What does a career counselor do?

Who’s a career counselor?

Career counselors who are involved in counseling students, graduates, and working professionals to make them not only understand their skills and abilities but also give them the insight on their course of study, job, and career respectively

“It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career​” –As per the saying, we work towards making the people overcome their obstacles which eventually leads them to be achievers

Qualities of Career Counselor need to possess or own

• 􏰁  ListeningHold Patience in listening to a candidate which makes them trust you
• 􏰁  EmpathyGet yourself intensely into their situation
• 􏰁  Genuine Interest in OthersShow them your selfless interest in understanding them
• 􏰁  Unconditional positive regardCreate them positive thinking towards each instance of life
• 􏰁  ConcretenessPerceive things sensibly. Do not be abstract or imaginary
• 􏰁  Facilitate explorationMake your candidate the ease of gaining knowledge based on his/ her interest

Skills to be imbibed

• 􏰁  People and Observational SkillsPossess strong interpersonal skills to determine students’ abilities, interests, and personality traits
• 􏰁  Thinking SkillsNeed critical thinking skills, including a logical approach to perceive a problem and to find the solutions for those
• 􏰁  Problem-Solving SkillsRecognize the problem, define the problem, and develop a strategy to fix the problemCounseling is not,

• 􏰁  Giving adviceThe solution to the problem of the client would be just “YOUR” solution. It would come from your heart and might be right for you. But it may not be right for the person whom you’re counseling. Only they can decide what will make things better for them and they need to work it out for themselves.So, explain to them all the possible opportunities that match their interest, to explore and let them choose their option
• 􏰁  Being judgmentalWe can’t access a person whether she/ he is right or wrong unless we are clear about his/ her situation. Moreover, counseling should not end up in just judging a person but it must lead to positive changes
• 􏰁  Sorting out the problems of the clientCounselors’ may not know the answer to everyone else’s problems. So, listen attentively and respectfully and put ourselves in another’s place for a while and provide them a safe and encouraging place to explore the possibilities for themselves

􏰁 Perceiving things based on your own value system

Be generalized in perceiving things that are realistic and common. Looking at things based on your own values will curb your flexibility in analyzing others’ values.

The above said are the speculations which a counselor must avoid

Steps involved in Counseling

• 􏰁  Initiate conversationWaiting for the client to open up may create a gap. So, exchange a warmth greet to start with
• 􏰁  Understand the problemConsume adequate time to infer the problem or obstacles of the client. This requires strong observational skill
• 􏰁  Encourage / MotivateInject positive aura from your end at every possible instant that demands it
• 􏰁  Set the planPrepare a plan for the clients, which enable them to have a clear insight about their career/ course of study
• 􏰁  Make them involveMaking the clients to involve in the counseling is the challenging task but which when done gives the ultimate success of both
• 􏰁  AnalyzeAnalyze each and every bit of the problem to come out with maximum possibilities in overcoming those
• 􏰁  InterpretInterpretation encourages the client to view their situations from an alternative frame of reference.

􏰁 Evaluate

It’s a periodic check on the effectiveness of a guidance program which indicates the points that a program needs to improve

This is the most important part of counseling which ensures our quality of service delivered

Bring out the strengths and weakness of the candidate

Discover their skills and potentials.

Create a Career Development Plan.

Provide counseling based on CDP.