Ms. Golinkin’s help in that regard does not come cheap: She charges $8,000 for 20 hours of sessions, or $400 an hour. But she stands by her process.

“Every moment I’m with my clients, I’m thinking about where they are and what makes them tick but also where they need to be more comfortable in talking about their strengths,” she said. “It’s helping people understand how to develop themselves as a brand. I’m there every step of the way.”

It starts with a two-hour session for her to get to know the client. She then works on the basics of résumé and interview preparation. Her focus, though, is on helping her clients figure out what they want to do and how to go about doing it — particularly if the vocation they are in is not what they had in mind. She’s open about using her own contacts to get interviews but also about being honest with her clients about their attributes.

Ms. Murray, a lifelong equestrian, said she did not know what she wanted to do after the job she expected disappeared.

“I wanted to work for a company I was proud of and motivated by,” she said. “I didn’t even know where to begin. I was really confused. I was also kind of ashamed that I didn’t have my life in order and squared away.”

She said Ms. Golinkin had helped her explore different industries and the types of jobs within each one. It took her all summer, but last fall, Ms. Murray started a job in the development department at the Milken Institute, a nonprofit think tank in Los Angeles. She credited Ms. Golinkin with guiding her there.