What does a career consultant do?
Career consultants are professionals trained to assist people with their career choice. The consultants help their clients in exploring career options then teach them how to search for a job. They provide professionals advice about their employment, training, and progression. They help their clients in exploring career options and search for jobs. It is their duty to administer their career assessments and teach them how to write a resume and resolve work-related issues. Also, they encounter uncertain futures and look for a fresh start.
Career consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real career consultant resumes:
- Manage payroll, benefits and insurance administration.
- Perform such duties as heavy data entry for TANF program.
- Maintain a caseload of customer's that are receiving TANF and Medicaid to ensure compliance are kept for assistance.
- Develop and facilitate outplacement programs across healthcare, scientific research and higher education sectors.
- Require to travel and provide services in Raleigh, Fayette, and Nicholas counties.
- Present instructional/DW PowerPoint presentations to students every last semester.
- Participate in job development through committee assessments to include analyze student records to determine accomplishments, job ethics and employability advantages.
Career consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Career Consultants are proficient in Career Development, Career Planning, and Career Exploration. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Speaking skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Career Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Career Development, 13%
Created career development curriculum, workshops, and materials for Career Services and academic community.
- Career Planning, 9%
Advised students regarding academic coursework and career planning.
- Career Exploration, 9%
Provided educational and career exploration and goal setting.
- Career Services, 8%
Cultivated new, and maintains current relationships with Academic community in support of Career Services initiatives.
- Interview Preparation, 5%
Provide job market search services; job lead generation; networking techniques; interview preparation; and salary negotiation to clients.
- Career Assessments, 4%
Performed career assessments, evaluated and revised resumes, developed marketing and job search strategies for the various clients.
Most career consultants use their skills in "career development," "career planning," and "career exploration" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential career consultant responsibilities here:
Listening skills. One of the key soft skills for a career consultant to have is listening skills. You can see how this relates to what career consultants do because "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems." Additionally, a career consultant resume shows how career consultants use listening skills: "consulted and communicated with local businesses by telephone and in person on individual job needs. "
Speaking skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling career consultant duties is speaking skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." According to a career consultant resume, here's how career consultants can utilize speaking skills in their job responsibilities: "presented workshops to national and international groups on educational and career planning and helping youth plan for careers. "
Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of career consultants is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday career consultant duties, as "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "case managed clients in texas workforce commission database, facilitated employment planning session workshops and career development. "
Interpersonal skills. For certain career consultant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a career consultant rely on this skill, as "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what career consultants do: "performed groups for interpersonal skills, anger management skills, and social skills. "
The three companies that hire the most career consultants are:
- Aerotek6 career consultants jobs
- R&R Insurance4 career consultants jobs
- Sysco3 career consultants jobs
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Compare different career consultants
Career consultant vs. Evaluator
An evaluator is responsible for assessing a speakers' speech, identifying areas of improvement, and providing constructive feedback to hone their communication skills and boost their self-confidence. Evaluators analyze speech delivery, including unnecessary fillers and mannerisms that may distract the audience from the speaker's presentation. They also identify the speakers' strengths and weaknesses in presenting to the public, suggesting recommendations on speech content and structure. An evaluator must have excellent communication and observation skills, especially on highlighting the key aspects that would affect the connection between the speaker and the audience.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, career consultant responsibilities require skills like "career development," "career planning," "career exploration," and "career services." Meanwhile a typical evaluator has skills in areas such as "patients," "social work," "customer service," and "rehabilitation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Evaluators tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $56,245. In contrast, career consultants make the biggest average salary, $54,359, in the education industry.evaluators tend to reach higher levels of education than career consultants. In fact, evaluators are 5.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Career consultant vs. Admissions advisor
The admissions advisor's work involves meeting with potential students and organizing recruitment events in the admissions offices of colleges and universities. Their tasks also include informing students and families about the application process, requirements for admission, financial aid, and enrollment steps. Moreover, they can answer frequently asked questions about the school to help potential students decide whether it is a good fit. In addition, they may also leave campus to help in promoting the school at college and university fairs.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real career consultant resumes. While career consultant responsibilities can utilize skills like "career development," "career planning," "career exploration," and "career services," admissions advisors use skills like "customer service," "admissions process," "outbound calls," and "enrollment process."
Admissions advisors may earn a higher salary than career consultants, but admissions advisors earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $52,662. On the other hand, career consultants receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $54,359.In general, admissions advisors achieve similar levels of education than career consultants. They're 4.6% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 2.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for career consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Shelley Sadin
Associate Dean of Professional and Career Development, Quinnipiac University
Career consultant vs. Student advisor
A student advisor is responsible for supporting the students' personal growth and development by guiding them on their learning processes and educational goals. Student advisors provide regular counseling for the students to analyze their career aspirations, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and strategize learning plans to address those difficulties. They also coordinate with the students' parents and guardians to report the students' progress and determine appropriate scholastic solutions. A student advisor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when handling students' different needs and concerns.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, career consultants are more likely to have skills like "career development," "career exploration," "career services," and "interview preparation." But a student advisor is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "student services," "international student," and "sevis."
Student advisors make a very good living in the education industry with an average annual salary of $40,721. On the other hand, career consultants are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $54,359.student advisors typically earn similar educational levels compared to career consultants. Specifically, they're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Career consultant vs. Student mentor
A student mentor is responsible for guiding the students on their educational and professional development by encouraging the students to reach their maximum potential, helping them with their study habits and academic concerns. Student mentors widen the social connection of the students by recommending them to join school activities and other educational organizations. They analyze the students' strengths and weaknesses and implement strategies to address those difficulties. A student mentor also advises the students of their potential careers, considering their interests and social experience.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between career consultants and student mentors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a career consultant might have more use for skills like "career development," "career exploration," "career services," and "interview preparation." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of student mentors require skills like "role model," "student life," "mathematics," and "academic support. "
Student mentors enjoy the best pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $33,166. For comparison, career consultants earn the highest salary in the education industry.The average resume of student mentors showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to career consultants. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 6.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.5%.Updated January 8, 2025
