Attending a career guidance session can be overwhelming. There are so many paths to pursue and so many options after high school that it becomes difficult to choose what is right for you. An expert in the field, such as an academic advisor or career counsellor, can help decide which path is best for you and guide you through your next step in your education or work life. These experts today typically work online by providing support via email or phone and some students might not want to devote the time necessary to contact them regularly.
What Is Career Guidance?
The word “guidance” originated back in the 1530s and is defined as the process of directing conduct. Career guidance can be defined as a comprehensive developmental program designed to assist individuals in making and implementing informed educational and occupational choices. In simple words, it is a journey on which people develop to make mature and informed decisions. It is the act of guiding or showing the way; it is seeking advice.
Career guidance is the guidance given to individuals to help them acquire the knowledge, information, skills, and experience necessary to identify career options and narrow them down to make one career decision. This career decision then results in their social, financial and emotional well-being.
In an age where career queries are not uncommon, answering queries related to career guidance or career, in general, is important.
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Who can benefit from Career Guidance?
Student Of Class 9th – 10th
Setting the basics right solves a lot of confusion that might arise later. Whether choosing the correct stream to the correct board and mapping career goals, the right start at the right time makes all the difference.
Student Of Class 11th – 12th
One chooses one’s stream out of the four possible options (non-medical, medical, humanities, commerce); however, the career options possible for a student to opt for are more than hundreds. To make sure that the entire process, from choosing the right career options to achieving those goals, goes smoothly, one must seek career guidance from an informed (and experienced) mentor (read: career guide)
College-Going Students/ Working Professionals
People who have already made a career decision need to work towards it to attain the maximum results. A guide informs them of the best career opportunities and ways to do the best in the field they have chosen for themselves. Generally, people end up taking the wrong paths to achieve their goals. Either they realize that the career option they have chosen isn’t meant for them, or it dawns upon them that the option they have chosen isn’t strong enough to keep them motivated or excited throughout their professional lives. As a result, they tend to rely on an expert’s advice, where a guide steps in.
Do I Need Career Guidance?
More often than not, people find themselves in a dilemma before making important decisions in their lives. Generally, everyone seeks advice from parents and friends before deciding what to wear. Being rational individuals, people always want to get what’s best for them. Shouldn’t the same logic be applied when choosing a career or changing career paths, which is supposedly a big decision one makes in one’s life?
One must go for career guidance if one’s thoughts align with any of the ones mentioned below:
Choosing The Right Career
For people who find it difficult to realize the right career is meant for them, a career guide helps them sort this confusion. There are infinite career options available to choose from, and without an expert’s proper guidance, one might stick to a few that his/her friends or relatives ask him to pursue. An informed career guide makes one aware of the scope of every career option in detail, which widens the horizon for the student. For people who think they are clear on their career paths and have attained enough clarity to work towards a chosen career option, career guides ensure that they achieve their goals without any distractions.
Realization Of Making A Wrong Career Decision
Making the right career decision at the right time makes a lot of difference. For instance, one might realize that engineering is not the best-fit career option for them after having worked as an engineer for ten years, or one might realize the same quite early in life. Either way, the person can either realize where his/her true passion lies and work towards the same, or continue working on the current one. Since changing streams and discovering something completely afresh requires a lot of planning and discussions on the scope of the new career option, it is always advisable to guide choosing the right career right from the beginning.
Career routes can be changed at any point in time, and an informed choice can be made with the help of a good career guide. Many career problems are preventable with regular attention to the career path, and a time of crisis is not the best time to seek professional help. It should be an ongoing process, and guidance from a mentor is required at every step of one’s professional life journey.
Focused Career Route
A risk-averse student generally keeps a few career options available for him/herself. While it is not a bad route, many students fall prey to career confusion. Their focus gets shifted, and as a result, they find themselves not performing up to their potential. A career guide not only helps a student decide the career route h/she also guides the student about the path, maps his/her career, and helps him/her clear the confusion and distractions coming along the way.
What Are The Elements of Career Guidance?
