Trying to plan your career or job search can feel haphazard at best. After hitting so many dead ends, workers and wannabes wonder where they're going wrong in their career trajectory.

This is where career coaches come in. They can analyze your resume, your interview style and your manner of communication on the job to find out where the short circuit is and get that career back on track.

Bankrate hooked up four readers with four career coaches to see how professionals would make over their career or job search.

• Laurie Wiker – Successful woman ready for a career change.
  Over 14 years, Laurie worked her way up the corporate ladder in the banking industry, most recently occupying the position of assistant vice president in information security. But now she's trying to transition to the wellness field. Career and life coach Alanna Fero analyzes her situation and gives her some ideas on how to make the switch.
• Char Winckowski – Highly educated Realtor seeks employment.
  Char has been working as a Realtor and needs more income than the housing industry has provided recently. She has cast her net too wide, and career coach Deborah Bailey helps her narrow her search and reach out to contacts to look for opportunities.
• Mike Baker – A COBOL wizard in a Java world.
  Mike has been an IT expert for more than 26 years, but hasn't had a full-time job in eight years. Master career coach Linda Dominguez helps him bridge the gap between his experience and education and the changing job requirements of the IT world.
• Diane Herman – Too many jobs, too little time.
  Diane's main interest is in property management, but she's also working as an accountant. Career coach Pam Venne explores the options available to a woman who may have more luck building her own business than finding a 9-to-5 job that would incorporate property management and accounting.