The turn of the 21st century has opened doors for students to a plethora of career options.
New colleges are opening up, offering students a variety of novel courses. Professions such as make up artists, DJs, photographers and wedding choreographers, which were met with skepticism till a few years back are now being seen as viable career options. Parents are also opening up to the idea of their children pursuing run off the mill careers. Gone are the days when intelligent students were expected to only follow professions such as law, medicine, teaching and engineering.
While the new career avenues might create excitement among some students, the vast variety of choices can also be a source of stress and confusion. Children often struggle to decide where their true area of interest lies. They also experience pressure to conform to their parents wishes and often wind up in a career they have neither interest in nor aptitude for.
While selecting a career some students single handedly focus on the careers that interest them, others are motivated by monetary factors while some others chose the career which their circumstances allow them to pursue. In reality students should pick a career based on an amalgamation of the above. While selecting a career based on your interest is vital, it is equally important to assess the career opportunities in the market, the earning capacity you will enjoy and the ease of attaining the opportunity.
Career counselling is the professional guidance of an individual using psychological methods such as assessments, interviewing etc.
Career counselling helps a person identify and develop his/her educational and professional vocations and interests. A thorough career guidance session with a psychologist entails the following steps-
Career Assessments
Depending on the suitability of the individual, appropriate psychological assessments are administered to understand his/her interests, ability, strengths and weaknesses. Comprehensive tests lead us to the formation of a profile based on which further guidance is provided.
Career Guidance
Based on the profile, interests, aptitude and personality of the individual, direction is provided about the most suitable career options.
Career Decision Making
We help the individual narrow down their options in accordance with their values, goals, aspirations and reach new heights
Family members, and relatives are the most accessible sources of advice however, a professional counsellor is trained in objectively assessing the student’s interests and assisting them weigh the pros and cons of all the career choices in front of them. Being a trained professional, he/she can address their concerns, allay their anxiety and motivate them to move towards their goals. Career Counselling is useful not only while embarking on your first job/selecting a college, it is also used for making a mid career transition and growing in your jobs. Through career counselling, individuals learn to evaluate their present skills and explore ways to develop new skills.
When you select a career based on your interests, aptitude, environmental variables and one that is attuned to your values and future goals you are likely to attain higher career success and personal satisfaction.
This article is authored by Megha Yadav for KCCW.