There are experts to solve almost any problem you face. There are doctors for physical ailments, mechanics for your car, and contractors for your home. Like you would regularly see a doctor, it’s essential to speak with an expert about your employment. Because we spend so much of our time working, we must evaluate the steps we take in our careers. Job stress is a major component of mental health, with one study finding that it affected approximately 67% percent of employees across 35 countries. So finding the profession you want and love is part of taking care of your well-being. This situation is what makes career counseling such an outstanding service. Career counselors guide people to new job opportunities and create a strategic next step in their professional life.
In this post, we’re going to answer the most frequently asked questions about career counseling services. Take a look at what these programs offer so that you can determine if it’s the right move for you!
What Is Career Counseling?
Career counseling programs help working professionals assess their present situation, determine goals for their careers, and map out a plan to achieve their objectives.
Career counseling programs can help you with various stages in a person’s professional life:
- Job changes: Counselors help professionals to weigh the risks and rewards of a career change objectively.
- Starting a new career path: Career counselors can look at and provide tips to improve resumes. They can also coach clients through the interview process.
- Advancing in an industry: Career coaching can help make connections and take the steps necessary for succeeding and advancing in your career and industry!
Ultimately, career counseling services provide the help needed to take the next step towards professional success.
Is Counseling the Same as Coaching?
Career coaching and counseling have the same goal: to get clients into the role or field that will bring success and satisfaction. What satisfaction and success mean will depend on each client. The difference between the two is in the approach and the experience of the coach or counselor.
Coaching is usually goal and achievement-oriented, so it has more of a short-term focus. Coaches can have a variety of backgrounds, as well, with many being specialists in their industry.
Career counseling uses techniques similar to other forms of counseling. They aim to discover what the client wants or needs for long-term success and satisfaction.
Unlike coaches, counselors have specific training and education to guide clients. Most of them have a social science or behavioral science background. Exact credentials and certifications will depend on the state, but counselors typically need a master’s degree to be a licensed counselor.
What Do Career Counselors Do?
The average meeting with a career counselor looks a lot like a typical counseling session but focusing on the client’s professional work.
Counselors ask questions about the client’s history and their ambitions. The counselor will get to know their client so that they can help them make informed choices.
Counselors may also give a client tests and quizzes such as an IQ test, personality test, or aptitude tests. These items can help both the counselor and client understand their strengths and weaknesses.
How Much Does a Career Counselor Charge?
Career counselors can charge anywhere from $75-$150 hourly, on average. It’s not a low-cost option, leading some to wonder: Is it worth it?
Career Counseling is about genuinely helping people, as are all forms of counseling. And it does work. Assessments of professional interventions showed that it significantly improved people’s lives.
Even better, studies demonstrate that these services not only help people with their careers but with overall life satisfaction as well.
The only bad news with all of this is that 24% of job applicants sought a career counselor’s help. The figures show that this service is more crucial than ever.
Finding a Counselor
Career counseling could be your perfect next step to success. Whether you’re looking for a big job transition or to advance in your career, counseling can get you where you want to go. Don’t wait for your life to get better when a counselor can work with you to pave the way forward.
You can start on the path to a better life — find a career counselor now.
Career Tip: How Can I Become a Career Counselor?
If you’re passionate about helping people and guiding them through difficult decisions or periods of their life, becoming a career counselor could be the perfect profession for you!
To get started, you’ll need a master’s degree in counseling and any certification and license to practice required by your state. The average salary is about $50,000-$75,000 per year.
Being a career counselor often brings independence. You can work with the clientele you choose and determine your specialty. It also offers variety: everything from advising seasoned employees to introducing opportunities to high school students.
