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

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Career counselling provides personalised guidance to help individuals explore their interests, abilities, and values, leading to informed decisions about their career paths. Learn more about career counselling and if it's right for you.

[Featured image] A woman researches career counseling on a desktop computer.

Career counselling is a service that helps people begin, change, or advance their careers. It can include one-on-one conversations between a career adviser and a career seeker and assessments, tests, and projects designed to help career seekers maximise their strengths. 

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

You may find that career advisers have degrees in psychology, counselling, or human development. In contrast, career coaches may have coaching certifications or education in specific fields they coach people to enter. Another difference you may come across is the nature of career support. Career advisers help you find your career path, while coaches help you take action on it.  

What to expect from career counselling

Whether you are a learner, a recent graduate, or at the midpoint of your career trajectory and thus thinking about a career change, career counselling could help you make sound decisions for your professional journey. Some things you can expect to work on during career counselling sessions include:

  • 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 interviews

  • Enhancing your CV

  • Skills for CV writing

  • Drafting cover letters

  • 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 and exciting technological advancements in many fields—now might be an excellent time for you to pursue career counselling. It may help you explore your potential with the guidance of a skilled mentor and prepare for an ever-changing professional landscape. 

4 signs that career counselling is right for you

Career counselling may or may not be the best path forward. To determine if it’s a suitable option, consider various factors, including the cost of counselling, what the experience is like, and the outcomes you can expect. 

The following signs may mean that getting a career counsellor 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 degree can mean enjoying the coursework and learning about subjects you find interesting, but what careers will a given degree lead to?

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

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

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

2. You are reflecting on your passions and purpose.

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

  • How to turn a creative pursuit into a career.

  • How to improve work-life balance.

  • 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.

You can get career support in various ways, including:

  • Taking group classes alongside other career seekers.

  • Reading books on professional development.

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

  • Mastering technical skills and acquiring experience in a specific career.

  • Conducting informational interviews 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 on what actions to take. If that’s the case, it may be time to find a career counsellor. 

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

Depending on the adviser you find, going through a career counselling programme will likely involve investing time, energy, and resources. If you’re making time for counselling, 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 adviser 

Once you decide you’re ready for career counselling, the next thing to do is find your adviser. Follow the steps below to streamline your process: 

Determine your counselling objectives.

What do you want to get out of having a career adviser? Consider possible outcomes, such as identifying a new career path, feeling more confident, or finding your dream job. Also, ask yourself:

  • What kind of programme would you like to join? Formats can include talking to an adviser for a single session, signing up for ongoing sessions regularly, or joining an online or onsite counselling programme.

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

Explore career counselling services.

You’ll find various career counselling 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 advisers work with career seekers, including the structure, duration, and cost of their programmes. 

List career counsellors 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 reach their goals and maximise their experience and interests

  • The kinds of career seekers they usually work with

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

  • The outcomes they specialise in helping people reach

Beyond career counselling: Build your skills on Coursera

Career advisers assist in identifying your potential career path, while coaches support you in implementing it. If talking to a career adviser has been a recurring thought, it’s worth pursuing. 

Before taking that step,  a career development course can be a great way to learn more about your career potential and how counselling could benefit you. Get started with Coursera. Enroll in the Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact course on Coursera to learn more about finding meaning in your work, building professional connections, and more. 

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Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact

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