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Career Counseling ands Coaching Resources

Career Counseling: An Overview

At a career crossroads? You may benefit from the professional help of an experienced career counselor.

What Career Counselors Do

Career counselors can help you:

  • Develop a career plan
  • Make more effective decisions
  • Assess your best job options, through career assessments and other tools
  • Develop job search skills, such as writing effective resumes
  • Find work/life balance
  • Resolve personal conflicts with bosses and coworkers
  • Navigate job stress, career transitions and other difficult employment issues

Why seek career counseling?

Although everyone in the workforce could probably benefit from career counseling at one point or another, we asked nationally certified counseling professional Ruthann Reim McCaffrey of the Career Management Institute for the most common reasons people came to her for help. She cited several:

  • Recent job loss and loss of confidence
  • Relocation and lack of knowledge of the local market
  • A long absence from the job market
  • Life changes such as illness or disability, necessitating a career change
  • They just believe in being efficient and proactive and don't hesitate to get help before they are in crisis
  • Business owners seeking human resources or career management help

Finding the Right Counselor

Anyone can refer to themselves as a "counselor." Check to see that your counselor is certified by a national accreditation agency, such as the National Board for Certified Counselors. Also, look for an advanced degree in counseling, psychology, career development or a related discipline. To be most effective, however, a counseling relationship depends on more than just the initials after someone's last name. "The most important criteria in any counseling relationship is that the client and counselor are a good match," says counselor Ruthann Reim. She describes her own style: "I like clients to keep their power in working with me...there are many parts of career transition that my clients already know how to do so we choose to use our time on areas that are of concern." Take the time to find a counselor who best matches your own needs and personality.

Making the Most of Counseling

We asked Ruthann what she sees as the most common roadblock to career success. "Fear. It translates into 'this is a tough job market so I'm going to have a really hard time,' 'I'm too old, too young, too inexperienced, too seasoned so no one will want me,' 'I am feeling desperate so I can't be choosy.'" Overcoming fear, developing confidence, and taking control over the career development process are necessary ingredients to success. In order to be effective, recipients of career counseling need to sit in the driver's seat. "Maintain control over your own career planning rather than hoping or expecting someone else to do it for you," advises Ruthann. Counselors are there to help you find your stride. The rest is up to you.

Find a Counselor - Resources

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) National Career Development Association Career Counselors Consortium (NYC and Tri-State Area)