Career guidance contains services that assist individuals victoriously manage their career development. Career development, an aspect of human development, is the procedure through which an individual’s work identity emerges. However it will occur on its own as you mature, you might benefit from getting help as you navigate through this process, which can be quite confusing at times.

Several people seek out assistance from career development professionals only when they are trying to select a career for the first time, or perhaps when they are going through a transition. The intent of career guidance, however, is to give support to individuals throughout their entire lives. Let’s take a look at when, during your career, you should get help.

Get Assistance When You Are selecting a Career

Far too many individuals are dissatisfied with what they do for a living. Why is that? They make errors when choosing a career and end up in an occupation that isn’t a good fit. That’s not surprising since going through the career planning procedure, the four steps one should take when choosing a career, is difficult. It may seem like it would just be easier to pick an occupation out of a hat.

While making a random choice might be simpler, it is surely not wise. Given the amount of time you spend at work, you should do everything possible to make a well-informed decision. Getting assistance from a professional who provides career guidance can be the difference between ending up in a satisfying career or one that makes you miserable.

A career development professional, like a career counselor, may use self assessment instruments to assist you learn about your interests, values, skills, and personality type. After coming up with a list of occupations that seem suitable for you based on the results, he or she can show you how to explore them and then weed out the ones that aren’t as good a fit as others. Then, the counselor can assist you create a career action plan that will allow you to pursue the occupation you chose.

Get Assistance With Your Job Search

What is the point of selecting a vocation if you do not know how to find a job? Career guidance also contains job search assistance when you are looking for your first job or any subsequent ones. The way in which we seek for work has changed significantly over the last decades, and it continues to change. Career guidance professionals keep up-to-date on the best methods to use when job searching.

A career counselor will indicate you what resources to use to locate job announcements. He or she will assist you write an effective resume and will teach you how to network. When it comes time to go on job interviews, you can also get advice on how to best answer questions and negotiate a job offer.

Get Mid-Career Suggestion

In addition to getting assistance with matters that involve starting your career, such as choosing a vocation or securing your first job, you can also get direction about things that occur later. For instance, career guidance services also include helping individuals advance their careers and deal with workplace issues.

A career development expert can answer your questions about career advancement. He or she can tell you what to do to be promoted or get a raise, or even assist you decide whether to quit your job. You can get suggestion about getting along with coworkers and your boss, preparing for and responding to performance reviews, and managing job stress and burnout.

Get Assistance If You Lose Your Job

Job loss is devastating both financially and emotionally. When you lose your job, a piece of your identity is also taken away. The most tangible result, although, is the loss of income. Assisting those who are addressing with this devastating life change is a component of career guidance. Since you probably do not need to spend extra money when you are already feeling distressed about your finances, you should look into free or low-cost career guidance services, as will be discussed later on.

A career counselor or other advisor can help newly unemployed clients to cope with practical problems such as applying for unemployment benefits and continuing health insurance. Eventually, he or she can assist the client begin the job search process. They can also get encouragement and advice from professionals and, through support groups, from others who are in the same situation.

Get Suggestion About Making a Career Change

Since most individuals do not stay in the same occupation for their entire working lives—some individuals even switch careers several times—there will probably come a time when you will want to make a change. A career guidance professional can give you advice when you are taking on this kind of transition.

Meet with a career development specialist who can assist you assess your transferable skills. With his or her assistance, you can discover what skills you can bring to your new occupation and which ones you will need to acquire before you can begin a new career.

Get Motivation from Career Guidance

When you are engaged in the day-to-day tasks of making a living, searching for a new job, or making another change, sometimes you just require an unbiased cheerleader by your side. Your partner, friends, and family have a stake in your future and might have difficulty being impartial. For instance, if you require encouragement to make a big career change but your partner is worried about how it will affect your finances, a professional advisor who does not have any skin in the game can be just what you need.

A career guidance professional can encourage you when things aren’t going the way you would like. He / she will encourage you not to give up whether you are stuck in an unsuccessful job search campaign or having trouble making a decision about leaving a career behind and pursuing a new one, even if it will be difficult to retrain. He or she can give you a realistic look at what to expect, tell you whether you are making a wise decision, and cheer you on when you feel like giving up.

Where Can You Acquire Career Guidance

Professionals who give career guidance involve career counselors and career development facilitators. School guidance counselors provide these services to middle and high school students, who can acquire an early start on making career-related decisions. A college student can seek career counseling from the career services office at his or her institution.

Career centers in public libraries are a great source of free career planning assistance. Librarians can teach you to use all the resources and tools. Many also have counseling services available. In addition, many community agencies provide free or low-cost vocational assistance, including occupational training programs and workshops on job search skills. One-Stop Career Centers, which the U.S. Department of Labor sponsors, are situated throughout the country. These offices provide tools and services to help job seekers and students.