Top-rated career coaches in Illinois
Here are the leading career coaches working with professionals in Illinois. Each has been assessed for expertise, clear communication, and a strong track record of client success.
Wolf Magdelinic
Career Transition Specialist
I’m a certified career and leadership coach with 8+ years of experience helping ambitious professionals navigate pivots, burnout recovery, and identity alignment. My approach blends structured goal-setting with mindful rituals that fit seamlessly into daily life. I’ve worked with clients across tech, creative industries, and consulting to rediscover clarity, design resilient career paths, and step into leadership with confidence. My coaching style is equal parts pragmatic and supportive — I’ll challenge you to stretch while making sure you feel grounded and aligned. If you’re ready to move from uncertainty to momentum, I’d love to support your next chapter.
Michelle Hillier
Self-discovery Coach
As a TEDx speaker, educator, and published author, I've spent over two decades helping people unlock their hidden potential through movement, creativity, and radical self-discovery. From captivating large crowds to intimate coaching sessions, I've helped millions reclaim their power and move beyond their limits. I'm all about creating safe, transformative spaces for people to reconnect with their inner flame.
Jordan Mae Antoinette
Mindfulness Coach
I'm a movement teacher, breath work coach, mindful meditation guide, retreat host, radio show host, and DJ. I also run an online movement studio. With years of experience in the wellness space, I help individuals achieve holistic well-being through the interconnectedness of movement, breath, and mindful awareness.
George Bent
Career Development Coach
George is a London-based career coach focused on tangible career outcomes and providing managerial-style support to his clients.
Working in Illinois
Employment Landscape
The Illinois job market in early 2026 reflects a mix of modest growth in public-facing sectors and continued decline in traditional, higher-paying roles. Nonfarm payrolls reached a record high earlier in spring 2025, with gains concentrated in government, education, health services, and leisure and hospitality, though losses persisted in professional and business services, manufacturing, and construction. Mass layoffs remain a concern — nearly 15,000 Illinoisans were affected in 2024, with significant closures in Peoria and Bolingbrook, and 390 job cuts at the merged job-search firms in Chicago in mid-2025. At the same time, long-term investments like the groundbreaking of the quantum and microelectronics park in South Chicago signal forward-looking tech expansion beginning in 2026. Job seekers should expect strong competition in resilient sectors and rising opportunities in emerging tech fields, but also headwinds in higher-wage traditional industries.
Dominant Industries
Typical Roles
Hiring Patterns
Hiring remains most reliable in government, healthcare, education, and hospitality, especially in metro areas like Chicago, Springfield, and Champaign‑Urbana. Professional services and manufacturing continue to shed jobs, though new tech investment around quantum computing may open niche roles ahead of broader recovery.
"Federal‑facing job growth and tech‑driven innovation are inching forward, but if you came from finance or manufacturing you are still fighting a tough, narrowed job pool."
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What is WORK-SELF?
Work Self is a career development system that helps people grow through coaching and daily habit support.
What Work Self provides
- One to one coaching for clarity and momentum
- Software that guides habits and simple next steps
- A structure that keeps progress moving between sessions
Why people choose it
- Builds confidence and better decision making
- Creates steady progress with small daily actions
- Makes career growth feel clear, guided, and achievable
How it works
- 1Meet with your coach to set goals and direction
- 2Follow daily guidance in the software
- 3Build habits that lead to long term improvement
A new way to grow your career
Innovative tools and coaching methods designed to transform how you develop professionally.
Career Audit Tool
Assess your professional path in Illinois with our comprehensive 360° audit.
Transition Blueprint
Map your move with structure and real momentum. Step-by-step guidance.
AI-Powered Coaching
Intelligent guidance available 24/7. Get instant answers to your career questions.
Rituals for Growth
Build clarity and confidence with intentional daily habits designed for you.
Personal Brand Builder
Tell your story clearly and powerfully to stand out in the local market.
Coaches available in Illinois
We select top coaches who understand the local market dynamics and global career trends.
Wolf Magdelinic
Career Transition Specialist
I’m a certified career and leadership coach with 8+ years of experience helping ambitious professionals navigate pivots, burnout recovery, and identity alignment. My approach blends structured goal-setting with mindful rituals that fit seamlessly into daily life. I’ve worked with clients across tech, creative industries, and consulting to rediscover clarity, design resilient career paths, and step into leadership with confidence. My coaching style is equal parts pragmatic and supportive — I’ll challenge you to stretch while making sure you feel grounded and aligned. If you’re ready to move from uncertainty to momentum, I’d love to support your next chapter.
Michelle Hillier
Self-discovery Coach
As a TEDx speaker, educator, and published author, I've spent over two decades helping people unlock their hidden potential through movement, creativity, and radical self-discovery. From captivating large crowds to intimate coaching sessions, I've helped millions reclaim their power and move beyond their limits. I'm all about creating safe, transformative spaces for people to reconnect with their inner flame.
Jordan Mae Antoinette
Mindfulness Coach
I'm a movement teacher, breath work coach, mindful meditation guide, retreat host, radio show host, and DJ. I also run an online movement studio. With years of experience in the wellness space, I help individuals achieve holistic well-being through the interconnectedness of movement, breath, and mindful awareness.
George Bent
Career Development Coach
George is a London-based career coach focused on tangible career outcomes and providing managerial-style support to his clients.
Simple, transparent pricing
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