How to Hire a Career Counselor

Has your career reached a turning point? Are you miserable in your job or looking for strategic routes to climb the corporate ladder? Do you need to conduct a job search? Career counselors are especially effective at providing assistance to people whose careers are in transition.

Step 1:  Find out what the fees are and what services are offered. Will you be taking any self-assessment tests? Will the counselor help you polish your job-hunting skills and build up your network? Do you need to work on communicating more effectively to be more successful in your current job?

Step 2:  Ask about credentials. To be called a career counselor you must have a master's degree in counseling with a specialty in career counseling. What kind of clients has he or she worked with?

Step 3:  Develop realistic time frames to accomplish the goals you've set.

Step 4:  Take self-assessment tests and personality inventories as your counselor directs. Fill out any questionnaires that will help identify and clarify your values. Your counselor will show you how the results relate to your career and how to maximize your strengths.

Step 5:  Follow your counselor's guidance and explore career options, develop strategies, gather information, hone your communication skills, and much more.