Career guidance advisor

Description

Career guidance advisors provide guidance and advice to adults and students on making educational, training and occupational choices and assist people in managing their careers, through career planning and career exploration. They help identify options for future careers, assist beneficiaries in the development of their curriculum and help people reflect on their ambitions, interests and qualifications. Career guidance advisors may provide advice on various career planning issues and make suggestions for lifelong learning if necessary, including study recommendations. They may also assist the individual in the search for a job.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to career guidance advisor:

school careers advisor
careers officer
career coach
careers advisor
career guidance education advisor
educational advisor
career guidance practitioner
career guidance counsellor
school career guidance advisor
counsellor in career guidance

Minimum qualifications

Master’s degree is generally required to work as career guidance advisor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Career guidance advisor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Career guidance advisor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to career guidance advisor.

academic advisor
academic support officer
educational counsellor
learning mentor
admissions coordinator

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of career guidance advisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of career guidance advisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of career guidance advisor.

Counselling methods: Counselling techniques used in different settings and with various groups and individuals, especially concerning methods of supervision and mediation in the counselling process.
Curriculum standards: The governmental policies concerning educational curricula and the approved curricula from specific educational institutions.
Job market offers: Job opportunities available on the labour market, depending on the economic field concerned.
Labour market: The trends, functioning, and fluctuations of the labour market, career options, wages, unions, working population and the supply and demand of certain professions in a sector.
Curriculum objectives: The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of career guidance advisor.

Provide information on study programmes: Provide information on the different lessons and fields of study offered by educational institutions such as universities and secondary schools, as well as the study requirements and employment prospects.
Monitor educational developments: Monitor the changes in educational policies, methodologies and research by reviewing relevant literature and liaising with education officials and institutions.
Evaluate clients’ progress: Keep track of clients’ achievements by reporting on their progress. Monitor whether goals are reached and barriers or setbacks overcome. If not, consult with clients about their issues and offer new approaches.
Facilitate job market access: Improve the chances of individuals to find a job, by teaching the required qualifications and interpersonal skills, through training and development programs, workshops or employment projects.
Provide assistance with job search: Help students or adults in their search to find a profession by identifying career options, building a curriculum vitae, preparing them for job interviews, and locating job vacancies.
Advise on training courses: Provide information on possible training options or qualifications and available funding resources, depending on the needs and educational background of the individual.
Assist clients with personal development: Help clients determine what they want to do with their lives and assist in setting personal and professional goals, by prioritising and planning the steps necessary to reach these goals.
Listen actively: Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
Counsel clients: Assist and guide clients to overcome their personal, social, or psychological issues.
Provide information on education financing: Provide information to parents and students concerning tuition fees, student loans and financial support services.
Encourage counselled clients to examine themselves: Support and encourage the clients to analyse and be aware of some aspects in their life that may have been distressing or impossible to tackle so far.
Identify clients’ needs: Identify the areas in which the client may require aid and investigate the possibilities for meeting those needs.
Coach clients: Actively help clients to improve their strengths and confidence. Propose courses and workshops or coach them yourself.
Provide career counselling: Advise beneficiaries on future career options through counselling and, potentially, through career testing and evaluation.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of career guidance advisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Labour legislation: Legislation, on a national or international level, that governs labour conditions in various fields between labour parties such as the government, employees, employers, and trade unions.
Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.
Psychological counselling methods: The various psychological counselling, training and coaching methods for persons of all ages, groups and organizations considering medical aspects.
Education law: The area of law and legislation that concerns education policies and the people working in the sector in an (inter)national context, such as teachers, students, and administrators.
Adult education: Instruction targeted at adult students, both in a recreational and in an academic context, for self-improvement purposes, or to better equip the students for the labour market.
Project management: Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
Psychology: The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
University procedures: The inner workings of a university, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of career guidance advisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Cooperate with education professionals: Communicate with teachers or other professionals working in education in order to identify needs and areas of improvement in education systems, and to establish a collaborative relationship.
Provide information on school services: Present information on the educational and support services of a school or university to students and their parents, such as career guidance services or offered courses.
Organise study information sessions: Organise events such as group presentations or educational fairs in order to provide information about study and career possibilities to a large audience.
Communicate on the youth’s well-being: Communicate on the youth’s behaviour and welfare with parents, schools and other people in charge of the youth’s upbringing and education.
Identify training needs: Analyse the training problems and identify the training requirements of an organisation or individuals, so as to provide them with instruction tailored to their prior mastery, profile, means and problem.
Application process: The process candidates must complete in order to obtain an academic or professional position, including the techniques that will enhance their chances.
Perform educational testing: Carry out psychological and educational tests on the personal interests, personality, cognitive capabilities, or language or mathematic skills of a student.
Identify education needs: Identify the needs of students, organisations and companies in terms of provision of education in order to aid in the development of curricula and education policies.
Assess students’ preliminary learning experiences: Evaluate students’ preliminary learning experiences, including academic progress, achievements, course knowledge, and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations.
Write work-related reports: Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.
Organise job search workshops: Organise group sessions for job seekers to teach them application techniques and to help them optimise their résumés and improve their interviewing skills.
Communicate with youth: Use verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, and culture.
Oversee extra-curricular activities: Supervise and potentially organise educational or recreational activities for the students outside of mandatory classes.
Organise projects to fill education needs: Fill education gaps by organising projects and activities that help people to grow academically, socially or emotionally.
Liaise with educational staff: Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students’ well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.
Encourage students to acknowledge their achievements: Stimulate students to appreciate their own achievements and actions to nurture confidence and educational growth.
Counsel students: Provide assistance to students with educational, career-related or personal issues such as course selection, school adjustment en social integration, career exploration and planning, and family problems.

ISCO group and title

2423 – Personnel and careers professionals

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Career guidance advisor – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022