Career counselling refers to the personalised service of offering information, guidance and support to people who may need assistance with a range of career management issues. The main issues presented to career counsellors focus on the difficulty many people face in identifying a suitable career direction and the subsequent task of pursuing career goals such as finding relevant employment. The full process typically involves the following:
- assessing interests, personality traits and skills
- determining short term and long term education and training needs
- developing effective job search skills
- exploring work and family balance and other values
- identifying and addressing barriers to pursuing career goals
- identifying career choices and pathways
- understanding market trends and employment prospects for the future.
Career counsellors generally use a range of specialised assessment tools such as, questionnaires and tests, interview techniques and information sources to establish a suitable match between the person and the external reality of the world of work. Resume writing skills and other job search techniques are then often discussed during subsequent counselling interview sessions to assist with finding relevant employment.
Career counsellors are professionals, often with a background in psychology who have undergone specialist training. Career counsellors can be employed by organisations that exclusively offer career management services, or alternatively be incorporated into other services such as employee assistance programs and vocational rehabilitation or return to work services.
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
Providing career management services such as career counselling is important for the current workforce in general, given that the traditional concept of a 'job-for-life' is very much a thing of the past. Most of us will change careers and certainly jobs several times during our working life and getting the right support and assistance in this area will help us to remain flexible in the ever changing environment of work.
Regarding the disability field, these services have particular relevance for people who may have sustained an injury for example, through a workplace accident, or suffered from an illness or condition that has left them unable to perform the duties previously required of them at work. An alternative career choice or position at work may be necessary if there has been a reduction or change in functioning. The assistance of a career counsellor may be necessary in the return to work planning in cases such as these.
For more information on assistance with employment and return to work, please see the sources below:
References:
CDAA 2012, Frequently Asked Questions, Career Development Association of Australia Inc., Adelaide, viewed 18 January 2012, http://www.cdaa.org.au/content/frequently-asked-questions.
seeklearning 2012, 5 Steps to Finding Your Career Calling, SEEK Learning, North Sydney, viewed 18 January 2012, http://www.seeklearning.com.au/find-your-career-calling.asp.