What Is Career Counseling? And How to Know When You Need It

Career counseling is a service intended to help people begin, change, or advance their careers. It can include one-on-one conversations between a counselor and a career seeker, as well as assessments, activities, and projects designed to help career seekers maximize their strengths. 

A career counselor is similar to a in that professionals in both roles can help you navigate your career path and understand your . Although these terms are often used interchangeably, professionals may identify themselves as one or the other and describe their services in specific ways. 

Career counselors may have degrees in psychology, counseling, or human development. In contrast, career coaches may have certifications or education in specific fields they coach people to enter.  Another difference you may come across is in the nature of the career support, with counselors helping you with career exploration and coaches helping you with specific career-related steps. 

How effective is career counseling?

Because career counseling is a collaborative process, you can generally anticipate getting as much out of it as you’re willing to put in. You’ll work with your counselor to identify your skills, interests, and long-term career goals. From there, you can explore a broad range of options and chart your career journey. 

What to expect from career counseling

Whether you are a learner, a recent grad, or at the midpoint of your career trajectory and thinking about a , career counseling could help you make sound decisions for your professional journey. 

Some things you can expect to work on during career counseling sessions include the following:

• Assessing your strengths, skills, education, and experience 

• Bringing your desires and dreams to the surface

• Identifying areas of untapped potential 

• Considering various career options

• Exploring industry trends and hiring practices 

• Researching job listings and employers 

• Preparing for  

• Enhancing your resume 

• Drafting

• Finding your first job or changing careers 

• Charting a rewarding career path  

Considering the expected job growth across industries, from the arts to health care, as well as exciting technological advancements in many fields, now might be a great time for you to pursue career counseling. That way, you can explore your potential with the guidance of a skilled mentor and prepare yourself for an ever-changing professional landscape. 

4 signs that career counseling is right for you

You should consider various factors before hiring a career counselor, including the cost of counseling, the experience, and the outcomes you can expect. 

The following signs may mean that getting a career counselor is a viable next step for you: 

1. You are about to take a career leap.

Entering a new career phase can be an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. For example:

• Choosing a major can mean enjoying the coursework and learning about subjects you find interesting, but what careers will a given major lead to? 

• Graduating from college or university could qualify you for many careers, but what if you want to pursue a career that is unrelated to your degree?

• Changing careers entirely could provide you with improved work-life balance, better pay, and fulfillment, but what new skills will a new career require?  

• Launching a business could mean working on your own terms, but what financial risks will you be taking on?

If you’re about to take a similar leap, you might be a good candidate for a career counseling program, as working with a counselor can boost your confidence when making decisions.

2. You are reflecting on your passions and purpose.

Do you find yourself thinking about what you’re passionate about and what you want to achieve in life? Do you wonder what careers would enable you to explore your passions? If so, you may benefit from working with a career counselor to learn more about the following: 

• How to turn a creative pursuit into a career

• How to improve

• How to explore your passion in any professional role

• How to make career decisions based on your values, belief systems, and life philosophy  

3. You want a more focused mentoring experience.

From reading books to meeting with industry professionals, you have various means of taking solo initiative with your career journey. A few ways to get career support include the following:

• Taking group classes alongside other career seekers 

• Reading books on professional development 

• Hiring a mentor in another discipline, such as a or emotional intelligence coach

• Mastering and acquiring experience pertaining to a specific career 

• Conducting with people who work in the industry or career field you want to enter. 

As you glean wisdom from these sources, you may want to have more in-depth conversations about your career and pointed guidance as to what actions to take. If that's the case, it may be time to find a career counselor. 

4. You are making space in your life for counseling.

Depending on the counselor you find, going through a career counseling program will likely involve investing time, energy, and resources. If you’re making space in your life for counseling, you may be ready to take this step. 

Take some time to evaluate the following:

• Your growth mindset: Are you teachable, open to feedback, and welcoming of fresh perspectives?  

• Your budget: Are you freeing up resources to invest in your career growth?

• Your schedule: Are you freeing up time to invest in the work of developing your career?

How to find your career counselor 

Once you decide you’re ready for career counseling, the next thing to do is find your counselor. Beyond searching for “career counselors near me,” you can also follow the steps below to streamline your process: 

Determine your counseling objectives.

• What do you want to get out of having a career counselor? Consider possible outcomes, such as identifying a new career path, pursuing career advancement opportunities, feeling more confident, or finding your dream job. 

• What kind of program would you like to join? You could hire a counselor for a single private session, sign up for ongoing sessions regularly, or join an online or onsite counseling program. 

• What do you want to experience while in a program? Examples could include exploratory exercises or taking creative approaches to charting a career path. 

Explore career counseling services.

You’ll find a range of career counseling services available, but it’s worth taking the time to find the right fit. Search the internet, job listing sites, and college career support offered to students and alumni. Read up on how different counselors work with career seekers, including their programs' structure, duration, and cost. 

List career counselors who may be a good fit for you. Reach out to your top choices via email or by phone to gather more information that may not be available online, such as: 

• The methods they use to help someone get the most out of their goals, experience, and interests

• The kinds of career seekers do they usually work with

• What their former clients have been able to achieve through counseling

• The outcomes they specialize in helping people reach

Hear from an adult developmental psychologist and career counselor on the role that skills and passions play in career development:

Continue learning about career counseling.

A career development course can be a great way to learn more about your career potential and how counseling could benefit you. Get started with Coursera. Try to learn more about finding meaning in your work, building professional connections, and more.