Careers consultant: Job description and activities
Job description
A careers consultant provides support on all aspects of career management and development, using guidance, counselling, coaching and advisory techniques to assist clients to clarify and achieve career and work goals. Many careers consultants work within an organisation, guiding and advising employees, often individually but also in groups. A large number of careers consultants work on a freelance basis with individual fee-paying clients in a private setting.
The role overlaps with that of Human resources officer and Occupational psychologist, as well as Careers adviser/personal adviser. Careers consultants should not be confused with Recruitment consultants, who look for suitable candidates to fill their clients' vacancies.
Typical work activities
Typical activities include:
- conducting one-to-one consultations with clients, most commonly face-to-face, but also more frequently via telephone, Skype or email - usually in-depth initial consultations lasting about an hour and involving some form of work history analysis, with a number of similar follow-up consultations thereafter;
- looking in detail at past skills and working experience to help clients identify their strengths, weaknesses, career motivation and goals;
- supporting teams and individuals through periods of organisational change;
- advising on career change or development by enabling clients to assess their skills and abilities, explore options for learning and work, and create action plans to take steps to implement decisions;
- helping people to understand and identify their skills, abilities and interests and to make decisions based on what is suitable for their lifestyle and circumstances;
- administering and interpreting psychometric tests of aptitude, personality, interests, learning and working styles, motivation and team dynamics, and providing detailed feedback;
- making recommendations and discussing options based on psychometric test results and other information supplied by clients to assist them in making informed decisions suitable to their personal circumstances;
- providing information and advice on job search techniques, including looking for vacancies, making applications, assessing and creating CVs and going for interviews;
- providing mock interviews and advice to improve clients' interview technique;
- planning and delivering group workshops covering career management skills and creative job searching, including organising external speakers;
- carrying out desk research, using the internet to respond to client queries, and writing career-related articles;
- reviewing, updating, developing and disseminating careers information resources, both printed and electronic;
- coaching and motivating clients to make career decisions, encouraging and congratulating them on any improvements made and setting new targets;
- offering counselling on issues affecting work and career, including stress management, difficulties in balancing work and home life commitments, redundancy and retirement;
- working with external agencies or professionals on referral of clients.
Consultants working for small businesses also devote some time to business administration and marketing their services to establish a client group.
AGCAS
Written by Louise Pardoe, AGCAS
