A career counselor is a person who guides the students in choosing the right career path for them and also assists the job seekers to guide them regarding suitable job prospectus.

Career Counselor Responsibilities

Career counselors in the schools are one who counsels the students about where to take the admission, what kind of courses they should choose, how to appear for the entrance test, and also give them information about the financial aids that are given by some financial companies as an educational loan.

The career counselor also gives a recommendation to the client linked to his career. He gives the most precious advice to his clients who do not know where to start his employment. Career counselors review the client’s education, interest, skills, professional history. He also counsels the people who are suffering from job stress, professional defeat and other professional issues. He builds the self-confidence in the candidates. He creates a resume for the candidate who is applying for the job. He also gives the training to the candidate regarding the interview tips, like how to introduce himself, how to sit when he will be in front of the interviewer, etc. Career Counselor job description will further explain about the required skills and career growth.

Skills and expertise required

Qualification:

The candidates are required to obtain at least an undergraduate degree in different subjects that are relevant to this profession like human resources, social work, career development, etc. For masters, degree student is obligated to obtain the license and the certificate. Various colleges and universities are offering master degrees in counseling to the students. The experience in any field plays a vital role in creating the opportunity for employment.

Licensure:  

Candidate having the license of CCC (credentialed career counselors) is given priority and hired by an organization.

Skills required by the Career Counselor:

A counselor should possess some skills related to his profession such as:

  • High-quality written as well as oral communication.
  • Good listener
  • Ability to handle the stress and manage it according to the situation.
  • Self-motivated.
  • Patient
  • High level of enthusiasm.
  • Good decision-making skills.
  • Power to motivate others
  • Optimistic in nature.
  • Scheduling skills
  • knowledgeable about the educational courses
  • Possess knowledge about the types of employment
  • Act like the real guide for the people.
  • He should be a keen observer.

Career Growth

Career opportunities for counselors are very dazzling. According to USBLSA, it is reported that this profession will grow faster than the average rate as compared to other occupations. It is also predicted that employment in this field will increase by 18% more till 2018. Growth will vary according to the specializations, experience, and type of organization also. Opportunities are accessible in the market on the basis of their specialization.

The salary of the counselor depends on the basis of his specialization and on other factors. Annual salary for school, vocational and educational counselor is near about $51,100. The lower rank career counselor earns near about $29,000 per year and the high-rank counselor can earn $82,000 per year.

Published by Sarah Samson

Sarah Samson is a professional career advisor and resume expert. She specializes in helping recent college graduates and mid-career professionals improve their resumes and format them for the modern job market. In addition, she has also been a contributor to several online publications.

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