How An Online Career Counselor Can Help You

An online career counselor normally provides the same types of counseling services as their in-person counterpart; they simply do so virtually, meaning that you can get professional guidance from home or anywhere else you have a stable internet connection. A few ways in which an online career counselor can help you determine your career goals may include guiding you to find your way, explaining your options, assessing and improving your resume, and taking stock of your personality to offer customized suggestions.

What is an online career counselor?

Online career counseling seems to have exploded in popularity over the past two or three decades, most likely because the internet may now be the greatest tool available to find a job. Mostly gone are the days of skimming through the Help Wanted section of a newspaper and circling some of the positions that seem interesting or for which you might be a suitable fit. The day-to-day work of career counselors is fairly similar to career coaching.

They can help you find your way

During your counseling sessions, you can lay out the groundwork of any career-related challenges you’re presently experiencing. You probably have some idea of what it is that you want to do based on your skill set, but a career counselor can help you sort through your thoughts or be a great help to you if you want to change careers and aren’t sure how to get started.

Even if you’re just now entering the workforce and have no clue what you want to do, a career counselor can offer assessments, feedback, and some insight into what might fit best based on your personality and interests. They may ask you what it is that you like doing and what sort of talents you have.

They can explain your options

Career counselors generally know about useful resources available to you, regardless of what career path you intend to pursue. They may give you some phone numbers of individuals working in the career you are considering to get a better idea of what the job entails. They might also help you find a mentor who can give you further guidance as you begin to send out your resume and inquire about various open positions in your geographic area.

They can assess your resume

A career counselor may also evaluate your resume and give you useful pointers to improve it. Sometimes, you may be qualified for certain jobs, but unprofessional formatting or poor descriptions may hold you back. You may be focusing on the wrong skills, or you might not be adequately explaining your capabilities.

It could even be that you’re a person who is rejoining the workforce after a long layoff. Maybe you took that time off to raise a child or care for a family member, for example, but now you want to get back to the job search. Together with a career counselor, you can figure out what skills you may have gained during your time away that could be of interest to potential employers.

They can take stock of your personality

If you are unsure of what career is right for you or you’re ready to change careers, then a career counselor can work with you to figure out what sounds right based on how you describe yourself. If you love interacting with other people every day and get along with everyone, something like customer service or sales might be the way to go. If you’re shy or you have a little bit of social anxiety, then it might be better for you to work with animals or in a tech job where you rarely have to have many face-to-face conversations.

Part of what’s nice about interacting with a career counselor can be that they may have suggestions that would not have occurred to you on your own. 

How to find an online career counselor

Interested in trying online career counseling? An easy way to start is to sign up for an online therapy platform where you may have the opportunity to connect with thousands of licensed professionals in the field. Next, you’ll likely complete a brief questionnaire that can identify your needs and preferences and specify that you’re looking for career counseling services.

Online career counseling is often more accessible and convenient than in-person career counseling, which generally requires you to travel to the counselor’s office and speak with them in person. With online career counseling, you can get the same high-quality professional guidance from anywhere you have a stable internet connection. Another potential benefit is that online career counseling is usually more affordable than face-to-face counseling.

As this study explains, online career counseling can be highly effective and helpful for those who need guidance in their professional lives. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and get the help you deserve if you’re feeling stuck or confused about a career decision.