Career Counsellors are experienced and knowledgeable people who guide students and professionals regarding their career and different professions. The practice of career counselling is active in several developed as well as developing nations for since long, yet the importance of career counselling is not known to many. Career counsellors can be termed as professional career consultants who look into an individual’s career history, skills, interests, personality, acumen, aptitude and potential to help them find the best career opportunity for him/ her. Here is the all the career counsellors – who, what and their roles.
Although there are no set rules or criteria for becoming a career counsellor, in certain countries, it is essential to attain a master’s degree in related fields. Some governments have mandated their certified training and diploma courses while in other countries such as India, private training is taking place with an increasing demand of career counsellors in the country. There is a great misunderstanding among people when using different terms for counsellors. The terms are even more confusing due to cultural difference as Counselling in British English is the same as Career Guidance in American English.
Career Counsellors – Who, What And Their Roles
Although different they appear, the terms are used interchangeably across the globe and not have much difference even in their implied form. In some countries, a specific term is more common, however, the functionality of the related person cannot be termed as different. (We will use ‘career counsellor’ as a common word for all the above professionals unless otherwise specified.)
People often use these terms interchangeably. These professionals guide students and adults in every aspect of their career starting from getting to know different career opportunities, finding the right career and setting career goals, understanding opportunities in their own field, support in making a switch in their job, training to writing resumes and CVs etc.
In India, the Central Board of Secondary Education planned to create model schools that have at least one permanent counsellor and while in America, it has been recommended that the career counsellor to student ratio should be 1:250. In the United Kingdom, the government has its own National Career Service which provides free service to all the students and has also become a model for several other countries.
Role Of Career Counsellors:
Career Exploration
- Career Counsellors help the students in exploring different career options available in their area of interest.
- It helps the students to assess their strengths and weaknesses through psychometric tests and accordingly find a suitable career option.
Career Introduction
- After exploring the right career, the student is guided about the skills required, the future scope of the selected career field, new opportunities, emerging trends and salary expectations.
Admission Counselling
- A career counsellor helps the student in identifying the best college/ University according to the strengths and weaknesses of the said student, keeping in mind the budget and other social constraints.
- He helps the student by providing information and guidance towards study abroad programs by giving information about different colleges, making a list of colleges to apply and their admission policies.
- A career counsellor may help the student in completing of their documents and forms for admission.
Motivational Counselling
- He helps the students and professionals in their stress management.
- He helps the professionals as well as students in setting their realistic goals.
- Helps the candidates in improving their work style so as to be highly effective.
Planning Education Financing
Career Counsellors often need to be a financial advisor for the students and professionals. There are many students that require financial assistance to pursue their studies. They need information regarding government and private bodies that can provide them with education loan and scholarships. Working professionals may require similar services in order to analyse whether their current salaries are comparable to industry standards or not and what else they can opt for to get increment.
Motivational Counselling
- He helps the students and professionals in their stress management.
- He helps the professionals as well as students in setting their realistic goals.
- Helps the candidates in improving their work style so as to be highly effective.
Career Counsellors Power - Up Package
A career counselor’s power-up package could include a range of tools and resources to help clients identify their strengths, explore career options, and make informed career decisions. Here are some possible components of a career counselor’s power-up package:
Career assessment tests: Assessment tests can provide objective and standardized evaluations of a client’s skills, interests, values, and personality traits. These tests can help clients identify their strengths, clarify their career goals, and explore different career options.
Resume and cover letter review: A career counselor can review a client’s resume and cover letter, providing feedback on formatting, content, and language. This can help clients to create a professional and effective application package. Visit the careerguide.com now