What Does a Career Counselor Do?

Career counselors guide their clients to help them find careers that fit their skills and needs. As a career counselor, you can enjoy the fulfilling experience of helping clients lead more enriching, meaningful lives through their jobs.

Deciding on a career, whether it’s what to pursue after graduating from school or how to transition to a more suitable or fulfilling role after joining the workforce, is a significant life decision. People often consult career counselors before making impactful choices about which career to pursue. If this sounds like a career you're interested in, read on to learn more about becoming a career counselor.

What is a career counselor?

A career counselor helps people, such as learners or those in the workforce looking to change fields, navigate the process of selecting a career to pursue. To qualify for this job, you’ll need a robust understanding of various careers and positions so you can effectively guide your clients. Understanding which skills are helpful for a particular job or what an industry’s work environment tends to be like can help you provide thorough assistance to clients and succeed in this role. 

Career counseling is a collaborative process. You'll become familiar with your clients’ strengths, interests, and previous experience. The more you know about your clients, the more meaningful and personal your guidance will be. 

Where do career counselors work?

Career counselors work in various environments, including educational settings such as high schools and colleges. Career counselors also work in private practices and social assistance agencies.

Duties and responsibilities

Your responsibilities as a career counselor can vary depending on the client and their needs, as well as where you work. However, everyday duties for a career counselor include:

• Learning more about a client's background, such as skills, education, work experience, and interests 

• Arranging tests that evaluate each client’s interests and personality to identify jobs they may be well suited for

• Assisting with resume development, interview preparation, and other valuable steps of a job search

• Directing clients toward potential sources of financial assistance for their education and training programs

• Helping clients establish goals for their careers and coming up with a plan to work toward them 

Skills you will likely need as a career counselor

As a career counselor, you will work with people during a potentially complex point in their lives as they make an important decision. Having strong interpersonal skills, in addition to many other vital abilities, can support you as you help your clients succeed. However, you'll need many different technical and workplace skills as well. 

Technical skills

• Career development: You’ll need a robust foundation in career development theories to guide your clients effectively. These theories offer insight into how people develop professionally while achieving success and satisfaction.  

• Research skills: To accurately guide clients, it is helpful to stay on top of research regarding the latest job trends, new opportunities, and other information, such as changes related to various industries. 

• General computer skills: You may use a computer to conduct virtual meetings with clients, research job openings and information, store data, and keep records. 

Workplace skills

• Empathy: Empathy helps you guide people as they make challenging decisions that can feel stressful, confusing, or overwhelming. When you understand and empathize with the magnitude of the career-search process, you can build trust and a rapport with your clients. 

• Communication: Active listening is critical to understanding your client’s unique needs. You also focus on developing your ability to effectively communicate your observations about what a client seems good at or interested in and how they can use those skills and interests to pursue a suitable career.

• Problem-solving: Career counselors help people solve problems. You use your problem-solving skills regularly to help clients troubleshoot potential career dilemmas and find creative solutions. 

• Analytical skills: You may regularly deal with academic records and data from tests you administer. Understanding how to interpret these records and data is helpful when applying this information to a client's job search.

Qualifications to work as a career counselor 

Before working as a career counselor and seeing clients, you need to gain education, certification, and supervised experience. The exact requirements will vary based on the state in which you are working, so it can be helpful to understand the different industry standards across the United States.

Certifications and licensure

Some states require career counselors to have a license. You can learn more about your specific state's licensing using this map tool from the American Counseling Association.

Consider a certification to verify your skills and knowledge for your future employer. Some popular certifications for career counselors include: 

• Certified Career Counselor (CCC) offered by the National Career Development Association 

• National Certified Counselor (NCC) offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors

• Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) offered by the Center for Credentialing and Education 

Education

To become a career counselor, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, psychology, human services, social sciences, or a related field.  Earning a master’s degree in a counseling-related field may lead to a higher salary and more job opportunities. 

Supervised time with clients

Career counselors typically need to complete an internship. Doing so allows you to develop relevant skills and gain experience that helps you become more successful in your career. During your internship, or what’s sometimes referred to as a supervised practicum, a licensed counseling professional observes your work with clients and provides feedback about your skills, allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.

Salary and job outlook

One of the main factors determining your career counselor salary is your workplace setting. Some of the average salaries of career counselors based on their job settings include [1]:

• Elementary and secondary schools: $71,700

• Junior colleges, colleges, and universities: $53,190

• Health care and social assistance programs: $44,180

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects career counselor positions to grow at a rate of 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, amounting to approximately 26,600 openings each year during that decade [2].

Career coach vs. career counselor

While career coaches and counselors both help their clients find career success, they have different approaches. A career counselor helps clients better understand the employment landscape and their unique skills and interests to identify potential careers. A career coach usually works with clients who understand their career goals but can benefit from advice about reaching them. 

Getting started

Working as a career counselor can be a rewarding experience. You'll spend time helping students and those who want to make a professional transition find the right jobs to suit their needs and desires. 

Take the first step towards becoming a career counselor with the help of online courses. On Coursera, consider the Computational Social Science Methods from UC Davis a valuable introduction to human social systems. It teaches you how to create databases that allow you to analyze and spot patterns in human dynamics. Another great option is Yale University's Introduction to Psychology course, which can help you gain communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and reasoning skills.