Not sure what career you want to pursue? Or ready for a change in your current role? Whether you have just finished school or are keen to switch careers, finding a fulfilling way to earn a living is perhaps one of the most important decisions many of us will make, so it can be a daunting prospect.  And that’s where a careers counsellor comes in!

What is a careers counsellor?

Careers counsellors help individuals search for employment, plan and manage their careers, make decisions about training, education and personal development, and analyse an individual’s underlying drive, abilities, motivations and personality traits. Essentially, they bridge the gap between job seekers and opportunity!

What is involved in a career counselling session?

The process of career counselling is typically carried out through a series of counselling sessions and aptitude tests to gain a clear picture of your ambitions and competencies.

There is a huge range of techniques that career counsellors use, including:

• Aptitude tests. These are often tailored to specific professions and are designed to objectively measure skills and attributes that relate to workplace performance. Some tests focus on cognitive skills such as verbal, numerical or abstract reasoning. Others examine your workplace behavioural style.
• Personality tests. Research has shown that certain personality types have a predisposition to certain careers and achieving success within them. The two most common personality tests are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and the Big Five personality traits.
• Goals/desires. Goals and desires are often then assessed to see if they line up with the first two tests.
• Job market. This is a secondary consideration, it is still important as if there are limited jobs or a diminishing market, customised or alternative suggestions may be necessary.
• Psychology – Sometimes, individuals are dealing with particular issues that may decrease their success in a certain field regardless of their skills.

However, many career counsellors go above and beyond these techniques in order to:

• Clarify what you want in terms of a career and job role.
• Find and remove limiting beliefs.
• Identify personal issues and blockages.
• Increase motivation and personal confidence.
• Provide a sense of empowerment and clarity.
• Help to identify expectations and goals.
• Create a framework for achieving goals.
• Highlight personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Remove negative beliefs about strengths and weaknesses.
• Clarify personal desires, including salary, travel, work expectations etc.
• Refine your goals and expectations.
• Identify the areas to work on for maximum success within a chosen career, including up-skilling.

What sort of questions will a careers counsellor ask me?

It depends on a range of factors, however, ultimately, a careers counsellor will help you to crystallise your thoughts and feelings so you can come to your own conclusions. They may even help you to realise that the career you thought you wanted is not what you want at all! Questions they might ask include:

• For what specific reasons are you drawn to this particular field?
• What framework do you have on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis for achieving your goals?
• Do you have side projects that will have lateral effects on your career decision?
• Are there past issues that could potentially prevent you from reaching your full potential in your chosen field?
• Do you possess the resume writing and interview skills necessary to qualify for positions?
• Are you prepared to sacrifice your leisure time to achieve success in your career?
• Is the career path you are interested in something you want to pursue for many years to increase your knowledge?
• Are you truly passionate about the career, or is it merely the best available option?

What questions can I ask my careers counsellor?

There are also a range of questions you can ask that may help you and your counsellor get to the heart of what you want in a career and what career may suit you. These include:

• How can I build on my strengths?
• How can I improve my weaknesses?
• What is the current job market for my industry?
• Can you provide me feedback on my resume and cover letter?
• How can I make myself stand out against competitors?
• How do I optimise my time while studying?
• Where can I find more information about my intended career?
• How can I best network in the industry I’m interested in?
• How do I prepare for an upcoming interview?
• Can I become a competitive candidate without job experience?
• What other career resources are available to me?

What do I look for in a career counselling service?

Choosing a career counsellor is a personal choice. But aside from personal preferences and feeling comfortable with your choice of counsellor, other factors you should consider include:

• The credentials of the counselling service
• The counsellor’s experience
• Academic qualifications
• Professional memberships (such as with the Career Industry Council of Australia)
• The cost of the counselling service
• The type of session (online, one-to-one, group etc.)
• The scope of the session
• Client testimonials

How do I become a careers counsellor?

If you would like to become a careers counsellor yourself, then a Certificate of Carer Counselling is a great place to start! It will give you the confidence to assist clients with career guidance, identify their career aspirations, and plan the appropriate pathways to support their career development.

As career development is often a lifelong process, a careers counsellor can work with clients of all ages, including in schools, education facilities, organisations, government agencies or in private practice.

Career counsellors play a valuable role in Australian society and its working communities. Their services not only enlighten job seekers and those currently employed but also help those who have experienced job loss or other circumstances that may result in an individual needing to re-evaluate their career path.

The counselling industry, in general, is a large one in Australia, and according to JobOutlook, the field is expected to grow strongly in the next five years, from around 33,000 counsellors in 2020 to nearly 38,000 by 2025.

A counselling career is also a fantastic launching pad for a range of other careers in recruitment, HR management and even running your own business as a recruitment consultant