How Career Counselors Assist Job Seekers
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The career counselor helps individuals find jobs or occupations that match their interests and skills. They may also give guidance to those who need additional training or education. Career counselors often work with high school students, college or university students, or veterans.
Any adult seeking educational, vocational, or career advice can find career counselors in private practice settings. Career counseling is a process that can begin in high school and continue throughout an individual’s working life.
What Types of Training Do Career Counselors Obtain?
Career counselors typically hold a master’s degree in psychology. The career counselor takes special courses in career development and theory as part of their education. In their graduate training, they are required to complete an internship. In addition to their degree, they are often licensed professional counselors and hold certification in career counseling.
The certified career counselor (CCC) credential is open to career counselors with at least a master’s degree in counselor education, counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or a related degree.
The National Career Development Association (NCDA) works with counselors to gain credentialing in the field of career counseling, offering training to become a certified career services provider (CCSP), certified master of career services (CMCS), certified supervisor of career practitioners (CSCP), or certified school career development advisor (CSCDA).
Career coaches may receive certifications in career coaching, but they typically do not have counseling training or licensure. When seeking out a career development professional, it is important to read reviews and consider their level of training and expertise. No matter who you hire for career advice, it is essential that the person is up to date on the current job market and career trends. You want to feel a level of trust and rapport with the professional you are working with.
When You May Need a Career Counselor
Often, career counselors are sought out when a person is at a crossroads in their career or education. High school students can use a career counselor when they are unsure whether to enter the workforce after graduation or pursue further training through college or a certification program. College students who have a major may be looking at what employment, job, or career opportunities are available to them. College students looking for internship opportunities can visit their career services office.
Sometimes, college students want to find employment in other areas besides their degree. A veteran, who is recently discharged, can seek out services to transition to civilian employment. A person may be employed and looking to switch careers, improve their job-seeking skills, or desire work that reflects their personality and interests. An older adult may seek career counseling if they are looking to re-enter the workforce after retirement.
Receive Pre-Employment Preparation Skills
The career counselor can assist clients with their resumes and cover letters. It is important to have a strong resume and cover letter for any position you are applying for. The career counselor will not write a resume for you, but will critique the resume you have. If you do not have a resume, they may refer you to a resume writing service.
When the career counselor looks over your resume, they may suggest certain keywords, discuss formatting with you, and proofread it. As part of the session, they may ask you about awards or achievements that are relevant to the position you are applying for and show you where to place these on the resume.
If you do not have a specific company to submit your resume to, the counselor can teach you job search techniques. Some career offices list job openings and others may refer you to specific online searches.
Career counselors will help you prepare for a job interview. The career counselor acts as the interviewer. In these role-playing sessions, you will have the opportunity to practice answering and asking certain questions with the counselor. This is done to increase your self-confidence in interview situations.
You can learn about salary ranges for the job you are interested in. The counselor helps you understand how your current educational level and job experience affect what salary you will be offered. You can practice negotiating your salary in a job interview with a career counselor.
Take Career Assessments
To learn more about you, the career counselor may administer certain career assessments by paper or computer. These include personality, aptitude, and achievement tests. The purpose of these tests show where your strengths lie with certain tasks and interests. Each test gives the career counselor objective insights into the individual’s interests and values. This helps the career counselor in assisting the individual to make informed decisions and guide them to positions where they can find the most fulfillment.
Most career counselors will have taken each assessment for themselves. This is an effective way to learn more about each test, how it can help others, and gain insight into their strengths.
There are many different types of assessments career counselors use. Some types of career assessment focus on a person’s personality. It is believed that certain individuals tend to gravitate towards specific jobs or positions. One popular personality inventory is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The test taker’s answers will be rated and scaled on four preferences. These are extraversion-introversion, sensing–intuition, thinking–feeling, and judging–perceiving. There are 16 different personality types; one of these will be utilized to identify your ideal career.
The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) is composed of 291 questions that focus on a person’s professional interests, personal interests, and preferences. The results are based on psychologist John Holland’s RIASEC model. This inventory places a person’s answers on a hexagon based on six traits: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional.
The Clifton Strengths Assessment is based on positive psychology. This assessment focuses on what the individual does best, their strengths. The results indicate your 34 CliftonStrengths themes. Some examples are responsibility, communication, empathy, and strategic thinking. There is a cost involved with this assessment.
Attend Career Job Fairs
The career counselor may host a career job fair or know of job fairs in the area. Job fairs are an opportunity to meet with representatives from various companies that are looking to hire. This provides job seekers with an opportunity to network with professionals across various fields.
Before attending, review the list of companies that are expected to be present. Research online any companies that interest you. Take note of their values and mission.
Think of a job fair as a mini-interview. It is wise to bring copies of your resume and dress professionally. Memorize and practice a sixty-second elevator pitch before you attend. An elevator pitch is a concise speech about your abilities, skills, and experience, designed to capture the interest of potential employers as a job candidate.
Ask the company about their current openings, professional development, and the company’s culture. If you are interested, discuss your specific skills with them to determine if they’re a good match for their company or job openings.
You may be asked to fill out an application. Bring at least three names and phone numbers of references and job information with you. Before leaving the table, offer them one of your resumes. Many employers prefer a physical copy of a resume after meeting someone one-on-one. Finish the meeting by asking them if they have any further questions for you.
After you leave the job fair, follow up. Send an email or a thank-you note to express your appreciation. You will want to state your interest in the position or company and ask for their consideration. Conclude the note by expressing your openness to discussing future openings and your willingness to meet with them again. This follow-up reminds them of who you are and what you discussed.
Go to Individual Counseling Sessions
Career counselors, who have a degree in psychology, perform individual counseling sessions. This type of counseling is focused on career goals and tends to be short-term in nature, unlike traditional mental health counseling. The career counselor will focus on issues related to career transitions, work adjustment, job search, or career direction. Their job is to help you move from career confusion to clarity. The career counselor has skills that involve researching, active listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
To achieve career clarity, you may be asked about your interests, how much money you wish to make, whether you are willing to travel for work, what your values are, if you are a leader or work better as part of a team, and what your current skills and qualifications are. Treatment goals can be geared towards increasing motivation, self-esteem, and improving job skills. You may also work on communication skills in this type of counseling to help resolve interpersonal conflicts on the job.
Lisa Hutchison, LMHC
Writer & Contributing ExpertLisa Hutchison, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She works for professionals who want to treat and prevent compassion fatigue. With over 20 years of psychotherapy experience, she helps her clients assert themselves, set boundaries, and increase their coping skills. Her specialty is decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression while increasing realistic methods of self-care for those who help others. Ms. Hutchison’s psychological advice has been featured in Reader’s Digest and the Huffington Post. Her articles have been published in numerous magazines, including Grief Digest and Today’s Caregiver.
Lisa is the bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers and a faculty member writer for NetCE. Her latest continuing education unit publication is “Setting Ethical Limits for Caring and Competent Professionals.” She has taught creative writing in colleges and presented on boundaries for the compassionate helper; the use of expressive art to heal grief, anxiety, and depression; inspirational and motivational topics; and creative writing techniques.