Career Counseling

What is Career Counseling?

Career counseling is a service that helps you make important career choices or with career exploration. It is sometimes called career coaching or career development. This kind of guidance can help you identify and stay focused on career goals, as well as take the steps needed to meet those goals.

Who Can Benefit from Career Counseling?

Career counseling can benefit almost anyone. Whether you are in the beginning stages of choosing a career, re-entering the workforce after spending time away, or recovering from a layoff, career counseling can help you navigate through these tough career choices. Career counseling can even be beneficial if you are currently employed, giving you the insight needed to advance your career or function better at work.

When Should You Hire A Career Counselor?

When is it time to ditch your DIY plans and bring in a professional? How about when you’re looking for a new job? What about when you are not getting any callbacks?

Here are some indications that it may be time to hire a career counselor:

• You have sent hundreds of resumes without any luck. A career counselor can help you understand the recruitment process, and pinpoint problems that are causing your applications to get rejected.
• You are overwhelmed by the thought of searching for a job. Maybe you have been out of the job market for a long time or you have recently been laid off. Either way, a career counselor can help if you are stuck and not sure how to get the ball rolling.
• You are planning a major career change. Making any sort of job transition can be tough. A career counselor can help you evaluate your strengths and skills to decide what you want to do next. They can help make the transition to a new career easier.

What Can A Career Counselor Help With?

Career counseling includes a variety of services that range from career assessments and resume writing to advancing your career and networking skills. A career counselor will provide career advice and help you with specific steps toward a defined career path including:

Skills Tests and Assessments:

• Administering skills tests and assessments to identify your strengths, skills, and the right career field.
• Matching your skill set with appropriate job opportunities.

Investigating Career Options:

• Exploring different career paths and understanding which career options align with your strengths and interests.
• Providing career information and career planning tools to make informed career choices.
• Assisting with career changes by evaluating available options.

Developing a Personal Action Plan:

• Creating a step-by-step plan to achieve your career goals.
• Identifying the path to land the perfect job in your chosen field.

Resume and Cover Letter Writing:

• Crafting effective resumes and cover letters that highlight your skills and experiences.
• Ensuring your application materials stand out to potential employers.

Job Search Strategies:

• Developing effective job search strategies, including where to look for jobs and how to use job boards.
• Tapping into the hidden job market through networking and other methods.

Role-Playing Interviews:

• Setting up mock interviews to practice and build confidence for real-life interviews.
• Providing feedback to improve your interview performance.

Overcoming Obstacles:

• Identifying and addressing barriers that may be hindering your career progress, such as anxiety, depression, or other personal challenges.
• Referring you to a psychiatrist or mental health therapist if needed to support your overall well-being.

Developing a Professional Network:

• Teaching you how to effectively network and grow relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and industry professionals.
• Helping you build relationships that can lead to job opportunities and career advancement.

Career Advancement:

• Assisting with identifying the skills and experiences needed for promotions or career development.
• Creating a plan to achieve career growth within your current field.

Work-Life Balance:

• Helping you find a balance between your career aspirations and personal life.
• Providing strategies to avoid burnout and maintain overall well-being.

Navigating Career Transitions:

• Supporting you through major career transitions, such as returning to work after an absence, shifting to part-time, or transitioning into retirement.

Salary and Benefits Negotiation:

• Coaching you on how to negotiate salary and benefits effectively and ensure fair compensation for your job title and previous work experience.

Identifying and Leveraging Strengths:

• Working with you to identify your strengths, passions, and values.
• Showing you how to leverage these attributes in your career decisions.

Professional Development:

• Guiding you in choosing continuing education or professional development opportunities that align with your career goals.
• Helping you stay current in your field and advance your career.

Are Career Counselors Worth It?

Career counseling can run anywhere from $75 to $150 or more an hour. Although this price might seem steep, the services of a career counselor are absolutely worth every penny — provided you choose the right counselor. Career counseling can mean the difference between having a job that you dread working at every day and finding a role that is fulfilling and engaging.

Finding The Right Career Counselor

It can be daunting to search for a career counselor. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Avoid Scams

There are lots of unscrupulous people out there offering career development services who are not qualified. They may “guarantee” job placement when in reality, a true career counselor cannot make that guarantee. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends avoiding career counselors who guarantee you a position. Also, search the Better Business Bureau and the state’s Attorney General’s Office for complaints.

Choose A Certified Career Counselor

We recommend choosing a professional who is registered with the National Career Development Association (NCDA) as a Certified Career Counselor. To become a Certified Career Counselor through the NCDA, the person must hold a Master’s Degree or higher in counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling, counselor education, or a related degree. These professionals have education and training in both career development and counseling.

There is also an important distinction to understand between career counselors and career coaches. While both professional can help guide your career path and goals, their roles and expertise differ. Counselors, often with backgrounds in psychology, counseling, or human development, focus on career exploration. Coaches, typically certified in specific fields, provide guidance on concrete career steps. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, each professional may define their services distinctly.

Find Out If They Are Right For You

After finding a career counselor with the right credentials, the next step is to determine if they are a good fit for you. Asking these questions will help you figure that out.

• Do you have experience or expertise in my field? Look for someone who has knowledge of your career field.
• Do you have references? A good career counselor should be able to supply you with references.
• What are your credentials/education? Do they have graduate-level education in counseling? What is their experience with career coaching? Have they received training in career development?

Search TherapyTribe

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References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. Bls.gov. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.h 
2. Caporal, J. (2021, October 19). Here’s Why 20% of Americans Have Changed Careers Since the Pandemic Began. The Motley Fool. https://www.fool.com/research/20-percent-americans-changed-careers/ 
3. Ibarra, H. (2020, April 27). Reinventing Your Career in the Time of Coronavirus. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/04/reinventing-your-career-in-the-time-of-coronavirus 
4. Job Scams. (2020, December 8). Consumer Information. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams 
5. Renner, R. (2019, November 15). Should You Hire a Career Coach? Business News Daily; businessnewsdaily.com. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10919-hire-career-coach.html 
6. Coursera (2023, June 15). What Is Career Counseling? And How to Know When You Need It. https://www.coursera.org/articles/career-counseling