Career Counselor Resume Sample

Career Counselor Resume with Writing Guide

A career counselor, sometimes also called a vocational counselor or employment counselor, provides advice to clients and customers about their career goals or the skills needed to complete specific jobs. Counselors work with people who are looking for work after they have been laid off, those debating whether to return to school in order to advance their careers, and those who are unhappy with their career options.

The job of a career counselor is diverse as there is no set procedure for what needs to be done on any given day. Career counselors need to be able to handle a variety of situations as well as adapt to the needs of different clients. They need to understand how jobs and careers work in order to give people solid advice on how to proceed with their careers.

In order for someone interested in becoming a career counselor to understand what the job is like, it is necessary for them to get information about what it takes in terms of education, experience, and skills.

Career Counselor Resume Writing Guide:

1. Education

Most career counselors have at least a bachelor’s degree in counseling or a related field. Being able to write well is also important, as most career counselors provide written reports and documentation for their clients. For this reason, many entry-level counselors pursue a master’s degree right after earning their bachelor’s degree.

2. Experience

Admission to graduate school is contingent upon an applicant having some prior work experience in the field of counseling or rehabilitation services. Internships are a great way to get hands-on experience in the field while earning college credits. They also provide a better idea of exactly what a career counselor does on a day-to-day basis.

3. Skills

Interpersonal skills and patience are two very important qualities that many counselors possess. It is also important to be able to work well with people, whether it be with clients or other counselors and staff members.

4. Licenses and Certifications

More of a concern for those working with at-risk youth, graduate-level counselors need to be able to provide proper care and supervision. They must also be able to make accurate assessments regarding the needs of their clients. Licensed counselors usually need a master’s degree and a state license in order to work as an independent counselor.

5. Career Outlook

Career counselors often have limited job security, although this can vary from one location to the next. This is because the field of career counseling is very small. Most counselors are employed by community colleges, the military, and other government agencies.

6. Salary

The average annual salary for a career counselor is usually between $35,000 and $40,000. Those working with at-risk youth or other high-risk populations may earn slightly more. Those who work directly with clients can also earn bonuses and commissions. Some counselors are able to earn considerable extra income by offering private services or giving presentations and speeches to local businesses.

Career Counselor Responsibilities:

1. Counseling individual, couples and families.
2. Providing effective counseling to individuals, couples and families with diverse needs, in order to assist clients in understanding their unique characteristics, strengths or weaknesses;
3. Assist individuals and couples with pre-marriage counseling.
4. Provide career counseling for high school graduates, adults, and young adults regarding career planning using industry guidelines;
5. Providing career counseling to individuals and couples with diverse needs to assist them in understanding their unique characteristics, strengths or weaknesses;
6. Counseling adult clients to identify goals for the future, personal and professional growth, and career opportunities;
7. Assisting individual, couple and family members in obtaining educational credentials;
8. Counselling groups of adolescents through discussions and group activities;
9. Conducting research on careers and industries in relation to your area of specialization;
10. Assisting client in developing a plan for career counseling;
11. Providing individual and group counseling services to adults, adolescents, and children.
12. Conducting vocational interviews or assessments;
13. Providing counseling for individuals who are experiencing personal, vocational and family problems;
14. Making predictions on the future of your clients’ current careers;
15. Counseling individuals about career alternatives, related to their present situation based on professional standards and guidelines;

Top 15 Career Counselor Skills:

1. Strong listening skills.
2. Time management skills.
3. Solid organizational skills.
4. Effective communication skills.
5. Ability to convey information in a clear and concise manner;
6. Interpersonal skills;
7. Strong organizational and problem-solving skills;
8. Ability to work well under pressure;
9. Ability to work well on teams;
10. Problem-solving abilities;
11. Public speaking skills;
12. The ability to meet deadlines and punctuality;
13. Strong research skills;
14. Attention to detail;
15. Strong writing skills.

How to write a Career Counselor Resume Objective:

Its very important to have a resume objective as it helps define the objectives of your Career Counselor Resume. Here is an Example for Career Counselor Resume Objective:
To provide exceptional career counseling services to individuals, couples and families in a manner that is effective, positive and provides the greatest possible benefits to our clients.

Tips:

1. You need to state the reason why you are applying to this particular position.
2. State that describe your career goals, and what you can offer the employer with those goals in mind.
3. Include two or three keywords which will catch the employer’s eye and make him interested in your resume.
4. Tell the employer something about yourself and why you are qualified for the job and why he should be interested in you as an applicant;
5. You need to be concise. Do not waste the employer’s time.
6. Avoid any type of profanity as the employer is likely to have a very conservative background and would not appreciate this kind of language in his resume.
7. Also, try to come up with at least two or three lines about yourself and this should not be under 10 words; most likely you will need to use more if it is long enough for your career counselor resume objective.

How to write a Career Counselor Resume with No experience:

If you are new in the career, then you will have no work experience. The most important thing is to highlight the education background and your professional skills. Imagine that you are going to get a job interview for a particular position, and tell me what would you ask to your employer? Include all those questions in your resume as well as answer them. And also, include some of your achievements in college like the ones you got in some of your final projects. You have to show that you are dynamic and a good communicator.

1. Do not forget to highlight your career goals;
2. Try to present your resume with a chronological order;
3. Include all the required documents as requested by the employer or hiring manager;
4. Answer all of the questions professionally and accurately;
5. Add some personality and make your resume interesting;
6. Avoid any kind of profanity;
7. Try to keep your resume at least two pages long and avoid formatting errors.

How to write a Career Counselor Cover Letter:

The cover letter is an important aspect of your Career Counselor Resume. The cover letter should be written as a separate document. It should be in either .doc or .docx format, and it should be between 12 to 18 pages long. The cover letter should provide information about the resume that is lacking and it can also offer more details about yourself and your abilities.

Tips:

1. You need to follow the same guidelines that you followed for your resume;
2. List the position that you are applying for, why you’re interested in this position and what your experience is;
3. You should not mention how good you are or how much money you can get from the employer; this information is already available from your resume.
4. Be personal: Use terms like ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘my’; it shows that you are taking an interest in the job;
5. Use free Career Counselor Cover Letter Templates and examples to guide you, it will help you put together your own unique cover letter.

Key Takeaways:

• Career Counselor is a unique, high-paying career.
• Career Counselor can be a good option for college students as well as seniors and people of all ages.
• Career Counselor should have strong communication skills to easily reach out to clients and provide them with the right help they need.
• Many employers will not hire career counselors who have been recently fired or laid off because the employer believes that those being hired have been fired or laid off and therefore can’t properly provide services for clients/clients’ family members.