Feeling stuck in an unsatisfying job or overwhelmed by the vast ocean of career options? You’re not alone. Many people struggle with finding the right path in the ever-changing world of work.
Whether you’re a student contemplating your future, a professional seeking advancement, or an adult considering a career change, making informed decisions is crucial. And that’s where career counselling comes in.
In this blog, we explore how career counselling can help you identify your strengths, set realistic career goals, and navigate the job market effectively.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What is Career Counselling?
- Benefits of Career Counselling
- The Role of Career Counsellors
- Techniques and Tools in Career Counselling
- Impact of Career Counselling on Different Stages
WHAT IS CAREER COUNSELLING?
Career counselling is a professional service that helps you understand your skills, interests, and options so you can make informed decisions about your career path. It can be helpful if you’re feeling stuck, you’re unsure about what you want to do, or you’re looking for a change.
The counsellor will start by helping you identify your strengths, interests, values, and skills. This might involve taking career assessments and aptitude tests or talking about your past experiences.
They’ll then use this information to introduce you to different career options that could be a good fit. You can research different fields and learn more about the job market.
Once you have a better idea of what you’re interested in, the counsellor will help you set goals and develop a plan to achieve them. This might involve creating a resume, practising for job interviews, or figuring out the education and training you’ll need.
By the end of career counselling, you should have a clearer idea of what kind of work you want to do and the steps you need to take to get there.
Career counselling can help you plot your career journey
BENEFITS OF CAREER COUNSELLING
A recent OECD study found that 81 per cent of Canadians who used career guidance were satisfied with the service they received. Six months after receiving career guidance:
- 24% said they addressed barriers that were keeping them from achieving their goals
- 17% said they found a new job in a different industry
- 16% said they progressed in their current field
The fact is that career counselling offers a range of benefits. These include:
Self-discovery: A counsellor can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself. Through assessments and discussions, you can figure out what you’re good at, what’s important to you, and what motivates you.
Exploration of options: Feeling overwhelmed by career choices? A counsellor can introduce you to possibilities that match your unique profile. They can help you research different fields, understand job outlooks, and discover potential career paths you may have overlooked.
Personalized goal setting and planning: Once you know what you’re aiming at, a counsellor can help you set achievable milestones and develop a concrete action plan.
Improved job search strategies: Career counsellors can help you with resume writing and interview preparation, and even offer guidance on networking strategies to connect with the right people in your field.
Decision-making support: A counsellor can help you weigh the pros and cons of different options and identify the path that best aligns with your goals.
THE ROLE OF CAREER COUNSELLORS
Career counsellors act as champions for your professional journey. Their role is to guide you through the process of self-discovery, exploration, and planning to achieve your career goals.
“This requires an honest assessment of the skills a person has acquired and those that they need to hone,” explains Herzing student services advisor Fred Standil. “It is vital to be genuine when providing this guidance and both proficiencies and deficiencies must be identified.”
A career counsellor may:
- Conduct an interview to gather information about your education, work history, skills, and aspirations
- Use personality assessments and interest inventories to help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, and values
- Introduce you to a variety of career paths that match your profile
- Provide information on industry trends, job outlooks, and potential growth areas within your field of interest
- Develop a step-by-step action plan to achieve your career goals
- Offer professional guidance on crafting your resume and cover letter
- Help you connect with professionals in your chosen field
- Offer objective guidance and support at key decision points in your career
A counsellor can offer personalized career advice
TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS IN CAREER COUNSELLING
Career counsellors use a combination of assessment tools, personalized counselling techniques, career exploration activities, and career planning frameworks to guide individuals in their career development.
“There are tests available to determine aptitudes, interests, and existing skill sets. They provide hard data to incorporate into the decision-making process,” says Fred.
“Oftentimes, students will discover both strengths and areas requiring improvement through this process. Their preconceived ideas about what they are best suited for can be affirmed or refuted.”
Here are some popular tools:
- The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality assessment tool that categorizes individuals into 16 personality types based on their preferences in four dichotomies: Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving. It is valuable for self-understanding, career counselling, and personal development.
- The ONET Interest Profiler is a free online career exploration tool developed by the U.S. Department of Labor. It helps you identify your work-related interests and suggests potential career paths that align with those interests.
- The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) is a career assessment tool designed to help individuals identify their interests and match them with potential career options. It’s based on John Holland’s theory of vocational personalities and work environments, which categorizes people and environments into six types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional (RIASEC).
- The Work Values Matcher is an online tool provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. It asks a series of questions about your preferences and what you value most in a work environment. The questions relate to things like autonomy, relationships, support, and working conditions. The tool then matches your core work values with careers that align with those values.
- The Government of Canada Job Bank is an online platform that provides job listings, career planning tools, and labour market information. You can research salaries and job outlooks for careers in specific regions of the country and learn about the education and training requirements for each occupation.
Remember, these techniques and tools are used collaboratively. Career counsellors act as facilitators, guiding you through the process of self-discovery and exploration to make informed decisions and chart a fulfilling and successful career path.
IMPACT OF CAREER COUNSELLING ON DIFFERENT STAGES
Career counselling offers tailored support and guidance to individuals at different stages of their careers. This includes developing job search strategies and supporting career transitions.
Recent Grads
Trying to break into the job market? Career counsellors can guide you through the job search process, providing support with crafting resumes and cover letters and helping you practise your interview skills. They can also help you understand workplace expectations and professional etiquette and connect you with mentors who can provide guidance and support.
Mid-Career Professionals
Feeling stuck in your current role? Counsellors can help you assess your interests and transferable skills, explore new career paths, and develop a transition plan for a fulfilling career change. They can also help you identify in-demand skills for your new field and develop a plan to acquire them through training or education.
Senior Professionals
Approaching retirement? Counsellors can help you develop a financial plan for your golden years and explore post-retirement career options if you wish to keep working. They can walk you through options like consulting, part-time work, or volunteering.
GET SUPPORT FOR YOUR CAREER JOURNEY
Career counselling is a valuable resource for individuals at any stage of their career. By offering personalized guidance, support, and a clear roadmap for your professional journey, counsellors empower you to make informed decisions, achieve your goals, and reach your full potential.
Herzing College offers a full range of student support services, including help with academic struggles, financial questions, and personal issues. Click below to learn more. We’re here to help!
