What I Learned About Modern Coaching: My MJSC Journey: How Earning My Master Job Search Coach Certification Changed Everything About How I Coach
I just earned my Master Job Search Coach (MJSC) certification from The Modern Coach, and honestly? It changed everything about how I approach my work.
Not because I didn't know how to coach before. I've been doing this for years, helping professionals navigate career transitions, build confidence, and land roles that fit their goals. I was good at it. My clients got results.
But MJSC training showed me the difference between being good at coaching and understanding what modern coaching actually means.
Let me explain what shifted—and why it matters if you're considering working with a career coach.
What I Thought Coaching Was
Before MJSC, I blended coaching conversations, strategic planning, and deliverable creation (like resumes and LinkedIn profiles) in ways that got results but weren't always clearly defined.
Some clients came expecting just resume support, while I was layering in strategy and coaching behind the scenes. It worked—they landed jobs, gained confidence, moved forward. But the lines were blurred, even to me.
I thought my value came from solving problems and delivering polished documents. If someone needed a resume, I'd write an excellent one. If they needed interview prep, I'd coach them through it. If they were stuck, I'd help them figure out next steps.
I was providing solutions. And that felt like what coaching was supposed to be.
Then I went through MJSC training with Angie and The Modern Coach team, and I realized: I'd been missing the most important part.
The Shift That Changed Everything
The Modern Coach taught me something I hadn't fully grasped before: clarity before tactics.
Not just as a nice principle, but as the actual foundation of transformational coaching.
Here's what that means in practice:
Old approach:
Client: "I need help with my resume."
Me: "Great, let's update your resume."
New approach:
Client: "I need help with my resume."
Me: "Before we dive into that, can you tell me what's driving this change? What are you looking for that you don't have right now?"
That one question—that shift from tactics to discovery—opens up an entirely different conversation.
Suddenly we're not just fixing a resume. We're exploring:
What truly drives them
What kind of work environment brings out their best
What success actually looks like for them (not what they think it should look like)
Where they feel fulfilled and where they feel stuck
This is what The Modern Coach calls discovery-driven coaching. And it's completely transformed how I work with clients.
From Problem-Solver to Space-Holder
One of the biggest mindset shifts MJSC created for me was moving from problem-solver to space-holder.
I used to believe my value came from having answers. As someone with 20+ years in HR and career development, I have a lot of knowledge about resumes, hiring processes, and what companies look for. It felt natural to share that expertise.
But here's what Angie and The Modern Coach taught me: my clients don't need me to solve their problems. They need me to create space for them to discover their own clarity.
This sounds simple, but it's profound.
A recent example: A mid-career professional came to me, preparing for interviews but also questioning their long-term direction. In my old approach, I would have focused on interview tactics—rehearsing answers, polishing their pitch, building confidence for the specific opportunity.
Instead, I created space to explore: What roles and environments would actually energize them? What were they optimizing for in their next move? What would make them feel fulfilled, not just employed?
We still did interview prep. But by starting with discovery, they left with something more valuable than practiced answers. They left with a framework for evaluating this opportunity—and every future opportunity.
That's the difference between solving an immediate problem and creating lasting transformation.
The Framework That Changed My Practice
Through MJSC training, I learned The Modern Coach's core framework:
Clarity → Confidence → Storytelling → Strategy → Accountability
This isn't just a catchy sequence. It's a methodology that ensures every client engagement is built on the right foundation.
Clarity
We start with discovery. Who are you? What drives you? What do you want more of in your career? What do you want less of? This isn't surface-level stuff—it's deep reflection that uncovers authentic direction.
Confidence
From clarity comes genuine confidence. Not the fake-it-till-you-make-it kind, but confidence rooted in real self-awareness. When you understand your unique value, you can communicate it naturally.
Storytelling
With clarity and confidence established, we craft your narrative. Your resume, LinkedIn profile, interview responses—these become expressions of an authentic story, not manufactured selling points.
