste might be that she never taught you how to fake warmth when you're nervous, which is a skill even if it feels basic.