What does a career counselor do?
A career counselor specializes in assisting clients in their career-related decisions. Utilizing their expertise in career development, they typically meet with clients to discuss their short-term and long-term goals, identify their needs and concerns, conduct different aptitude tests and examinations, organize skills assessment procedures, and provide strategies to improve or enhance their skills and abilities. Aside from providing consultations, a career counselor may also assist clients in processing and establishing their resumes, supporting them every step of the way.
Career counselor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real career counselor resumes:
- Monitor and manage IEP forms and certifications to adhere to program requirements.
- Interpret PSAT results with parents and students through education workshop.
- Coordinate transitioning veterans with community hiring facilities in the areas of their desire location.
- Provide information to individuals on matters pertaining to social security, veterans administration, and uniform service health benefits program.
- Provide testing, including TABE, Proveit and Oscar.
- Develop new intake orientation and TABE testing process for prospective participants.
Career counselor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Career Counselors are proficient in Career Development, Career Services, and Professional Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Career Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Career Development, 12%
Provided educational, vocational, personal, social and career development counseling to students within the Business Administration program.
- Career Services, 7%
Conducted classroom presentations designed to increase student understanding of career services and motivation to access them.
- Professional Development, 6%
Conducted professional development programs; maintained publications; compiled data; prepared reports; planned reenlistment ceremonies; performed follow-ups.
- Career Planning, 5%
Advised Junior and Senior undergraduate students regarding career planning and future academic endeavors.
- Mental Health, 5%
Suggest innovated ways to interact with specific mental health populations by way of assessment and individual therapy techniques.
- Career Exploration, 5%
Teach curriculum fostering post secondary and career exploration, financial literacy, leadership and community volunteerism.
Common skills that a career counselor uses to do their job include "career development," "career services," and "professional development." You can find details on the most important career counselor responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a career counselor to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." Additionally, a career counselor resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "provided identification of behavioral, mental health, substance abuse, relational and interpersonal difficulties. "
Listening skills. Many career counselor duties rely on listening skills. "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems.," so a career counselor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways career counselor responsibilities rely on listening skills: "communicated with students and parents for career options. "
Speaking skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of career counselors is speaking skills. This skill is critical to many everyday career counselor duties, as "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "organized and presented workshops to educate students and graduates on legal career options. "
Analytical skills. career counselor responsibilities often require "analytical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." This resume example shows what career counselors do with analytical skills on a typical day: "achieved 65% student retention and recruitment by creating career workshops, data management, and outreach programs. "
The three companies that hire the most career counselors are:
- Management & Training8 career counselors jobs
- Pico de Gallo
6 career counselors jobs
- Job Corps4 career counselors jobs
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Compare different career counselors
Career counselor 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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a career counselor are more likely to require skills like "career development," "career services," "career planning," and "mental health." On the other hand, a job as an admissions advisor requires skills like "customer service," "admissions process," "outbound calls," and "enrollment process." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Admissions advisors tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $52,662. In contrast, career counselors make the biggest average salary, $51,428, in the technology industry.On average, admissions advisors reach lower levels of education than career counselors. Admissions advisors are 10.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Career counselor vs. Vocational rehabilitation counselor
The primary role of a vocational rehabilitation counselor is to help disabled people to live fully and independently. Vocational rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities in securing employment. They provide health care to those who are coping with mental illness, substance abuse issues, psychological disorders, or physical disabilities. Knowledge of patient care, health management, rehabilitation program, and clinical psychology is a must for this job.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real career counselor resumes. While career counselor responsibilities can utilize skills like "career development," "career services," "professional development," and "career planning," vocational rehabilitation counselors use skills like "rehabilitation," "substance abuse," "transferable," and "plan development."
Vocational rehabilitation counselors may earn a higher salary than career counselors, but vocational rehabilitation counselors earn the most pay in the non profits industry with an average salary of $51,785. On the other hand, career counselors receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $51,428.vocational rehabilitation counselors earn higher levels of education than career counselors in general. They're 12.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for career counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Shelley Sadin
Associate Dean of Professional and Career Development, Quinnipiac University
Career counselor vs. Career services advisor
The job of a career services advisor is to work with groups and individuals in determining skills and strengthen recruitment potential. Career services advisors maintain web and print resources for employers and students. They administer the career evaluations of individuals, and teach them about resume writing and interviewing for jobs. They make a resolution for issues associated with employment. Their job involves developing and managing parent volunteer groups implementing an assessment process for feedback from students and speakers.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, career counselors are more likely to have skills like "career development," "mental health," "financial aid," and "community resources." But a career services advisor is more likely to have skills like "alumni," "customer service," "data entry," and "criminal justice."
Career services advisors earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $47,666. Career counselors earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $51,428.Most career services advisors achieve a lower degree level compared to career counselors. For example, they're 10.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Career counselor vs. Student support counselor
A student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.
Types of career counselor
Updated January 8, 2025
