How to Choose a Career Consultant

Some people are not even aware of the existence of career consultants. The only point of reference is an often unsatisfactory chat with a careers teacher at school; they have no conception of how someone could possibly help them decide on the best career for them. Of course times have changed, and people are much more hooked on psychology and personal development; they are used to psychometric assessments for selection and development at work and they are no longer prepared to simply 'work to live'. A career consultant will generally employ both counselling and psychometric techniques to build self-awareness, appropriate sense of direction, and the confidence to act, market oneself and succeed in a fulfilling career.

Many people find the wealth of careers publications very useful in identifying the correct career path for them, particularly when such titles include self-assessment exercises. Similarly, a career consultant can help one identify what one represents as a human resource, and even more important, where books can fall down, match this to appropriate career options. A true professional will not simply look at what you have done or studied, but will identify the essence of the real you and map this onto occupations calling for these motivations, abilities and personal qualities; it is vital to work in a job and organisation which matches who you really are if you are to maximise potential and more readily achieve!

Clearly, the objectivity and honesty of a career analyst can be very refreshing and beneficial, especially when one has been bombarded by conflicting or biased suggestions and views from family and friends! One can even be mistaken about one's own talents; a former client thought she was good with words, but this turned out to be a relative weakness (it was her creativity and feeling-driven personality which contributed to strength in English). A good teacher can boost performance in a subject too and contribute to an inflated sense of ability. This is one of the only occasions when one can be completely honest in completing an interest or personality measure - one is not trying to give the answer the potential employer might want - and forearmed is forewarned - it is useful to find out what a potential employer might see in their own tests! Knowing one's talents further enables one to sell oneself better in a job interview - one really knows why one is right for that position or career!

Many of my clients do have a good idea of what career options might suit, but seek clarification and reassurance; they simply require a rubber stamp showing that they are on the right track, or maybe a second opinion to convince or reassure a partner or relative of their intentions!

Career consultancy can be valuable for young people choosing A Levels, Degrees and needing Career Advice when considering Career Options. A career assessment may be extremely helpful if considering a Career Change (whether wanting a complete career change or simply hoping to capitalise on transferable skills). Women Returners who have been out of the market for a while and who have forgotten what they represent as a human resource may have their confidence boosted through Career Counselling. Executives who have no-one else in whom to confide may choose to see a Career Coach. Individuals made redundant can certainly benefit from this opportunity to re-evaluate and gain self-marketing tips through Outplacement or Redundancy Counselling. I even see individuals for Retirement Planning, to ensure that they will not fritter away their remaining active years and that they continue to enjoy a quality lifestyle. Indeed, in my view, everyone should have a thorough Career Analysis or health check periodically, to ensure that they are maximising their Career and Life Potential.

As a career consultant with 23 years experience, I recognise the value of my clients not only in informing and enlightening me about the possibilities career wise, and keeping me up to date about the market conditions, but also in letting me know the realities and pros and cons of what a job entails. I learn new things from my clients constantly, and previous clients fuel ideas for new ones.

I must have seen many hundreds of e.g. lawyers, teachers and IT project managers, and each profession tends to have its common complaints and sources of dissatisfaction. One man's meat is another man's poison, so it becomes easier to recognise when a client's motivation, ability and personality would actually see such negatives as positives instead!

New careers are emerging constantly. DTP is now 'old hat', but when this sprung into existence it was nowhere to be found in careers books and I heard about it from a client. The same is now true of CSR.

It helps to be a generalist, because one never knows when that City slicker is actually going to be better suited to farming! However, it is also important to recognise the difference the level of seniority, role and the type of organisation can make to career satisfaction - it is not always necessary to throw the baby out with the bathwater!.

Obviously, as a chartered psychologist, I am biased, but I would suggest that you look for a psychologically trained careers counsellor. The British Psychological Society has an on-line directory of qualified psychologists, and The Counselling Directory checks out the qualifications of counsellors listed by location and specialism. Some HR professionals are professionally trained in coaching and psychometrics too.

