HayU Blog

The Pivotal Role of a Career Consultant 

Big Dreams

We ask young children what they want to be when they grow up.  We challenge high school and college students to choose their majors. And we expect them to find a job, develop a career, support themselves...and, of course, be happy!

Young children usually have an answer when someone asks them what they want to be when they grow up. 

Firefighter. Musician. Actor. We often find ourselves telling them they can be anything they want to be.  And all too often, we stop talking with our children about job paths and careers until we suddenly need them to have one.  And right away.

Some are blessed to know from an early age what they want to be….and they go straight for the golden ring. The rest of us inevitably take detours and off-road journeys as we sort out majors, try out internships, jobs, and earn additional degrees.

But what happens to all the optimists when swimming with dolphins doesn’t lead to a career as a marine biologist?  Or the online followers don’t follow and would-be influencers need a Plan B? 

Don’t panic – Just like many things in life, helping ourselves and others choose who and what we want to be when we grow up is a process of discovery. Whether job seekers tap online assessments, family connections, or work with a professional like myself, there are definitely best practices for guiding young adults into the world of work before and after college.

Assessment Tools

In our digital age, the job search has become increasingly complex.  Online tools and assessment opportunities abound, but they’re not helpful without a good understanding of self, a firm knowledge of options and a viable, staged plan of action.

Most assessments ask questions and generate suggestions intended to help us learn something about ourselves. But that can be overwhelming, especially to a young adult who just wants someone to tell them what to do or who to be!  

Still, it’s a good idea to take more than one assessment to see a fuller picture of yourself. I prefer those that provide “jumping off” places for discussion and exploration and use only those that I think will give a client useful and practical information. Working with a consultant to carefully curate which assessments work best for each job seeker can be time and treasure well spent.  

Once we’ve used assessments to identify skills, aptitudes, and have ideas about personality and interests, job seekers will have greater self-awareness. They’ll be able to articulate what matters to them, match their skills to a variety of occupations, and strategically chart their future in achievable steps–armed with that self-awareness.

Today’s Market

The world is very different from years ago when many of us joined the workforce.  It’s now much more important that job applicants focus on measurable skills rather than occupations and job titles. 

There are so many great jobs now that didn’t exist five years ago.  And in another five years, there will be even more new positions and emerging professions to discover. People will need transferable skills that will work in many different arenas and across a variety of industries. 

Once they understand that this is a process, a young adult can prepare a strong “elevator” speech, know how to explore the landscape, conduct a job search, network and interview.  Job search techniques may look different now and the best tools have become more sophisticated, but this reality still holds true:  knowing our skills, talents, passions and goals remains key to being prepared for our first jobs and any future ones!   

When to Call a Career Counselor

If someone is swimming in circles and still can’t make heads or tails of their future, it can be empowering to have someone like me pull all the moving parts together to map a pathway to success. From guidance on volunteering, interning and job shadowing to conducting online research and networking with family and friends, utilizing multiple resources and gathering experiences are all critical action steps.

Together we can explore potential careers and develop rewarding paths to find the success and satisfaction we all deserve.  For as long as we are eager and able to work, it’s never too late to change jobs and careers–even if we can’t all be firefighters and ballerinas. 

by Diane Geller, MA, CEP

About Diane 

Diane studied College Student Development at George Washington University and earned a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Redlands.  She is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) and past President of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Click here to learn more about her and her services.