What is career counseling?: How seeking a career services professional maximizes your career potential
I have some good news and bad news.
The good news is that what I do can radically change your life.
The bad news is that you don’t understand how. So, you’re missing out.
Damn…
But, I’m here to change that.
You may have heard a lot of titles thrown around for professionals that propose a change in your career results. Career coach. Resume Writer. Mentor. But, what’s the difference? And how is career counseling different?
What is career counseling?
Career counseling is a specific type of counseling that guides the career development process. Career counselors are trained and knowledgeable about specific career tools, such as websites, assessments, and activities that help to guide your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors about the career tasks necessary to advance your career.
Career counselors provide guidance and resources to individuals about their specific career journeys, but like other counselors, such as mental health therapists or social workers, career counselors also provide education to groups through workshops and events to help them achieve their goals. In the career counseling realm, this psychoeducation might be about writing a resume, job searching, or communicating effectively to network or negotiate one’s salary.
People that chose to follow the path of career counseling instead of therapy are a bit unique. It’s important that they are called counselors, because what they provide is not therapy. Therapy is considered a health service, and thus must be regulated by a state health agency. As a result, therapists and other mental health professionals must practice with a certification and/or license.
Alternatively, career counseling is considered a professional service, because working on career tasks rarely results in a health crisis. This does not mean that mental health and career challenges are not intertwined in the career development process. Although career difficulties cause psychological and emotional distress for many individuals, a career counselor will not address your mental health concerns long term, unless they hold a mental health professional certification or license. If there is some type of mental health concern you are needing, then a career counselor without a mental health professional credential will refer you to one or work in partnership with one to provide what you need. Alternatively, mental health professionals may not be able to assist you with specific career tasks. Because career counselors are trained in specific career tools, resources, and strategies, it is likely that a mental health professional will not be versed in the steps you need to advance your career, just like your therapist wouldn’t be able to counsel you on law advice, medicine to alleviate physical health conditions, or fixing your finances.
Although career counselors do not have to have specific certifications, there are a number of possible credentials that may be helpful, or even recommended, especially if not coming from a counseling or therapy background. These credentials are not necessary to practice. Traditionally, the basis for a career counselor to practice is a degree in counseling or vocational psychology. If someone does not have these degrees, but a graduate degree and experience in a specific industry or field they wish to advise, then this can qualify them to work as a career adviser or career coach.
Now that I’ve broken down the field of career counseling and what makes it unique, you might have some additional questions:
1. What’s the difference between a career counselor and a career coach or career adviser?
Honestly, career counselor, career coach, and career adviser are often used interchangeably by career services professional settings, especially in the field of higher education. The term a college or university chooses to call the professionals that work in their career services office will depend on their work culture, including the philosophy around what they feel they are providing to the students they serve. Most of the time, the title “career adviser” will be used in educational settings, such as higher education institutions, education-focused non-profit organizations, or college access programs.
“Career coach” is the most common term in private practice as well as non-profit organizations and government agencies that don’t have an education focus. This would be a career professional that takes on clients in their own business or one that you may be assigned to by an unemployment agency. Career coach is also the term most used when someone does not come from a counseling background, and they have shifted into career services from another industry. The shift has often moved them to pursue a specific coaching credential to prepare themselves with the skills they need to be a coach and the credibility to practice.
2. What’s the difference between career counseling and resume writing?
Resume writing and resume reviews are unmistakably the most recognized and pursued career service, because this is the service most people believe they need to obtain their career goals. Resume writing can be considered an industry unto itself, and there are specific skills, training, and even certifications for becoming a resume writer.
However, resume writers may not have the holistic career development skills for what you need to advance your career. There are challenges you may experience as a student or job seeker that go beyond how your resume is written.
For example, you may not understand how to navigate applying to graduate school. You might need to improve your strategies for networking to improve your job options. You may not know how to market yourself effectively in an interview. These would be services that you would pursue a career counselor, career coach, or career advisor to do, instead of someone who strictly specializes in career documents.
