Senior executives often hire career coaches to help them figure out where they want to grow and come up with a strategic plan around how to fulfill their potential. But having a coach earlier in your career can accelerate your path to that leadership role by helping you develop skills that are critical to your career progression. Here is how to find yourself the right coach.

• Be clear on your goals and objectives. Before you reach out to a coach, reflect on what you want to get out of the relationship. Do you want to step up into a leadership role? Are you looking to start a new business? You need to know what you want in order to choose the right person to guide you towards it.
• Do your research. As you look into different coaches, pay attention to their backgrounds and expertise. Many coaches will include a short description of their focus areas in a bio or in their online profiles. What did they study? What services are they specialized in? Do they work with a lot of young professionals? Read up on any articles they’ve written to get an impression of whether your perspectives match and if you’d like to work with this person. You can start to put together a shortlist of a few people whom you’re interested in.
• Reach out. When reaching out to the people on your shortlist, be clear about your goals and intentions. Let them know why you are looking for a coach and how you expect them to help you in your journey.
• Interview them. Even the coach was referred, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be a fit. It’s okay to have a few conversations and decide who you’d like to work with and who you can trust. Ask them about their coaching expertise, coaching style, and if they like to meet in person or online.