An employment counsellor, also known as a career development professional, advises, coaches, provides information to, and supports people who are planning, seeking and managing their life/work direction.
Career development professionals help clients of all ages:
select education and training programs
balance work and other life roles
navigate career transitions and stages
enhance career satisfaction
find employment or self-employment opportunities, write résumés, develop portfolios and prepare for interviews.
Working with clients individually or in groups, career development professionals may:
help people develop a better appreciation of their unique characteristics and how those characteristics relate to career choices
use various assessment tools to help clients identify their interests, values, beliefs, lifestyle preferences, aptitudes and abilities, and relate them to the world of work
help clients identify educational requirements and develop training plans
facilitate career management and career decision-making workshops
work with clients who have disabilities, language and cultural differences, or other special needs that affect their employment prospects
help clients deal with barriers to achieving their career plans
help employed clients plan career laddering within organizations, cope successfully with job dissatisfaction, or make occupational or job changes
provide current labour market information to help clients make realistic occupational or employment decisions
market clients to potential employers and help clients find job or work experience placements
assist clients with implementing effective employment search strategies, writing résumés, and developing career portfolios and interview skills
plan and implement career and employment-related programs
refer clients to appropriate services to address their particular needs
work co-operatively with community groups and agencies, businesses and other organizations involved in providing career planning resources
use computers to write reports and proposals, and research information on the Internet
perform related administrative tasks such as keeping records.
Career development professionals may work in a variety of settings but usually work in offices where they can conduct private interviews with clients and in classrooms or boardrooms where they conduct group sessions. Depending on the organization, their hours of work may include some evening and weekend work.
Career development professionals need the following characteristics:
a genuine interest in and respect for people from all walks of life
patience, understanding and the ability to listen non-judgementally
excellent oral and written communication skills and presentation skills
objectivity and tact
the ability to motivate and inspire clients
the ability to facilitate communication in groups of eight to 20 people
good organizational and planning skills
the ability to work effectively with other professionals and community agencies.
They should enjoy consulting with people, compiling information and working with clients to develop innovative solutions to problems.
Most career development professionals have post-secondary education in a related discipline such as psychology, education, social work or human resources development. Increasingly, employers are looking for applicants who have a certificate, diploma or degree in career development, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. One of the certifications that is available is the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential.