What Is a Career Counselor?

A career counselor is a professional who helps people choose a career and achieve their vocational goals. Counselors help clients enter the workforce, change careers, and look for employment opportunities. People who work in this field are employed in settings including schools, government agencies, private businesses, and community agencies.

What Is a Career Counselor?

Career counselors work with people with questions about careers and educational paths. If you're a job seeker, working with a career counselor can help you make the most of the planning and decision-making process and find a job path that's perfect for your needs.

Choosing a career can be a real challenge. How do you know what type of jobs are right for you? Is a particular profession suited to your personality, interests, and goals? High school students, college graduates, and adults interested in a career change have to face these difficult questions, and this is where a career counselor can help.

Career Counselor Job Duties

Career counselors perform a range of duties. Depending on where they work and with whom, they might:

• Administer personality and interest inventories
• Advise students about what courses and educational programs they need for particular careers
• Aid clients in the job search process by teaching them where to look for open positions and connecting them with job search resources
• Counsel clients who are considering a career change
• Evaluate clients' educational and work backgrounds in order to help them determine what they need to do next to achieve their goals
• Help clients select the right schools or programs for their needs
• Help students locate sources of financial support to pay for school and other training programs
• Teach job-search skills such as interviewing, resume writing, and networking and help clients practice them
• Use achievement tests and aptitude tests to help clients get a better idea of what they're good at
  

Important Skills for Career Counselors

There are a number of different skills and abilities that might make a person well-suited to work as a career counselor. People who enjoy helping others, for example, might excel in this profession. Some other skills that might help include:

Analytical Skills

Career counselors use a variety of tools, such as interest inventories and personality tests. Being able to analyze the results of these assessments is an essential part of being a successful career counselor.

Compassion and Empathy

People who are in need of career counseling may be experiencing stress and anxiety related to indecision or changes in their lives. Counselors should be understanding and compassionate as they help people develop their career goals.

Strong Listening Skills

In order to get an idea about what a client needs and wants, it is essential to listen. Interviewing people about their preferences, needs, and experiences is an important part of career counseling.

Speaking Skills

It's also important to be able to talk to clients to help them better understand their options. Having good communication skills is important. This includes active listening, to understand what people are trying to communicate, as well as solid writing and speaking skills.

Where Do Career Counselors Work?

Career counselors may work in a variety of areas. Usually, the client population that they work with will varies based on the setting.

Educational Settings

Educational settings such as high schools and colleges, government agencies, and private practices are just a few of the major areas of employment for people working in this field.

Adult Workforce Settings

Other career counselors specialize in working with adults who are already a part of the workforce. These individuals might seek out the assistance of a career counselor because they are considering a career change, want to find ways to advance in their current careers, or need assistance finding new work after being laid off.

Vocational Settings

In some cases, career counselors might also work with people who have disabilities and need assistance to acquire job skills and find employment. These counselors are often employed by private or government agencies that offer assistance to children and adults who have a range of disabilities.

Teaching basic job skills, connecting clients with resources in the community, and communicating with potential employers are just a few of the tasks counselors might perform when working in this area.

How Much Do Career Counselors Make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for all school and career counselors was $60,140 as of May 2022. Those employed by healthcare and social service organizations earned considerably less, with a median annual wage of $39,650.

The BLS also reports that the lowest-earning professionals in this field earned less than $38,280 per year while the highest-earning made more than $98,530 per year.

How to Become a Career Counselor

There may be some opportunities available to those with a bachelor's degree, but jobs are more plentiful and pay better with a more advanced degree. Most employers prefer counselors to hold at least a master's degree in counseling specializing in career development.

Career counselors generally do not need to be licensed, although many employers prefer it, and some require it. Those who want to work in private practice usually need to be licensed.

Those interested in working in elementary or secondary school settings generally need a master's degree in school counseling. Educational programs often have internship requirements where students gain hands-on experience by working under the supervision of a licensed professional.

Benefits of a Psychology Background

In some cases, individuals with a bachelor's degree in psychology can find entry-level positions in career counseling. Having a background in psychology can be helpful for people who are interested in this field. Psychology topics such as personality, motivation, and goal-setting are highly relevant for career counselors, so understanding these subjects can be beneficial.

Career Counselors vs. Life Coaches

While career coaches and life coaches both help people make decisions about their future, the scope of the two professions is different. Career coaches are focused on helping people with career choices, whereas life coaches assist people who are encountering a variety of personal life challenges or changes. There may be some overlap between these two, but the focus tends to be different.

Career counselors often help people:

• Choose a career
• Decide on a future career direction
• Improve job-seeking skills
• Learn to negotiate and solve conflicts
• Feel happier in their current role
• Decide whether to pursue other career directions

Life coaches, on the other hand, often help people:

• Set life goals and create plans
• Develop an understanding of themselves
• Create work-life balance and boundaries
• Learn to practice self-care
• Improve interpersonal skills and relationships
• Find hobbies and passions

They also typically differ in terms of training and educational background. Career counselors often have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field. Most professionals in this field hold a master's degree in counseling, and many are also certified by the National Career Development Association (NCDA).

Life coaches only need a few months of study to gain certification from the International Coach Federation.  However, some life coaches may have more than this entry-level training.

Job Outlook for Career Counselors

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the job demand is projected to grow by approximately 5% between the years 2022 and 2032, which is faster than average. Most of this growth will be fueled by the increase in students enrolled in colleges and universities.

During economic challenges, a slow job market might also spur the demand for career counseling services.

Regardless of the causes, such trends may help drive a need for the services of trained career counselors.

Takeaway

Career counselors can help people make decisions about their careers. While they help people better understand their skills, interests, and goals, they don't tell people what job to choose. 

These professionals can play an important role at critical points in life, such as when students are nearing graduation or when working adults are thinking about a career transition.