What is Career Counseling?

Career development is a lifelong process that, whether you know it or not, actually started when you were born! There are a number of factors that influence your career development, including your interests, abilities, values, personality, background, and circumstances. Career Counseling is a process that will help you to know and understand yourself and the world of work in order to make career, educational, and life decisions.

Career development is more than just deciding on a program of study and what job you want to get when you graduate. It really is a lifelong process, meaning that throughout your life you will change, situations will change, and you will continually have to make career and life decisions. The goal of Career Counseling is to not only help you make the decisions you need to make now, but to give you the knowledge and skills you need to make future career and life decisions.

Who is a Career Counselor?

The Career Services staff member assisting you holds a masters degree and has expertise in career development theory, counseling techniques, administration and interpretation of assessments, and career information resources. Career Counselors have masters degrees in Counseling or Career Counseling.

What can I expect?

Your Career Counselor WILL:

Help you figure out who you are and what you want out of your education, your career, and your life.
Be someone for you to talk to about your thoughts, ideas, feelings, and concerns about your career and educational choices, who will help you sort out, organize, and make sense of your thoughts and feelings.
Help you identify the factors influencing your career development, and help you assess your interests, abilities, and values.
Help you locate resources and sources of career information.
Help you to determine next steps and develop a plan to achieve your goals.

Your Career Counselor WON’T:

Tell you what to do, or tell you what you should choose for your program of study or what career you should pursue.
Advise you in course selection or scheduling (that's what our amazing Academic Advisors are for!).

Who needs Career Counseling?

Since career development is a lifelong process, Career Counseling can be appropriate for anyone, from freshmen in high school to retirees looking for something new to do! The earlier you get started making intentional decisions about your future, however, the better prepared you will be! We recommend that all new students come in and visit with a Career Counselor.

Below are some examples of concerns that bring students to Career Counseling:

Exploring Career and Program of Study Options

“I have no idea what I want to do with my life.”
“I don’t know what to study.”
“I’ve narrowed it down to a couple career options, but I’m having a hard time choosing between them.”
“I know what I want to study, but I have no idea what I want to do once I graduate.”
“I know what I want to do, but I’m not sure what the best program of study would be.
“I want to know what kinds of jobs I can get with my program of study.”
“I don’t feel like I know enough about all the different careers out there to know what I want to do.”

Resolving Conflicts

“I like a lot of different subjects, and I keep changing my program of study because I’m not sure which one is the best for me!”
“I don’t like any of my classes and none of the programs of study seem really appealing to me.”
“I have a lot of work experience and I want to find a new career path that will build on the skills I already have.”
“I was planning on going into the _______ program, but I applied and didn’t get in. What do I do now?”
“I always thought I wanted to be a _______, but I got into my program of study and I really don’t like it!”
“I really like my program of study, but it’s not what I want to do for my career.”
“I know what type of work I’d like to do, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to make enough money doing it.”
“My family really wants me to be a _______, but I’m not sure if that’s really what I want.”
“I’ve always planned on being a _______, but I’m wondering if it’s only because that’s all I know.”
“I want to find a field to go into where there will always be plenty of jobs.”
“I want to find a career that will allow me to provide significant financial support for my family.”
“I’m working towards my career, but I think I might just really want to be a stay-at-home parent.”
“I’ve always planned to stay in Northern Idaho, but to do what I’d like to do I’d have to move.”
“I can’t find a job, so I’m thinking about going back to school.”