Adult guidance worker
Adult guidance workers help clients clarify options about their future by offering information, advice and guidance on education, training and work opportunities. They frequently work with people at times of transition brought about by factors such as redundancy, health issues, or a desire or need to change career.
Work may focus on hard to reach or marginalised groups including unemployed or disabled people and people with few educational qualifications.
Whatever the setting, whether as part of a team in a large organisation or as a sole operator in a voluntary group, an adult guidance worker focuses on enabling clients to move forward in their personal development, education and professional training.
Adult guidance workers may work with individuals or groups in a variety of settings.
Tasks typically involve:
This area of work is open to graduates qualified in all subject areas. Your subject of study is less important than having the right personal qualities and evidence of real commitment to, and interest in, the fields of education, training and employment and the needs of adult learners.
Entry without a degree or HND is possible for those with relevant experience who are prepared to train on the job.
After gaining some relevant experience, many graduate entrants go on to complete a professional qualification, such as the Qualification in Careers Guidance (QCG) awarded by the Institute of Career Guidance (ICG) . Postgraduate training in counselling, teaching or social work is also relevant.
Other graduates start by working in a related field, such as information management or community work, and often gain additional experience in a voluntary capacity while undertaking NVQ qualifications in information, advice and guidance (IAG). This is often a feasible route for graduates who are unable to undertake the QCG. A Level 4 NVQ has become a common baseline qualification for posts in the field.
Guidance companies, such as Connexions Direct and others based in large urban areas, sometimes offer trainee posts open to people with relevant experience and suitable personal skills and qualities. Training in careers guidance plus some initial experience may lead to opportunities in adult guidance.
Pre-entry experience is essential and work in any of the following areas would be relevant:
Voluntary experience is just as valuable as employed experience and will provide clear evidence of commitment. Your local branch of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) is a good place to start initial enquiries about opportunities.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
This is an area where work and life experience are valued and the role is a second or even third career for many people.
Competition for jobs may be stiff. Keep up to date with current issues and read relevant publications and key websites to help improve your chances. Consider joining a professional association, such as the ICG, as a student member and, if you know which area of the UK you wish to work in, start networking by attending events and meetings.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
There are opportunities for practice-based training and academic study leading to a higher degree. If you are already working in a guidance capacity, either paid or voluntary, you can study for NVQs in Advice and Guidance at levels 3 and 4. These are competency-based qualifications, linked to your ability to perform a range of tasks connected with your work.
The Qualification in Careers Guidance (QCG), awarded by the Institute of Career Guidance (ICG) , is a university-based course that students undertake on either a one-year full-time or two-year part-time basis (not all centres offer a part-time option). Students who successfully complete the QCG might then be required to undertake the NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance while working. (Academic and practical experience gained during the QCG course counts towards the required NVQ evidence.)
Continuing professional development (CPD) takes many forms including short courses, conferences, visits and work shadowing. It is an important aspect of guidance work and practitioners are expected to be reflective, constantly evaluating and developing their work. Systems of supervision and peer review are becoming more structured.
Adult guidance workers often progress from other roles, such as careers adviser, personal adviser, or adult or community education worker, into a specialist adult guidance role.
Career development may be horizontal, for example providing the opportunity to develop research skills by undertaking a project on the needs of a particular group. Sometimes career moves are forced by changes in funding and contract requirements.
There is some scope for promotion to team leader roles. Team leaders support their colleagues with their training and development and in some cases undertake formal supervision.
Various management roles exist, although these may offer less opportunity for client contact.
Responsibilities may include:
Opportunities are also available in related areas, such as careers consultancy within private firms, higher education careers advice or training.
The number and type of organisations that employ staff in information, advice and guidance (IAG) functions have expanded over recent years. You may need to look beyond the job title to identify possible opportunities as only a few go under the heading of adult guidance worker.
Organisation and funding structures vary across the UK and this in turn affects the types of employment available. Adult guidance in Scotland is mainly delivered by Careers Scotland , in Wales by Careers Wales and in Northern Ireland by EGSA (Educational Guidance Service for Adults) .
In England, the Next Step careers advice service is offered by a range of organisations including Connexions Direct and private careers companies.
Opportunities for employment may also arise in colleges, community, voluntary and charity organisations, private careers consultancies and private industry.
Most relevant employers advertise vacancies rather than recruit from speculative applications, but it is still worth actively networking to find out who is delivering services in any particular area.
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