Choosing a career is not an easy task. There are a lot of things that you have to take into consideration. The good thing is that you don’t have to make a decision on your own. You can seek for help from a career counselor who could help match you with the right career choice.
There are a lot of career counselors out there. Not all of them though would provide you with the kind of service you need to make a decision. Thus, you have to be careful whom you will partner with. Besides, if you are paying for this counseling service, you must at least get your money’s worth. Here are some of the things to consider in finding the right career counselor.
Willingness to help not just for the sake of money
This is extremely important since there are those who are doing the job for the sake of doing it. They couldn’t care less if you have found your right match or not. As long as they get paid for the job and you have used up the number of hours requested, it is good enough for them. Find a counselor who is really concerned about you and your career choice. You need someone who will use tools to analyze your needs and preferences. You should trust someone who will not just randomly give you advice, but will carefully think about it.
Positive reviews and credibility
You should also consider what other people say about the counselor. If you have friends and relatives who have tried their services before, it would be great if you ask them if they are satisfied of the services they got. You may also search for information online. Some counselors have webpages and they provide testimonials made by real people about the kind of service they have received. There are also some websites where people leave reviews about counseling services.
Right credentials
You can also dig deeper into the educational background of the counselor if you want to feel more secure about your choice. Those who have graduated from top ranking universities definitely have a lot more to offer. You should also check if they are a part of professional organizations in counseling. It helps that you know they did not just rest on their laurels. Instead, they have found a way to improve themselves with the help of their peers.
Length of years in the business
This speaks volume about their success in this industry. There are those who don’t last long and tried searching for other career options. This means that not so many people trust them or they are not necessarily effective in giving career advice. However, if they have lasted for a very long time, it means that they provide effective advice. People trust them with their future.
Easy to understand and communicate with
In finding a career counselor, you need someone whom you can easily speak with. You need a person who will make it comfortable for you to speak out. This may not necessarily be a personal counseling where you share deep personal issues, but it still involves personal emotions. Therefore, you need someone whom you will not feel awkward talking with. You should be able to easily express yourself.
Once you have found the career counselor, who possesses all these qualities, go ahead and partner with this person. You just need to be open about yourself and your dreams. You will be given the right advice and the path ahead will become brighter in no time. It is a long journey, but is worth the wait.
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