Careers consultant

Careers consultant job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Careers consultants undertake a wide range of duties including:

• assessing clients' personal characteristics, skills and interests via one-to-one interviews and/or group sessions;
• providing appropriate help, advice and recommendations based on interviews/test results;
• running workshops;
• offering practical assistance with job-seeking, applications/CVs and interviews;
• administering and interpreting psychometric and personality tests;
• helping clients to solve problems and manage their own careers;
• aiding clients in their search for appropriate employment;
• writing action plans, reports and careers literature;
• counselling clients that are suffering from stress or facing redundancy/redeployment;
• undertaking general administration;
• marketing and promoting services.

Employers of careers consultants include: management consultants, HR departments and private career/occupational psychologist consultancies. Many careers consultants are self-employed, so this is normally only a viable option for individuals with several years' relevant experience.

Opportunities are advertised via the internet, in local, regional and national newspapers and in publications including The Times Educational Supplement and Portico (the Institute of Careers Guidance fortnightly recruitment magazine).

Qualifications and training required

Although any degree discipline is acceptable for entry into the profession, many careers consultants possess psychology degrees and/or professional qualifications in careers guidance, counselling and personnel management. Relevant experience and personality are usually considered to be more important than subject studied. However, several years of relevant work experience is normally necessary prior to entry - this can be gained in public sector/HE careers advising, personnel management, counselling or occupational psychology.

Key skills for careers consultants

Careers consultants should have plenty of confidence and excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills. Confidentiality, a non-prejudicial manner and good interpersonal skills are also important.