Career counselling session

A text by Natasa Ivanovska

How does a career counselling session look?
The session is a structured conversation between the counsellor and client, who has an objective and expectation that are defined at the beginning of the session. The goal of the session is determined by the client – it’s typically based on a ceratin need that the client has at the moment. It usually lasts up to an hour and always ends with conclusions and activities that the client decited to take up based on the discussion with the counsellor.

Introduction
The first session is an introduction – we need to find out a bit about the client, gain mutual trust, find out the general needs of the client and the readiness of the career counsellor to lead the conversation. We often say that we "have chemistry" with another person, we get along easily and can have an open conversation. That chemistry is where the mutual trust is based in and it’s a key condition for the counselling’s success.

Trust and honesty
Honesty toward the counsellor is highly needed. If we have any questions – we need to ask openly. What experience do they have? Which diplomas? Who’d recommend them? How do they secure the conversation’s security? Without finding out what interests us about the counsellor, we can’t get into a conversation in which we’re ready to reveal personal, confidential info. Therefore, the first step is establishing trust. The counsellor needs to have trust too – They need to know that they’re dealing with a person with sincere intentions and a need for counsel.

The session’s goal
A session without a goal is a regular conversation. It could be pleasant, But nothing specific can be gained from it. Therefore, be ready for the question: What goal do you have for the counselling session?

A conversation lead by questions
The main tool of the counsellor are questions. They will mainly ask open questions such as: What does that mean for you? What do you mean by that? What are your other options? What’s your best solution? Many questions that with their answers, coming from within give the session it’s value.

Tests, excercises, activites
The career counsellor, by their estimation can recommend tests, activites, excercises etc. They will explain them in detail and ask for your consent. They carry very useful insights for you as a person regarding the subject at hand.

Conclusion and further steps
The session ends with a summary and further steps (a general plan going forward). Usually the format is an action plan, that can help the client get closer to the session goal. Sometimes only one session is needed to get a conclusion, Sometimes the process lasts longer. What’s guaranteed is that after a career counselling session we have a much easier time establishing rules, informed decisions about anything career related.