Career Counseling FAQsWho Could Benefit From Career Counseling? This page is for career women who are confused about their career options and want help to:
For someone at a defining point in her career, having access to career counseling can pave the way to a breakthrough in thinking, planning and career goal setting. Career change counseling is particularly helpful to those who are starting over in a new career or contemplating a midlife career change. Not sure what a career counselor does? Take a moment now to read our article:
What Exactly Does A Career Counselor Do?
This is more important than you think. Do you have a habit of going "Nah, can't be done", or "What a dumb idea" to ideas (even your own) that are a bit different from other people's? Self-censorship is a passion killer and one way we get in the way of our own success. What you need is a safe space and permission to brainstorm without fear or holding back. Talking with a career adviser lets you do that. Reality checking is necessary, but it can come later. Many of us weaken our ability to succeed by constantly dwelling on what we can't control and what we're not good at. Counseling helps you identify negative self-talk and attitudes that may be impeding your progress at work and inhibiting your career satisfaction. With the help of a career advisor, you can learn healthier patterns of thinking and behaviour. The skills you most enjoy using may not necessarily be the ones you primarily use in your work. In my last job, my core skills were legal research and policy formulation, but I am happier when I am writing, coaching and educating. This is not to say I learned nothing useful. On the contrary, my background and qualifications have equipped me with valuable transferable work skills that I can adapt to almost any job. If your job does not give you room to apply your favorite skills and you don't have other creative outlets, work can become a drag and sap your emotional and mental wellbeing. If your job has become boring or lacks challenge, talking with a career advisor can help you explore ways to use your favourite skills more often so that you start to enjoy your work again. What Is The Difference Between Counseling And Coaching? Good question. Both professions work with the intention of helping you figure out and improve your work situation. However, there are some significant differences.
In most countries, career coaches (who may also be called life coaches) are self-regulating. There is no independent accreditation authority that makes it compulsory for a career coach to have a degree. However, coaches who want to enhance their knowledge of coaching practice and build credibility and confidence, often opt to undertake life coach training and gain Professional Life Coach credentials in a coaching model and niche that they identify with, e.g. in Christian life coaching or as a spiritual life coach. Career counselors, on the other hand, may have a more stringent set of criteria to meet. A Master's qualification in counselling may be required, as well as professional membership of a peak body. In Australia, career counsellors and career coaches are also called 'career development practitioners'. The national peak body is the Career Development Association of Australia. To be a member, you need:
Career coaches are future-oriented. They are more interested in helping you focus on what you can do to improve your current situation, rather than how you got there. Career counselors tend to analyze the factors in your past that led you to your present situation and then to work with you on resolving that situation.
A coach asks the right questions so that you can discover the answers within yourself and validate what you already knew but needed independent validation of. A counselor asks questions, listens to your questions, and often offers answers to those questions based on his expertise. Conclusion If you have lost your passion or want to know how you can make career choices that align with your values and beliefs, or if you want work that flows from and in harmony with your life purpose, you want to talk to a coach. If you want help in interpreting and using career aptitude tests or a specific career personality test, or to discuss the ten hottest careers or fastest growing careers, then a career counselor is the right person to talk to.
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