Clients tend to be prompted into action by a traumatic event. They may have been thinking of having a careers assessment for years without ever getting around to it; a bullying boss, redundancy, or recovery from a life threatening illness may be just the push required to finally have them book. Sometimes it emerges that they have a training or personal development need, or they may need a baby or divorce rather than a career change! Thus, clients are often in a fragile state (I always have tissues handy!), and I believe the professional counselling element is vital in enabling the client to feel understood and to create real buy-in and confidence.

That said, all the qualifications in the world will be of little value if one does not 'gel' with the careers consultant. It can be helpful to have a chat over the phone with the person, to ensure that you will be comfortable and able to talk to the careers adviser before committing.

To some extent, you will get what you pay for (other than at the top end of the scale where, as stated above, there can be some 'rip off merchants'). If you want to see an occupational psychologist, you must expect to pay fees at a professional rate , although sole practitioners working from home can have lower overheads and thus more competitive rates (approx £400 - £800). Qualified careers advisers and counsellors may charge less, but you will need to take into account the number of sessions too; ten cheaper visits to a counsellor could actually work out more expensive than a one off day with a careers consultant/occupational psychologist. Also, watch out for those chargeable add-ons!

Ensure that psychometric assessment is more than just an interest inventory! If someone has no idea what they want to do or what might suit them, how can a questionnaire asking about interests be enough? Young people often demonstrate no strong preferences, because they have no real knowledge or experience of the world of work, and any choices they do make can be more related to how much money this type of job might pay or how much studying might be involved! Image can also colour judgement - lots of really caring people reject social work because it lacks the kudos it deserves.

It is important that the career counsellor includes measures of motivation, ability and personality, but you do need to check that the career consultant is properly trained and qualified to administer and interpret the same (in the UK s/he will need to be qualified to BPS level A and B in psychometric testing) and that the measures are proper psychometric tools which have been professionally designed and validated.

Chartered Psychologists are regulated by the BPS and have to adhere to strict professional guidelines regarding professional practice and development.

Many computer generated reports are written in such general terms they could, like a horoscope, apply to anyone. A computer will not draw links between the various measures as might a psychologist, who can look for contradictions or corroborative evidence across the board. A computer cannot know how someone's current personal circumstances might be impacting results. One needs to know more about the person and their situation before any meaningful interpretation can be applied or conclusions made.

I have seen computer-generated career guidance reports which suggest 'Banking or Social Work' (how can a person with the values for social work be right for banking too?). Then again I have seen one where among the numerous suggestions were both Motor Cycle Courier and Pilot ( both broadly 'Transport' but no account taken of appropriate level at all!) I have never seen a computer-generated report suggesting that someone is in the correct career field but needs to move from management into consultancy, or one proposing that the individual move from a large impersonal firm to a small dynamic one! Certainly, I know of none having this level of sophistication.

How much of the time is for test administration and how much for one to one counselling? Will it be a group session or individual? How long will you spend with the actual consultant, and are consultation times adhered to strictly? I find that with some clients the solution is more obvious, and the way ahead becomes apparent quickly. With others, more discussion, probing, practical planning and encouragement is required. How much flexibility is there in the system? Is additonal time chargeable? May you speak to the consultant after and when you have the report? Is that time chargeable?

Nearly all my clients come from recommendation, either from previous satisfied clients, or from fellow professionals, e.g. psychiatrists, therapists and counsellors.

Speak to your friends to find out whether any have been to a good career consultant, or whether they know of someone who has had a positive experience. Perhaps, you have seen one speak on TV or at a conference? Maybe a local career coach has written a book which you found helpful? Try internet job forums to see if anyone can recommend someone (but you will need to ensure that this is not a less scrupulous career consultant recommending himself!) You could try asking a career counsellor if you might speak with a previous client, but again, they might simply put you in touch with a friend of theirs!

The career bible 'What Colour is Your Parachute?' listed above, does have a list of recommended counsellors at the back.