Interview Coaching Certification Programs + Free Resources

Are you an interview coach? Are you ready to boost your skills and your marketability by receiving an interview coaching certification?

We’ve profiled two interview coaching certification programs: PARWCC’s Certified Interview Coach program and Career Directors’ Certified Employment Interview Consultant program. Take a look, and see if one of these is right for you.

Interview Coaching Certification Programs

Interview coaching helps clients feel more comfortable and confident in their job search. And, it equips them with skills to find and land the job they want. Some certified interview coaches work with employers and recruiters to design effective job descriptions and job opening postings.

Just as interview coaching can set a job seeker apart from the crowd, an interview coaching certification can distinguish you as a coach in your industry. It’s an investment that can pay for itself and far more.

Let’s take a look at some of the interview coaching certification programs out there.

PARWCC’s Certified Interview Coach (CIC) Program

Designed by industry leader Jay Block, the Certified Interview Coach (CIC) credential is issued by the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC). The program used to be called the Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIC) program.

The new name reflects a change—an expansion—of the certified coach’s reach. With a focus on empowering clients to influence others, the newer CIC credential opens up coaches to opportunities beyond employment interviews. For example, the training translates well to help coach people preparing for admission and scholarship interviews as well as contract negotiations.

While the Certified Interview Coach program doesn’t get a new name very often, it does continually evolve to meet the market’s demands. It’s stayed up to date by addressing video and AI interviewing.

Of course, PARWCC’s Certified Interview Coach program will equip you to successfully coach people who want to improve their interview prowess. But, you’ll also learn strategies to market your CIC credentials.

Here’s a bit of what you will receive in the Certified Interview Coach program:

• Organizational Message Change (OMC)—A tried and true communications model that helps clients craft an influential message.
• Interview Prep Guide—An 11-page document that you can use with your clients.

The fee for PARWCC’s Certified Interview Coach program is $695. You must be an active PARWCC to register and to use your certification. Membership is $175, and you can join when you register for the CIC program.

After you register, you’ll receive the CIC course manual. It’s a self-paced curriculum. After you finish the manual, you’ll have a 90-minute coaching session with Jay Block. He will send you assignments to complete. You have one year after you register to complete the course requirements.

Learn more about the Certified Interview Coach program.

Career Directors’ CEIC Course

Like PARWCC, Career Directors International (CD) also pride themselves on staying up to date with the industry and the market. The approach of their Certified Employment Interview Consultant (CEIC) Course is to make it really easy, not only to become a certified interview coach, but to practice as a interview coach. They provide a turnkey lecture-style program that includes step-by-step instructions (basically a script) that you can use in coaching sessions. It’s flexible for one-on-one coaching or workshops.

The program provides you with worksheets, quizzes, and checklists that you can share with your clients. In addition to helping clients with the interview process, you’ll be able to assist with salary negotiations. And, you’ll learn how to set prices and sell your interview coaching services.

The CEIC course is self-paced. You just download the 18 modules, print them out, and put them in a three-ring binder. Read through the material, and complete the exercises. A mentor can answer your questions and give you feedback on the exercises.

The reason why you’re encouraged to print the material and put it in a binder is that the material also serves as the start of your own resource manual that you’ll use when interview coaching.

The CEIC course has a couple more similarities to PARWCC’s Certified Interview Coach Program: You have up to one year to complete the training, and you must be an active CDI member to register and receive your certification.

The non-member fee for the course is $2264, which includes the $347 annual CDI membership fee. To maintain your CEIC certification, you must renew it every three years by buying the update modules.

Learn more about the CEIC course.

ICF Credentials

Although certification through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) isn’t specific to interview coaching, it’s always a good idea to distinguish yourself with this prestigious designation. Learn more about their membership, training, and credentialing program.

Free Resources for Interview Coaches

In addition to checking out these interview coaching certification programs, you’ll want to take advantage of these free resources that might be exactly what you need at this point in your career. Take a look.

EdApp Interview Talent for Startups

This free course teaches you how to screen and find the right person for the job. Here’s an overview of the lessons:

• Profiling Talent for a Startup
• Types of Interviews
• Types of Interview Questions
• Mitigating Bias With Structured Interviews
• The Parts of an Interview

Learn more about this course.

Yoodli

Regardless of your training and credentials, you can up your game in the coaching industry by making Yoodli’s free speech coach your coaching assistant. Think of Yoodli as the medical report if you’re the doctor, the power drill if you’re the electrician. Yoodli helps you save time, get new clients, and show your clients data driven feedback on their interview skills (how well they used the STAR method, their word choice, body language, filler words and more. Learn how communication coaches use Yoodli to offer more to their clients.

Wrapping Up

Now you have a better idea of how interview coaching certification works and what programs are available. Ready to take the next step on your coaching journey? We’re rooting for you as you help others along their own paths toward career success.