Role of a Career Counselor in today's World

INTRODUCTION

In current times, career counseling is a need as most of the students pick commonly known domains as their career options. Career counseling is an effort for students’ career guidance right from their school about the available career options as per their interest and stream of academics.

Through career counseling, an analysis can be done for students which will help them find out their interests and also their strengths and weaknesses. It should be done in the school itself for class 9-11 students specifically because these are the levels where students choose a particular stream as their specialization and also, it will be helpful for them to decide the stream they should opt for. This is because many students are not satisfied with the stream they choose and tend to change it; this happens in absence of proper guidance about options available as per their interest and different educational streams.

IMPORTANCE OF CAREER COUNSELORS

Nowadays many counselors prefer psychometric tests to analyze the interests of students because generally, students are confused between their various interests but these psychometric tests help figure out students’ capabilities towards each of their interests.

With career counseling, students would be able to know-

• Their aptitude and interests.
• Strengths and weaknesses of particular interest.
• Making a choice of the stream for education after class 10.
• Career options available in the market as per their academic choice.
• Career options available as per their interest.
• Some alternate career options if they decide to change their stream in the future.
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WAYS TO GET CAREER GUIDANCE

BE YOUR CAREER COACH- You are the only one who knows you best. Who knows better about your interests, your personality, and your academic interests than you? You can analyze your interest, academic profile, career options available in front of you. You should seek suggestions from your families, teachers, and friends to get a bit of better advice for your career options.

SEEK ADVICE FROM PARENTS-Your parents have been the primary coach for your education and career life. They got you admitted to the best school and when you need to decide the stream choice and career, they should be the first ones to advise you and help you decide the best alternative. After you, your parent knows the best about your aptitude and capabilities, so they will be able to guide you best in making education as well as a career as a career choice.

PROPER GUIDANCE FROM TEACHERS-The third person after your parents is your teacher. You have been handled, guided, and improved over the years by your school teachers. So, they have complete knowledge about your capabilities and have the best idea of different streams of education available in the market. 

PROGRESS OF INDIA IS THIS FIELD

India has the second-largest population in the world. The share of the younger population is increasing day by day. This entails a requirement for a large number of schools, colleges, professional institutions, skill development institutions. Hence it is inevitable to foresee the prospect of a career counseling market in India

India has close to 400 million youth population. Close to 3 million students graduate every year, and almost everyone at some point in their lives requires career guidance. This market is growing exponentially in India. The current counseling market in India is full of opportunities. With technology growing at a rapid pace, career counseling companies in India need to focus on providing students with a platform that provides a holistic view of an individual. Almost 92% of the students in India do not get carer guidance at right time.

EDUMILESTONES is considered to be the leading career counseling company in India. They are on a mission to counsel 10 million people in 5 years. They have created a career library of 175+ career paths which caters to the need of individuals. 

The NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK(NCF) 2005 gave rules to encourage stable development and advancement from elementary to higher secondary stages. India needs 1.5 million career counselors to cater to 400 million youths. Currently, there are less than 5000 trained career counselors available to address this growing demand.

CONCLUSION

Students, as well as their parents, should begin career planning right from class 10th because, after this level, only a particular stream could be followed and career options will be limited to their choice of the stream only. The stream choice also depends on career planning and the interests of students.

As per the India Today reports, we need 1.4million career counselors in the next ten years. 

So, there is a great need for career counselors in India to show the students the right path following their knowledge and interest.