November is career month, and in honour of that, we’ve put together a list of some of the top myths about career counselling. If you’re looking to explore career counselling but have some hesitations, this list may help to clarify any misconceptions you might have and get you started on the right track towards finding the career you want.
- It’s only for high school or university students
In actuality, career counselling is relevant across the working life. It not only benefits first-time career planners, such as those still in school, but also mid-career changers who may be dissatisfied with their current career. Career counselling can also help stay-at-home parents who want to return to work, as well as retirees who are looking to determine what a post-career life looks like for them. Career counselling truly helps a diverse range of individuals across different age groups and career stages.
- Career counselling is just a bunch of aptitude tests designed to provide you with a list of suitable career options
Completing tests like the Strong Interest Inventory (SII) are often components of the career counselling process, because they help to formally identify your interests and strengths. However, career counselling is also much more than this. At Defining Solutions it is composed of steps starting with self-exploration and awareness, identifying career options, researching career options, and finally, decision making and goal setting. Throughout this process, our aim is to help you clarify what your ideal career looks like and help you work towards achieving it.
- You need to find a career that satisfies all of your interests
When you look at all of our interests across a wide variety of domains, it is fairly unrealistic to assume that you will be able to find a career that satisfies each and every one of them. This would be an unachievable expectation to hold from the get-go and stand in your way of finding the career that you want. Rather, it’s about determining which interests are most important to you and which can be fulfilled in a career context. Career counselling can help to clarify this.
- Career counselling is essentially like going to a staffing or placement agency
Career counselling is more about exploring what type of career you want and helping you to implement the steps necessary to achieving it. Although we can’t offer you a list of available jobs that match your interests or put you in touch with potential employers, we can help with job search assistance. For example, we can start by helping you to develop a targeted job search plan. We can also assist with aspects of the job search process from constructing effective resumes and cover letters, to preparing for interviews.
- It will take too long and I don’t have the time
Career counselling typically follows a much more structured schedule than other personal or couples counselling. On average, we help guide clients develop a career plan in 5-7 one hour sessions. When you think about the length of this process relative to the length of time you will hold any particular job for, it’s a relatively short amount of time. Not to mention, the payoff can be significant in helping you to find a career that you can be happy and satisfied with in the long run.
- I need to be looking for a new career to go to career counselling
Career counselling can also help you to make the most out of the career you are currently in. Whether you are looking to better manage workplace stress, or work on improving your weaknesses while fostering your strengths, meeting with a career counsellor can help you to improve on all of these. Career counselling can also be for those who love their career and want to take the next steps to make the most of it.