Strategy
Now we develop targeted approaches. Networking, applications, positioning—everything is strategic because we know exactly what we're looking for.
Accountability
Finally, we maintain momentum through ongoing partnership. Not just task completion, but reflection on what's working, what needs adjustment, and how you're evolving.
Before MJSC, I was doing bits of this but not systematically. Now, this framework guides every client engagement. And the results speak for themselves.
What "Modern" Actually Means
Here's what I learned about why The Modern Coach calls this approach "modern":
It's not modern because it's trendy or new for the sake of being different. It's modern because it recognizes something the traditional career services industry has missed:
Career decisions aren't just professional moves. They're deeply personal choices about how we spend our lives.
Traditional career services treat job search like a problem with tactical solutions:
Need a resume? Here's a template.
Need interview help? Practice these answers.
Need a job? Apply to these roles.
The Modern Coach created a different paradigm entirely:
Who are you?
What fulfills you?
How do we build a career that actually fits your life?
This human-centered approach is what makes it modern. It's coaching that treats you like a whole person, not just a job seeker.
And through MJSC training, I learned how to consistently deliver this kind of coaching instead of just occasionally stumbling into it.
How This Changed My Client Work
Since completing MJSC certification, here's what's different in my practice:
I start every engagement with discovery, not tactics. Even when clients come asking for specific deliverables, we begin with clarity work. This ensures everything we create is authentic and aligned.
I focus on transformation, not just transactions. My goal isn't to get you a job. It's to help you build sustainable clarity and confidence that serves your entire career.
I use structured reflection tools. The Modern Coach taught me specific frameworks—like Career Story Reflection and decision-making matrices—that create breakthrough moments for clients.
I'm intentional about what I'm providing. I now clearly distinguish between coaching (discovery and reflection), consulting (strategic guidance), and tactical tools (resumes, LinkedIn). Clients understand where breakthroughs happen and invest more deeply in their own process.
I trust the process. I've learned to be comfortable with the messiness of discovery. Clarity doesn't come from a checklist—it emerges from thoughtful exploration and coaching conversations.
Why Rigorous Training Matters
You might wonder: does certification really make a difference?
Here's my honest answer: yes, absolutely.
Not because a certificate makes someone magically better at coaching. But because rigorous training ensures your coach has methodology, not just good intentions.
Before MJSC, I had experience and instincts. After MJSC, I have a structured framework, evidence-based approaches, and the skills to consistently create transformation for clients.
The Modern Coach's MJSC program taught me:
How to create clarity systematically, not just hope it emerges
The difference between coaching, consulting, and advice-giving
How to hold space for discovery without jumping to solutions
Evidence-based approaches to career transition
How to build sustainable momentum with clients
This training gave me confidence in my methodology, not just my personality.
And that makes all the difference for my clients.
What I'm Building Now
With my MJSC foundation, I've created what I call my Clarity to Confidence Career Coaching Program—a structured approach that blends The Modern Coach methodology with my years of HR and career development experience.
It's designed for professionals who feel stuck, uncertain about their direction, or ready to make their next move with genuine confidence. We work through discovery, build authentic narratives, and create momentum that lasts.
But more than any specific program, what MJSC gave me was a completely transformed understanding of what coaching should be.
I'm no longer just helping people get jobs. I'm creating space for them to discover who they are and what they actually want. I'm partnering with them as they build careers that feel aligned, not just look good on paper.
That's what it means to be a modern coach. And I'm grateful to Angie and The Modern Coach for showing me the way.
What's Coming in This Series
Over the next several weeks, I'll be sharing more insights from my MJSC journey:
Why I start every engagement with discovery now (and what that actually looks like)
The question I ask that I never asked before
How I shifted from problem-solver to space-holder
What transformation really means in coaching
How I explain this approach to new clients
The tools and frameworks I use with every client now
This is my reflection on what it means to be a modern coach. I hope it helps you understand what to look for if you're considering working with a career coach—and why methodology matters.
