This may come across as a little controversial, and our intention is not to take away any value from a career counsellor, our goal is to always present the facts and to be honest to you so that you, as an individual, can make the right choice/s for yourself and your career needs.
I remember looking at a friends resume and thinking it was very good, but not fantastic in terms of meeting the selection criteria of the jobs she was applying to. If you’ve been there, it’s worth reading why career planning is important before you send another application. I asked my friend if she wanted me to update her resume. The response was a quick ‘no’, followed by her career counsellor at university did it for her. I understood it had a professional touch, however, that resume was created years earlier.
A resume needs to be updated often and made relevant to the roles you apply to. I was concerned the information she had was starting to get outdated. So it got me thinking, are university students relying too heavily on career counsellors as their only source of information for their future careers?
So what are the differences (if any) between universities or even high school career counsellor vs. an independent career coach? Let us list the facts, as we know them.
So as you can see, there is great benefit to a career counsellor. They can truly assist in the early stages of a student’s career, based on University/TAFE studies. But what about after university when the student is out in the “real” world and applying to roles they believe they are suited to based on what they studied at uni?
As it is very evident, there is great value in both, a career counsellor and a career coach. Both work hand in hand with each other and are necessary at different points in one’s career. Not sure which stage you’re at? Start with how to find the right career coach for your situation.
Unfortunately, not every career counsellor is a professional in this field. Let me share a personal story – when I was at university completing my business degree, I approached our uni’s career counsellor and asked her what are the various job opportunities I could expect after completing my course. Her response was “I do not know”.
I decided perhaps to reword my question; I asked “What would be the career options for me? Her response was “I do not know”.
I said ok, well, could you then tell me what have others who have already completed this course are doing? Her response was “I do not know”. She gave me some papers with random information, smiled and sent me on my way.
I left her office with very little confidence. If she has no idea what my business degree will give me, how was I meant to know?!
Is this an extreme one off case? I certainly hope so for the sake of all students today.
Another personal experience is from another one of our MCA coach’s who had an experience with a career counsellor during her university days where the counsellor could not quite guide her in which studies she should do for her career but instead showed her an easy way out with less exams. This was great at the time but the counsellor could not actually tell her what kind of jobs she could apply for after uni and simply provided her with some generic resume templates. This MCA coach, however, did have a good experience with her high school career counsellor who listened and helped her be more confident in her choices of which universities to apply to and what career paths to try to jump on. So as previously mentioned, it is dependent on the level of skill, and passion, of each career counsellor.
Whilst we are more towards your typical career coaching approach – we do also like to take on a holistic view as we consider your past, your skills, strengths, weaknesses, interest and wants/needs when it comes to helping decide which would be the best career path for you. So consider us a hybrid of Career Counsellor and Career Coach. We are indeed proud of that. Why don’t you explore our Coaching Services and find out more for yourself. If you’re still weighing it up, here’s whether career coaching is worth it in Australia.
Your career, on your terms. Real guidance. Real results
What is the difference between a career counsellor and a career coach?
A career counsellor will often help you work out what you’re interested in, what you’re good at and what career options might suit you. A career coach tends to focus more on where you want to go and the practical steps you can take to get there.
There can be quite a bit of overlap between the two, so it’s worth looking at what the individual practitioner actually offers rather than relying on the title alone.
What does a career counsellor do?
A career counsellor can help you explore your strengths, interests, values, study options and possible career paths.
What they offer can vary depending on their experience, qualifications and the type of work they do.
What does a career coach do?
A career coach can help you get clear on your career goals and work out how to move towards them.
This might include creating a plan, identifying skills you need to develop, improving your job search or working through a career change.
Is a career counsellor better than a career coach?
Not necessarily. One isn’t automatically better than the other.
It really comes down to what you need help with, the practitioner’s experience and qualifications, and whether their approach feels right for you.
Should I choose career counselling or career coaching?
Start by thinking about what you actually need help with.
If you’re unsure what direction to take and want to explore your options, career counselling may be useful.
If you already have an idea of where you want to go but need help working out what to do next, career coaching may be a better fit.
Some practitioners offer a mix of both.
Do career counsellors and career coaches need qualifications?
Qualifications and professional standards can vary depending on the type of service being offered.
In Australia, CICA maintains Professional Standards and a national register of qualified career development practitioners.
It’s worth checking someone’s qualifications, experience and professional memberships before deciding who to work with.
Can someone offer both career counselling and career coaching?
Yes. Some practitioners use parts of both career counselling and career coaching depending on what their client needs.
At My Career Angels, our approach combines elements of both to help clients understand their direction and take practical steps towards it.
If you’re thinking about whether or not you need a career coach, the reality is – if you’re already asking yourself this question, then most likely that answer is ‘yes’. We have our own reason on why we believe you should say YES to hiring a career coach. Read on to find out what it is.