Career Counselor or Career Coach?

Career Counselor or Career Coach?

Are you curious as to whether they should seek out services from a Career Counselor or Career Coach?

Julie LaCroix

Career Counseling is very different from Career Coaching. Generally, a career counselor provides direction, whereas career coach provides action planning. They have very different training though they work in complementary roles.

FOCUS AREAS:

A Career Coach focuses on job searching and developing resumes, cover letters and interview prep. They work primarily with clients already in transition. They provide job searching support and advice, and sometimes fine tune your career direction.

A Career Counselor works with clients who are considering a career change. These clients need guidance, assessment, information, and career strategy advice. These clients may work in a job or industry they find unfulfilling, or are returning to the workforce, or perhaps they are a college grad establishing their career for the first time. These professionals provide assessments and guidance through individual and group sessions.

TRAINING:

A Career Counselor’s core training is in the theories and models about adult career choice across the adult lifespan and preferably, they are also knowledgeable about psychology.  They are trained to identify career stages, barriers to career selection, and help a client see a more optimal alignment in the job force. Their training comes from a Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Psychology, Career Counseling, or Clinical Counseling and often they seek a designation as a Certified Career Counselor with the National Career Development Association (www.ncda.org).

NCDA

NCDA is the professional association that sets the standards for career counseling in the US and although there are standards and designation levels set forth by this well-respected organization, career counseling as a profession is not therapy and is unregulated. Buyer beware! Always seek a career counselor with a designation from the NCDA who meets the national standards, and you can do this by looking on the NCDA website.

CAREER COACHES

A Career Coach may provide resume and cover letter writing and basic job coaching sessions and interview techniques. TheY often have experience in HR or Recruiting, and they really enjoyed working directly with candidates. There are several groups offering career coaching certifications and training. This industry is not regulated, but there are governing bodies and credentials offered by well-respected organizations like CCE Global and International Coaches Federation, among many many others.

A career coach can be anyone who has a particular interest in helping others in their careers, with or without formal training. Usually career coaches have a natural gift or talent for working with others and may or may not have a coaching certification. So again, buyer beware.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The best place to find a career coach is through word of mouth referrals, online searching in your area, and always the NCDA.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CAREER COUNSELOR OR CAREER COACH:

Ideally, look for a career counselor who is also an excellent career coach, or works in conjunction with one, or who can refer you to one.  Career coaching is the mobilization of a plan you make with your career counselor.

Always look for someone who:

• you click with
• understands career theory and adult career development topics comprehensively
• has experience working with your demographic
• understands the current job market economics and labor market structure
• has the top credentials in your area

Good luck! Click here to contact Julie LaCroix

Julie LaCroix, M.A. Ed. is a Certified Career Counselor with the National Career Development Association. (Certification #: CA-5614373605)