Still not convinced that career counseling is what you need?
I get it. I really do.
You may not have heard of anyone receiving career counseling before to understand the true value of what it would provide. Despite understanding what it does, you may still be reluctant about its benefits, because you’re not even sure it’s something you need beyond what you might see as the normal career struggles.
Honestly, I also hadn’t heard of the field of career counseling until I was in graduate school for counseling. As I’ve explained earlier in the article, career counseling is often something people would not be exposed to unless they have been to college or are going through a prolonged season of unemployment. Most people lie somewhere in between. They may not be in the field they want, but they have at least found a job that pays the bills with the resources available to them. This job may even be in line with the degree they have obtained…
Yet later in life, often in mid-career after climbing the career ladder, people start feeling dissatisfied with their career, despite their best efforts. This is normally when people become open to seeking career counseling. It may seem like the final option. This explains the big gap between when people start their careers and when people feel compelled to take advantage of career counseling. Most likely, this gap is also why you don’t know someone that has benefited from career counselling. The people in your circle simply haven’t reached this place in their career yet. Or, they haven’t been talking about it….
Which leads me to another point – most people normalize a degree of career uncertainty at best, and career dissatisfaction at worst. How many people do you know that are unhappy with their jobs? I bet it’s a lot. That makes it normal, right? So, why the need to hire a professional? Don’t most people struggle with finding their way? Isn’t a career something that people simply stumble into?
Yes, but there’s a better way.
Why take the dirt road when you can take the highway? Most people don’t realize that is what they’re doing with their career – you’re on the dirt road to career satisfaction. They don’t know that there’s a more strategic way to get to where you’re going faster. Quite frankly, many people don’t know that they’re on the wrong road altogether. You might have an idea that the road you’re on isn’t the right fit, but you don’t know how to get to a better one.
That’s what career counseling and its professionals are trained to help you do – find the right road. It’s not always as simple as just finding a new job. Sometimes it’s how you’re thinking about your current job that’s blocking you from getting ahead, or how you think about work in general. Sometimes it’s about how you feel about yourself. Sometimes, it’s what you’re doing to find a new job that isn’t a fit for what you’re looking for. Sometimes, it’s the lack of skills or experience you need to get what you want.
Think of career counseling as your Career GPS.
Most people are going to use some type of tool to help get to where they’re going, but there’s also people out there that value adventure. That’s the person that may still decide to “figure it out”. I respect that. No problem. Yet, if you’ve been waiting to figure it out, time is passing you by, and you’re still waiting on things to work out, there’s support out there for you. There’s a difference between waiting on things to come together and putting off getting the support you need. Here's when you should consider career counseling to maximize your career journey:
You are confused, and it’s causing you anxiety
You cannot figure out what you want. You are overwhelmed by the options. You are interested in multiple things or you have many talents, and you keep going back and forth about which ones you should pursue as a career. You feel embarrassed when you can’t respond to questions about your future or career goals. You feel pressured by others to make a choice, and you feel frustrated with yourself for not being able to give it to them. You feel like everyone in your circle is moving forward in their lives, except you.
You are lost, and it’s wasting your valuable time (and money)
You jump from job to job or major to major, and you still feel unfulfilled. You don’t know where else to go, so you avoid the steps to move forward until the last possible moment. Worse, your lack of clarity prevents you from taking any action. When you are finally compelled to act, you realize that you are behind or you have to start over, because you acted on misinformation you were not even aware of that you needed. You’ve been pushed back from graduation or held back from a promotion. You’ve paid for degrees, trainings, or certifications you don’t use. You’ve started degrees you haven’t finished. You are going around in circles making the same misguided mistakes. The progress toward your goals doesn’t match all that you’ve invested.
You are feeling defeated, and it’s consumed your sense of well-being
Attempting to get out of your situation with no results is damaging your mood and attitude. You have had to quit your job due to the ongoing stress, or you might even have gotten fired. You feel hopeless. You are feeling frustrated with the lack of control to create change in your life, and your failures have convinced you to give up. Your negative experiences in the workplace have made you insecure about your value or strengths to an employer. You don’t feel confident pursuing the opportunities you really want. You know you need help, but you don’t know how to get it.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Most of us have been there at some point in our lives, yet many of us don’t know there’s specific professionals out there available to help!
