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>Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $35K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $45K
Median Salary: $58K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $75K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $97K
Demand
Core Tasks
Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements and write letters of recommendation.
Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
Provide students with information on topics, such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.
Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.
Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.
Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.
Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.
Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.
Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.
Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.
Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops and serve on committees.
Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
Establish and supervise peer counseling and peer tutoring programs.
Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.
Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.
Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.
Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.
Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.
Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment.
Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Therapy and Counseling
97%
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Psychology
84%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Education and Training
80%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language
80%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical
70%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Customer and Personal Service
69%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Sociology and Anthropology
68%
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Administration and Management
59%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Philosophy and Theology
55%
Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Public Safety and Security
50%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
88%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness
85%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking
85%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
83%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation
83%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Critical Thinking
80%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing
80%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
78%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
78%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination
78%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Expression
85%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
83%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity
83%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written Comprehension
83%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Speech Clarity
78%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Fluency of Ideas
70%
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Information Ordering
68%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Top 10 Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
91%
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
91%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Getting Information
91%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
90%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
87%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
86%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Interacting With Computers
85%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
83%
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Developing Objectives and Strategies
82%
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Documenting/Recording Information
82%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities
Intervene in crisis situations to assist clients.
Confer with family members to discuss client treatment plans or progress.
Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.
Evaluate potential problems in home or work environments of clients.
Counsel clients regarding interpersonal issues.
Counsel clients regarding educational or vocational issues.
Counsel clients or patients regarding personal issues.
Complete documentation required by programs or regulations.
Lead classes or community events.
Develop educational programs.
Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.
Teach life skills or strategies to clients or their families.
Plan programs to address community mental wellness needs.
Present social services program information to the public.
Evaluate characteristics of individuals to determine needs or eligibility.
Collaborate with other professionals to develop education or assistance programs.
Develop educational policies.
Write reports or evaluations.
Maintain professional social services knowledge.
Promote educational institutions or programs.
Train staff members in social services skills.
Supervise workers providing client or patient services.
Refer individuals to educational or work programs.
Assess individual or community needs for educational or social services.
Refer clients to community or social service programs.
Advise others on social or educational issues.
Develop working relationships with others to facilitate program activities.
Assist clients in handling details of daily life.
Work Context
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Frequency of Conflict Situations
How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
Coordinate or Lead Others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Education
Majors
Major
Interests
Social
100%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
53%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising
53%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
48%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
48%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic
15%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Concern for Others
99%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
98%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Integrity
98%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Dependability
96%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Social Orientation
96%
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Self Control
95%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility
94%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
92%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Independence
92%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Stress Tolerance
92%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Work Values
Relationships
100%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Achievement
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Support
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
