Why Invest In Career Counseling?

Surveys have shown that up to 85 percent of students feel unequipped to make informed career decisions (Wheebox, 2018). Moreover, approximately 50 percent of the workforce are unhappy or feel disengaged in their current jobs (Gallup, 2022).

The statistics have shown an increasing trend, particularly in the post-pandemic times. These staggering numbers reinforce the idea that effective career guidance and counseling can serve as a backbone for higher employability given the unpredictable job world, and a burst of new career options. 

Craving your own career path can be a daunting task. However, meeting a career counselor can be valuable in navigating through this phase by exploring the myriad options and making realistic decisions. These can be on a 1:1 or group basis and in educational or occupational contexts (Brown, 2021; Lent et al. 1994).

Career counseling has a rich history and has evolved from simply matching people to their job, typically males to the present form which addresses broader career development, readiness to cope and adjust and change or switch careers. While it goes by several names such as vocational guidance, it is conceptualized as a professional intervention to support the client’s journey of career, work or learning (Savickas, 2019).  It is no longer thought of as an entry point into a job or educational field but a dynamic process which is reviewed at different points of the person’s life and how it fits with their larger narrative of life (Heppner & Heppner, 2004).

Typically career counseling encompasses the following stages (Osipow, 1982):

• Interpretation: Feedback is given on the assessment results

• Discussion: Respond to the information presented

• Generation: Explore diverse possibilities

• Synthesis: Selection of most suitable option

Career counseling is associated with a variety of benefits for the individual, economy and society. Davidson & Gilbert (1993) argued that career can form an integral part of personal identity as well. Right from your childhood, a person is questioned about their achievements and performance. Hence, this can be fundamental to their wellbeing and sense of worth. Moreover, with the growing strength of women in the workforce, understanding how careers are becoming a part of their identity is important as well.

It has been deliberated that career counseling can promote learning and engagement and thereby, lead to spillover on one’s own wellbeing. These benefits can especially be enhanced when mapped with a person’s values, abilities, interests and give the person meaning (Robertson, 2013). In fact, studies looking into the effectiveness of such interventions have shown that people with guidance can perform up to 80% better than the control group who received no intervention. Congruence of interests, abilities and personality can lead to better job success, satisfaction, self-esteem and performance. These desirable outcomes can catalyze life satisfaction and larger economic and societal parameters such as social equity, labor market functioning, economic growth and living standards (Hooley & Dodd, 2015; Keshf & Khanum, 2021). On the flip side, poor correspondence between a person and their work environment can lead to burnout and poor work adjustment (Hansen & Stoever, 2004). 

Thus, it may be concluded that maximum compatibility between the individual’s resources, aspirations and their real time skills, experience and backgrounds can be powerful in making choices that maximize wellbeing (Junior, n.d). 

Let's put our heads together. It’s OK to NOT be OK! You are not alone. Serenity - Your Wellbeing Studio offers top-notch counseling services as they personalize every individual's journey to a healthy life utilizing an array of strategies.

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