Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about career coaching with Inside the Cubicle.
About Career Coaching
What does a career coach actually do?
A career coach helps you navigate professional challenges with strategy, not just encouragement. At Inside the Cubicle, that means helping you prepare for interviews, negotiate salary offers, survive a performance improvement plan (PIP), optimize your LinkedIn profile, and build a clear plan for your next career move. Every session is focused on actionable outcomes you can implement immediately.
Is career coaching worth the investment?
Yes, if you choose someone with real corporate experience. A single salary negotiation coaching session can result in thousands of dollars in additional compensation. Our 30-minute Clarity Call costs $99.99, and clients regularly use the strategies from that one session to negotiate offers worth $10,000 to $30,000 more than what they were initially offered. The return on investment is measurable.
How is Inside the Cubicle different from other career coaches?
Samantha Cook spent 7 years at Amazon/AWS and 4 years at Microsoft in senior leadership roles. She has personally navigated PIPs, negotiated six-figure offers, and designed talent development programs for thousands of employees. The coaching comes from lived corporate experience, not textbook advice. She is also a University of Washington Communications Leadership graduate and contracted coach for the UW Communication Leadership Graduate Program.
Sessions & Pricing
How much does career coaching cost?
We offer two coaching session options: a 30-Minute Clarity Call for $99.99 (best for single topics or time-sensitive decisions) and a 60-Minute Career Coaching Session for $149.99 (best for complex situations, transitions, or deep-dive strategy). We also offer a free 20-minute consultation for new clients. Digital templates start at $19.99, and we have a free salary negotiation cheat sheet available.
How soon can I book a session?
Most weeks we have coaching slots available within 72 hours. Sessions are available Tuesdays through Thursdays. After booking, you will receive a quick pre-session form via email so we can make the most of your time. Book directly through our scheduling page.
What is included in a coaching session?
Every session includes targeted coaching on your specific situation, custom scripts you can copy and use, a 3 to 5 step action plan with deadlines, and relevant resources. Bring your resume, job descriptions, performance review documents, or offer letters and we will review them live. You can cover multiple topics in one session; just list your priorities when booking.
What is your refund and rescheduling policy?
You can reschedule up to 24 hours before your session at no cost. Sessions are non-refundable once delivered. All digital product sales are final.
Specific Career Topics
Can a career coach help me negotiate a higher salary?
Absolutely. Salary negotiation coaching is one of our core specialties. We help you research your market value, prepare your counter offer, practice the conversation, and handle pushback. We also sell a Counter Offer Email Template ($27.99) that contains the exact email structure used to secure real compensation improvements during Microsoft negotiations. For personalized strategy, book a coaching session and bring your offer letter.
I just got put on a PIP at work. Can you help?
Yes. Samantha personally navigated a performance improvement plan during her Big Tech career and turned that experience into a business. We help you understand what a PIP actually means, build a response strategy, document your contributions, and decide whether to fight, negotiate an exit, or start your job search. Our PIP Survival Email Template ($19.99) gives you the exact weekly email framework used at Amazon. For urgent situations, book a 30-Minute Clarity Call.
Do you help with interview preparation?
Yes. We cover behavioral interview prep, STAR method storytelling, tough question responses, and how to articulate your value confidently. Our coaching is especially effective for professionals interviewing at tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta where structured behavioral interviews are standard. Book a 60-Minute Career Coaching Session if you have a specific interview coming up and want to do a full mock interview and strategy session.
Can you help me optimize my LinkedIn profile?
Yes. LinkedIn optimization is a key part of modern job searching. We help you rewrite your headline, summary, and experience sections to attract recruiters and rank higher in LinkedIn search results. We focus on keyword strategy, accomplishment framing, and positioning that makes hiring managers want to reach out to you. This can be covered in either a 30-minute or 60-minute session.
For Universities & Organizations
Do you work with universities and career programs?
Yes. Universities and higher education career programs are one of our two primary audiences. We offer institutional retainer partnerships that include student coaching sessions, career workshops, and career services team training. We are currently a contracted career coach for the University of Washington Communication Leadership Graduate Program. If you run a career services department or academic program, contact us to discuss a partnership.
What topics do your workshops cover?
Our most requested workshop topics include: how to articulate your value to employers, salary negotiation strategies, interview preparation and confidence building, getting more interviews through resume and application strategy, and LinkedIn profile optimization for job seekers. Every workshop is customized to your audience and can be delivered in person in the Seattle-Tacoma area or virtually.
Logistics
Where are you located? Do you offer virtual coaching?
Inside the Cubicle is based in the Seattle-Tacoma area of Washington state. We offer in-person workshops and speaking engagements locally, and all 1:1 coaching sessions are conducted virtually via Zoom, available to clients nationwide and worldwide.
How do I get started?
The fastest way to get started is to book a session directly. If you are not sure which session is right for you, request a free 20-minute consultation and we will help you figure out the best next step. For universities and organizations interested in partnerships, use our contact form.
Still have questions?
Reach out directly. We are happy to help you figure out the right next step for your career.