‘Career counsellors help kids choose the right path’
“Career counsellors should be able to suggest alternative career options for school and college students keeping in mind these developments—to avoid putting square pegs in round holes,” says Pervin Malhotra, director of Career Guidance India (CARING), an agency for career counselling and expert guidance on courses, careers and admission choices.
“The most important role of a career counsellor is to be able to assess the student’s strengths, skills, academic ability and match them with career options that would still be relevant and in demand—in the medium and long term,” Malhotra says.
Career counsellors should be able to work day in and day out to be able to help students make an informed decision, she says. They should read regularly stay up-to-date with latest developments in the jobs economy, emerging career trends.
Finding unique and appropriate solutions to similar careerrelated problems, while keeping in mind the background and situation of each individual is one major challenge that career counsellors need to overcome on a daily basis. “I make it a point to be a patient, empathetic and nonjudgmental listener in order to elicit their aspirations, doubts and concerns, without being prescriptive or dismissive.”