I’ve practiced career counseling for over 12 years now. I have seen the amazing transformation that specific career counseling makes in the lives of my students within the higher education industry and now through my clients as an entrepreneur. That’s why I decided to write this article. I want you to be in the loop. Here’s exactly how career counseling helps you to maximize your career potential:
Career Counseling will give you a new perspective to help you get out of your own way
- Understanding how the hiring process works
- Understanding who you are and what you need from a career
- Understanding the career options that resonate with you
- Understanding the mistakes you’re making and the actions you need to take to get the results you want
Career Counseling will introduce you to resources you need to achieve your breakthrough
- Organizations you can tap into to build a network or get the resources you need
- Websites to use that will give you additional insight or accessibility to your pursuits
- Tools to help simplify daunting career tasks
Career counseling will give you the support to make more effective decisions
- Unbiased advice and guidance
- Affirmation about your needs, obstacles and the efforts you’ve taken to overcome your barriers
- Individualized plan to achieve your goals
I hope you decide to take advantage of what career counseling or services can do for your life. There are a lot of great professionals out there. So, what might make you a fit for working with me?
- My knowledge: I have 12+ years in the field, including insight about the economy, career trends, and feedback from what employers look for in their applicants
- My niche: I have predominantly worked with people of color throughout my career to address the cultural needs of these populations in their career development
- My strategies: I have a set of unique tools I’ve designed for my clients and mix them with the activities and assessments I’ve been trained and certified to deliver as a counselor in my field
- My faith: I believe God has uniquely placed certain gifts and a purpose within you, and it’s my gift to help you reach it
- My approach: Career development is supposed to be fun! We’ll laugh and dream big, but I’m also not afraid to give you that push you need to achieve your breakthrough.
Here are some examples of how I’ve helped my clients get unstuck in their career and prepare them for that next opportunity:
One of my clients experienced a layoff and a prolonged season of unemployment. He was an introverted veteran using digital tools to apply to jobs in the government sector. He had been avoiding networking strategies. Once we worked together to identify potential networking sources, he finally reached out to a friend who recommended him for a position at her agency. He’s now been working in the government for several years.
Another client possessed a drive to turn his passion for fashion into a career. He didn’t know whether he needed to take a leap of faith to pursue entrepreneurship full-time or go to graduate school for business. In the meantime, he built his brand through speaking engagements and other personal projects. Through coaching about graduate school, he decided to rebrand his platform and became a full-time entrepreneur.
Another client identified as a first-generation college student from an urban community. He was in his early twenties and anxious about navigating his life as a new professional. He had originally been passionate about the field of academic advising, but never heard back from the universities he applied to in those departments. We worked on crafting his resume and cover letter. He was offered an interview, and the position!
Another client was specifically focused on shifting to a new career to increase her pay and relieve the stress she experienced in the education industry. We originally worked on her resume, but she realized through these sessions that she did not have the experience to be competitive as an applicant for the types of positions she wanted. She decided to enroll in a master’s degree program in her field of interest. She also pursued a professional immersion program to gain experience. She is now working for the company and living her best life remotely.
Are you excited about these life-altering changes from some of my clients? I know I am. I just love watching people advance in their careers! Let me support you! Reach out for a clarity call , and let’s see if we can get you started. If we’re not a good fit, I will be happy to refer you to other great career professionals within my network. I stand behind the beautiful transformation my industry enables people to achieve, and I don’t want you to miss out!
Have you experienced a magical career transformation from career counseling? I would love to hear about it. Are you a client thriving in your career since we’ve worked together? Or have you reached success from a tip you learned from following my blog or newsletter? I would love to get your update! Share your progress or success story here or share a comment on Twitter or Instagram. I can’t wait to hear from you! Here’s to watching you shine!