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EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY

Career Counsellor

Helping People Make Informed Career Decisions

Career Counsellor

Career counsellors help people understand their interests, abilities, values and options. They support decision-making rather than choosing a career on someone else's behalf.

Key Outcomes

What this career leads to

  • Greater self-awareness
  • Informed choices
  • Practical career plans
  • Confident transitions

What They Do

On the job

  • Explore a person's interests, strengths, values and circumstances
  • Provide accurate education and occupation information
  • Use appropriate assessment tools within qualification
  • Help clients create realistic learning and career action plans

Where They Work

Typical workplaces

  • Schools and colleges
  • Universities
  • Career centres
  • Employment programmes
  • Community organisations
  • Qualified private practice

Core Skills

What it takes

  • Counselling and active listening
  • Career-development knowledge
  • Assessment interpretation
  • Research, communication and ethical practice

Areas of Application

Where this knowledge shows up

  • School and university guidance
  • Career transitions
  • Employment and skills programmes
  • Vocational rehabilitation
  • Private and community counselling

Education & Entry Path

The learning route

Common backgrounds include counselling, psychology, education or human resources, followed by specialised career-development training. Use of psychological tests may require additional regulated qualifications.

Career Scope

The long view

Career counsellors work with students, graduates, career changers and job seekers through individual guidance, workshops, assessments and programme design.

Related Careers

Kindred paths to explore

Explore Scientists’ Contribution

The discoveries behind this field