Become a Career Consultant: Education and Career Roadmap
Career consultants - also called career coaches, career advisors or career counselors - are professionals who assist people in making employment choices. They may work on a freelance basis, for universities or for private consulting firms.
Step 1: Earn a Degree
Although there are many educational routes individuals can take to becoming career consultants, there are certain degree programs that may be particularly relevant. Candidates may consider bachelor's degree programs in fields such as psychology, counseling, marketing and communication. Professionals seeking to enhance their career prospects may also consider attaining master's degrees in these or similar fields; a graduate degree is often necessary for those seeking an official counseling position.
Step 2: Volunteer with a College Career Center
One way to gain experience is by volunteering or working part-time at a college career center while pursuing a degree. Individuals gain an array of valuable skills by reviewing resumes, conducting mock interviews and networking. These skills may also benefit career advisers in the future when they do their own job hunting.
Step 3: Acquire Certification or Licensure
Aspiring career consultants may consider pursuing certification in order to legitimize their services. There are numerous professional organizations available to individuals seeking certification. These include associations such as the Coach Training Alliance, the International Coach Federation, the Coaches Training Institute and the National Career Development Association. Those planning on pursuing careers as career advisors within in high schools may need to attain state licensing.
Step 4: Gain Work Experience
Although career coaches, counselors and advisor all consult people on making job-related decisions, these titles are not exactly the same. Career counselors typically hold specialized graduate degrees and may need to obtain licensure, depending on their state of employment. On the other hand, the field of career coaching/consulting is unregulated.
Nonetheless, these professionals share many of the same tasks and duties. They may need to administer personality assessments and inventories, conduct counseling sessions, assist clients through career transitions, conduct phone consultations and teach job-search skills.