Career Counselling for Students: How to Get Career Guidance

In today’s dynamic and competitive job market, making career decisions has become increasingly complex. As a result, the demand for career counselling has surged. Individuals, whether just starting their careers or looking for a job change, seek guidance and support to navigate the intricate pathways of the professional world.

A recent report concluded that as much as 44% of Indian youths have claimed that career counselling is important for them, implying the need for career counselling online and offline.

With that being said, let’s explore the growing demand for career counselling services, their types, costs and more. 

What Is Career Counselling?

Career counselling, in particular, is a domain that focuses on helping individuals explore and navigate their career paths by providing guidance, support, and information about different career options. 

The ultimate goal of this domain is to empower individuals to make well-informed decisions and effectively manage their careers for personal and professional growth. Global career counsellors deploy a number of tools and techniques for this purpose, which we will discuss shortly. 

What Does A Career Counsellor Do?

A career counsellor works as the key driver of the entire career counselling process. They are experts in psychology, meaning that in order to be a career counsellor, you must hold at least a post-graduate degree in psychology or Applied Psychology. In addition, career counsellors who assist individuals in a particular field are also required to be experts in that respective domain. 

On that note, mentioned below are some of the tasks and responsibilities encompassing the job role of a career guidance counselor.

• Career counsellors use various assessment tools to evaluate an individual’s strengths and interests.
• They help to provide personalised guidance and advice to candidates to assist them in exploring different career paths.
• They are always up-to-date with the latest information about diverse professions, industries, and educational requirements.
• They assist candidates in setting realistic career goals and also help them in achieving them.
• They facilitate the decision-making process by weighing the pros and cons of various career options. 
• They offer guidance on creating effective resumes cover letters, and preparing for interviews.
• They might recommend skill development programs and workshops to help individuals enhance their skillsets and increase their chances of landing their dream job. 

Apart from these, a career guidance counselor also plays a vital role in job search strategies, skill development, personal branding, and recommending valued training. Just like the one offered under upGrad’s MBA Program from the prestigious O.P Jindal Global University.

Why is Career Counselling Important?

Career guidance and counselling are important for a plethora of reasons. Wondering what those are? Let’s find out.

Personalised Guidance

One of the main reasons behind the increasing demand for career counselling is that it provides personalised guidance tailored to candidates’ unique needs and skill sets. It provides you with a clear view of all the available career options and enables you to make well-informed decisions that align with your personal and career goals.

Reduced Confusion

In today’s age, with so many choices available at our fingertips, choosing the right career path can often be overwhelming. By seeking proper career counselling services, you can streamline this whole decision-making process and reduce confusion and anxiety.

Career Planning

Career planning requires a strategic approach and an understanding of the pros and cons of different career paths. With career counselling, you can achieve just that and make your career planning process much easier. Furthermore, the valuable insight from your respective career guidance counselor can also assist you in setting realistic goals, understanding roadblocks, and developing strategies to overcome them.

Job Satisfaction

Perhaps one of the many challenges currently haunting the Indian job market is that most people are not happy with their jobs. In fact, a recent survey concluded that as much as 59% of the Indian workforce is not happy at work. 

Career counselling services aim to address this challenge by matching a person’s needs and strengths with a suitable career path. This, in turn, leads to higher job satisfaction and motivation.

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How Much Does A Career Counsellor Charge In India?

When it comes to services, there is usually no hard and fast rule on charges. It can vary depending on multiple factors, such as the experience of the career guidance counsellor, type of career assessment, career roadmap, and more. Nonetheless, on average, career counsellors are known to charge fees falling between the range of INR 1500 – INR 10,000.

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What Is Career Guidance?

Career guidance refers to the process of providing individuals with information, resources, and support to help them explore and understand various career options. It includes various activities such as aptitude testing, interest assessments, and providing information about job roles and educational opportunities. The ultimate goal of career guidance is to help candidates make informed decisions about their educational and career paths.

One of the major differences between career counselling and career guidance is that, while career counselling involves a more in-depth and personalised approach to helping individuals, career guidance simply focuses on providing advice or support to students.

Career Counselling Techniques

Career counselling techniques encompass a wide range of strategies and tools that career counsellors use to assist individuals in making suitable career decisions. Mentioned below are some of the most popular techniques used in this process.

Developing a Therapeutic Relationship

One of the key ingredients of a successful career counselling process is developing a meaningful relationship with the client. As with most other counselling services, the primary job of a career guidance counsellor is to first understand the worries, interests, and fears of their clients. It goes beyond using assessment tools or questionnaires but involves a deeper understanding.

Establishing Goals

Career counsellors assist individuals in setting their long-term and short-term goals and help them take the necessary steps to fulfil them. For example, they might ask their clients to describe their dream job or where they see themselves in the next five years. Career counselling professionals might also try to understand what is the most important thing in their client’s life and what they enjoy accomplishing at work. All these questions ultimately help to define their objectives and goals.

Enabling Self-Exploration

A good counsellor does not just simply convey the results of the assessment tests to their clients. Instead, they allow for such a space wherein individuals can speak freely about all the issues that are affecting their career and career choices. A successful counselling session not only paves the way for self-discovery but also promotes avenues for self-reflection. 

Types Of Career Counselling

There are various types of career counselling, and it is important to know about them beforehand to select the right one based on your unique needs.

Individual Career Counselling

This type involves one-on-one sessions between a career counsellor and an individual. The counsellor assesses the candidate’s strengths, interests, values, and goals, tailoring personalised guidance and recommendations for suitable career paths.

Online Career Counselling

In today’s age of digitisation, technology has made it possible for career counselling to be available online. Individuals no longer need to travel from place to place to seek guidance. They can simply talk to experts through video calls, chat, or email, thus making remote access possible. 

Independent Career Transition Coaches

These are specialised individuals who provide career guidance and counselling services to their clients. They usually have a website of their own, and the fees might vary depending on their professional experience, location, and other factors.

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