You snooze the alarm for what seems to be the millionth time. You wake from a nice dream, and then your insides turn into ice; you realize you have to go into work. Again. You drag yourself out of bed and force yourself to get dressed.
As you head to work, the feeling of dread you’ve had since you woke up grows stronger. If you relate to this feeling, it might just be time for a career change.
A lot of us can get stuck in the same job for a long, long time. Maybe you’ve stuck with your job because of familiarity or comfort, or maybe you were just too scared to quit. Maybe you’re fresh out of university and wondering what to do next.
With all these career situations, what you need is a little extra help. A career counselor may just be what you’re looking for. A career counselor is someone trained to help you with your career choices. Whether you’re new to the working world or are seeking to switch jobs, a career counselor will guide you in the best possible direction.
Google ‘career counselor’, and nearly a million results pop up. While this makes for a wide variety of choices, it also begs the question “How do I know which one’s right for me?”
Luckily, there are certain guidelines you can follow to find the perfect career counselor for you. Let’s take a look.
Make It Official
Hiring a career counselor is not the same as hiring other professionals, like a doctor or a lawyer. There is no official licensing agency for career counselors, which is why you’ll find a wide range of experts with varying levels of quality. Because of this, it’s important that you do your research right.
Career counselors can receive certification through the International Coaches Federation (ICF). Another option is finding a coach through the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARCC), which also offers certification. Both organizations allow you to search for licensed career coaches on their websites for free.
However, just because a counselor has a certificate doesn’t necessarily make them better than others—there are still plenty of good coaches that lack certificates.
Use logic, and ask around about the results they’ve achieved with other clients. If they have a few years’ worth of experience in the field, that helps.
However, just finding any old career counselor won’t do. You need to find someone who fits your needs, and understands your field of expertise.
Tailored To Your Needs
When you first go to search for career counselors in India, your colleagues, friends, and family are bound to have a lot of opinions. Personal references may seem like an ideal way of finding a coach, but they aren’t always your best bet.
Since career counselling is incredibly personal, a particular personality might work well for your friend, but could turn out to be a disaster for you. That’s why it’s a good idea to find a career counselor that specializes in your areas of interest. Keep in mind that these don’t have to be specific interests – they just have to be in your general area of interest.
Picking the right career counselor for you can be tough. However, follow these tips and you’re sure to find the one that’s best for you.