Career Advice:

Seeking Help From a Career Counselor

Career counselors hold graduate degrees in counseling with a specialization in career counseling and help people just like you make and carry out decisions and plans related to their life/career directions. A career counselor can help one obtain a personal focus to develop their talents and competencies in the world of work. So what can you expect from a career counselor? A counselor can help you in the following ways:

Assess your skills, interests, values, talents and accomplishments in order to help you explore career alternatives.

  • Target and plan your job search to reach key employers.
  • Prepare self-marketing tools (resumes and cover letters)
  • Define your career goals and appropriate research centers.
  • Improve your networking capabilities.
  • Coach you to communicate confidently during job interviews.
  • Negotiate job offers, raises and promotions successfully.

You may ask career counselors for a detailed explanation of services, benefits, time commitments and a copy of their ethical guidelines. Be wary of services that promise you more money, quick promotions, resumes that get speedy results or an immediate solution to career problems. Career issues are usually complex and require a multi-faceted approach by a career counselor.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help decide if you could use the help of a career counselor:

  • How satisfied are you with your current job?
  • What are you happy and unhappy with in your current position?
  • What can you do to make your job better?
  • How might you change the meaning of work in your life?
  • How would you go about changing jobs if you decided you wanted to?
  • What are your goals related to your career?
  • What actions do you need to take regarding your career?