Someone needs to help you with your job search, but I’m sure you don’t want some kind of creepy stalker, who knows everything about you and all your friends and family, to be that person. His or her job is to find the best matches between your personal qualifications or skills and the career path they are looking to help you with.
What is a Career Consultant?
A career consultant helps people identify their strengths and weaknesses; think about how they would succeed in a particular field; decide what type of graduate degree or training they should pursue before grad school; plan how much time and money they will need in order to acquire the skills necessary.
6 Tips to select best career consultants near me
- Education & Experience
Check to see where the career consultant received his or her training. If he or she has only a high school diploma, then you shouldn’t be surprised if the career plan he or she lays out for you isn’t the most well thought out. A good degree from a respected educational institution is important, especially if the field of work is highly specialized, such as in law or medicine. The number of years working in the field and with people also matters; it is not unusual for someone working in a related field to give good career advice.
- Publications & Affiliations
Check to see if the career consultant has written books or articles on career planning and job search. If they are not listed in your local library or on the Internet, then ask them if they can send you a copy of their book or article – it might be worth your while. The ability to speak at professional conferences also shows that the career consultant knows what he or she is doing.
- Cost & Referral Sources
You should check to make sure that your new career consultant is a licensed professional and can help you with your job search within the bounds of the law. You should also check to see if the career consultant is certified by your state in job search and career planning. If he or she does not have these credentials, then you can ask for a referral to another career consultant who has them.
- Testimonials & References
Check to see how many people have been helped by the career consultant and in what way – personally or professionally. You can find this information out by asking him or her if they can give you references of past clients who will speak with you about the services they received from your new friend. You can also check with professional organizations he or she belongs to.
- Specialties & Interests
Check to see if a particular career is the specialty of your new friend. If the career consultant is also a writer and public speaker, then you may have found someone who can help you write your resume, cover letter and even give you suggestions as to where to look for work. And if they are particularly interested in a job search topic, such as technology or law, then they’re likely going to be good at what they do.
- Program Availability
An important tip when selecting a career consultant is to make sure that the career consulting program suits your needs (e.g. schedule flexibility, costs, fees).