To understand Career Guidance a little better, let us look at its most important elements:
A Qualified Career Counsellor
The first and foremost element of any career guidance process is the presence of a qualified guide (read: counsellor).
A Secure Environment
The process of career counselling entails creating a safe and secure environment where the counselee feels at ease and can discuss the issues bothering him/her.
An Agreement Of Trust And Confidence
In a general scenario, the only career guidance one has is the opinion of one’s parents, teachers’ judgment based on marks, and the comments of friends and neighbours. While they might be rational and unbiased in their opinions, relying on them isn’t sufficient to base the foundation of one’s entire career.
The Process of Modern-Age Career Guidance
- Online Assessment To Remove Human Error Or Biasedness:
An advanced and trusted online assessment doesn’t let one choose just between the few tried-and-tested career options. Psychometric assessments developed by researchers and psychologists ensure that career queries and problems are dealt with sincerity and backed by experience, knowledge and research. They are modern and reveal the best-fit career matches on multiple parameters, such as interest, personality, emotional quotient, aptitude and orientation style. With such research and algorithms backed by the expertise of leading psychologists, the chances of falling into the wrong career decision trap minimalize. - Career Counselling And Extended Support From Experts:
A career discovery report may not be enough to help decide what one’s true career calling is. One needs proper advice for career selection, and by proper advice – we mean an expert’s advice. Parents, teachers and friends might be knowledgeable and want the best, but it takes a little more to know what the heart wants, what the brain says and what the career demands. An expert career counsellor and guide would be beside the student, guiding him/her toward the right career and helping him/her work towards it.
Career guidance is a two-step process, and a great guide would always recommend students follow both the steps to decide on the right career option meant for them. One spends almost 70% of one’s lifetime working, and the proper career guidance ensures that the career chosen is the right one and thus results in emotional, social and financial happiness.
Find the Best Career Guidance Experts
Finding the right career guidance expert can be a daunting task, but fortunately there are many qualified professionals available. To find the best career guidance expert for you, start by narrowing your search to experts with specific experience in your field. Additionally, it is important to consider how much money you are willing to spend on services and whether you prefer in-person or remote consultations.
Summary of What to Look for in a Career Guidance Expert
If you’re looking for career guidance, you’ll need to find an expert. There are many different kinds of career advice, so it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. Here are some tips on how to find a good career guidance expert:
- Look for an expert who has experience in the career you’re interested in. This will help them know what questions to ask and what strategies to use when helping you find your next job.
- Ask around. Friends, family, and online resources can all help you find a good career guidance expert. Talk to friends who have similar jobs or industries, and look for online reviews or recommendations before hiring someone.
- Find a specialist. If you don’t feel confident trying to determine which type of career advice is best for you, consider finding a specialist. These experts typically have specialized training in one or more areas of careers, so they’re better equipped to help you find the right path for your unique background and interests.
Benefits of Using Professionals
There are many benefits to using professionals for career guidance. Professionals have years of experience, which allows them to provide sound advice that takes into account your unique situation. They also have access to a wide range of resources, which enables them to offer comprehensive guidance. Finally, they can provide statistical analysis, which can help you understand where your skills and interests lie.
Demonstrating Your Passion with Your Resume
Finding the right career guidance expert can be a daunting task. The right fit for you may not be available in your current geographic location or industry. So how do you find the best possible advice to help you land the perfect job? Here are 5 tips to demonstrating your passion with your resume:
- Don’t be afraid to be candid about your interests and goals. This will show that you are both open-minded and authentic, and that you’re looking for guidance that aligns with your own interests.
- Showcase relevant work experience and training. Whether it’s volunteer work or formal training, include any valuable information that proves your skills and abilities.
- Be proactive in reaching out to different resources. There’s no harm in asking around or searching online for vacancies or career advice that matches your interests and skills.
- pitch yourself as an asset to an organization, not a liability. Make sure to highlight any strengths (e.g., team player, problem-solver) that would make you an ideal candidate for the position you’re targeting.
- Allow plenty of time for personal interviews and consultations – this is key to revealing any potential concerns or challenges
