Whether you’re an undergrad, in grad school, or a few years post-graduation, one of the best resources you have in your job search arsenal is a college career counselor. At most colleges, these individuals are trained career experts who are ready and willing to help you brainstorm career paths, identify open positions, and give your resume and cover letter a boost—all for free!
Use The Muse to find a job at a company with a culture you love. Select the career path that aligns with you:
But to make the most out of this resource, it’s helpful if you know what to expect and what to do to make the most of your meetings. As a college career counselor myself, let me share with you a rundown of what to ask—before and during your appointment—to help your career counselor help you.
Career counseling can be an invaluable resource when you’re exploring your career options and trying to figure out the next steps in your professional journey. With the guidance of a trained career counselor, you’ll get the chance to thoroughly analyze your skills, interests values and personality to determine the best career paths for you.
Career counselors can also provide advice on resume writing, interview preparation, networking, salary negotiations and more – all the essential elements that go into building a successful career. But simply meeting with a career counselor is not enough. To get the most out of your career counseling sessions you need to come prepared with questions.
The right questions will help steer the conversation in a productive direction and ensure you walk away with specific tailored guidance instead of vague generalities. Here are some of the top questions you should ask your career counselor
Self-Assessment Questions
Before determining the right career path, you first need to analyze and understand your own skills, interests, values and personality traits. Some introspective questions for self-assessment include:
- What am I passionate about? What gets me excited or motivated?
- What are my natural talents and strengths?
- What types of activities energize me? Which ones drain my energy?
- What are my top skills? Are they transferable to other roles?
- What are my values when it comes to work? Work-life balance? Helping others? Creativity?
- What is my personality type? Does my style lean toward introversion or extroversion?
Digging into these types of questions will reveal a lot about what makes you tick. This self-awareness is foundational for matching your attributes to potential careers that would be a good fit. Your career counselor can provide assessments and exercises to help you gain these personal insights.
Career Exploration Questions
Once you better understand your own preferences and capabilities, you can start exploring options. Career counseling questions about potential career paths include:
- Based on my assessment results, what careers or jobs would you recommend I explore further?
- What types of job duties and work environments would align with my interests and personality?
- What are the educational requirements for the careers we’ve identified?
- What is the job outlook and average salary range for these occupations?
- Could you connect me to people who work in this field to conduct informational interviews?
- Where can I find internships or entry-level jobs related to these careers?
Your counselor will have a wealth of information about job options based on your unique profile. Tap into their knowledge by asking specific questions about careers you are considering. This will allow you to make informed choices.
Goal Setting Questions
Career counseling aims to not only identify potential career paths, but also to create a strategic plan to reach your goals. Make sure to ask about:
- Based on the careers we’ve discussed, what are some next steps you would recommend I take?
- What short-term and long-term goals would help me advance in my chosen career path?
- Should I consider going back to school or pursuing an advanced degree? If so, what programs do you suggest?
- What certifications or training could help build my skills for this field?
- What types of entry-level jobs or internships should I target to gain experience?
Getting guidance on strategic next steps is imperative for keeping your career plans on track. Your counselor can map out a customized roadmap to help you achieve your professional aspirations.
Job Search Questions
Your career counseling sessions should provide advice tailored to your specific situation, including tips on your job search. Asking questions like:
- How can I stand out from other applicants for roles in my desired field?
- Could you review my resume and cover letter and suggest any improvements?
- What strategies do you recommend for networking and making industry connections?
- How should I prepare for upcoming interviews for this type of position?
- If salary comes up, what is a reasonable range to request based on my background?
- Do you have any job leads or know of openings I should apply to?
This type of guidance on resumes, interviews, networking and salary negotiation will equip you to put your best foot forward during your job search.
Addressing Obstacles
For many, the career path is not always simple and straightforward. If you are facing challenges, ask your counselor:
- I’m worried that my major/degree/experience is not directly relevant to the careers I’m interested in. Do you have any suggestions?
- My grades are not stellar. How can I still stand out to employers?
- I have limited work experience. What are your tips for someone just starting out?
- I have large gaps in my employment history – is that a concern? How should I address it?
- I’m lacking confidence right now in my career outlook. How can I build my motivation and self-esteem?
A good career counselor will help you brainstorm strategies for overcoming any stumbling blocks in your background or self-perception. Don’t let these hurdles derail your career dreams – address them head on.
Making a Plan
Before wrapping up your career counseling, make sure to confirm:
- What are the next concrete steps I should take after our discussion today?
- When should I follow up with you to discuss my progress?
- Are there any other resources or services you can connect me to for continued support?
Leaving your career counseling session with clearly defined action items will allow you to carry the momentum forward. Asking about follow-ups shows you are committed to making progress.
Final Thoughts
Career counseling provides an invaluable opportunity to get unbiased guidance tailored to your specific needs. But simply meeting with a counselor once or twice is unlikely to lead to major changes.
To fully benefit, come armed with thoughtful questions that will lead to fruitful discussions. Then continue to follow up on the advice provided during your sessions. Clarify next steps, ask for introductions to industry contacts, and seek continued support.
With commitment and follow-through on your end, career counseling can help launch you onto an exciting and fulfilling career path aligned with your true interests, abilities and dreams. The right questions will start you down this rewarding journey.
“How can I show I have experience if I don’t have direct experience?”
I get this question from a lot of students with limited or no prior internship experience in a particular industry—and it’s a great one to ask. Talk to your counselor about the specific types of positions you’re after, as well as how you can leverage extracurricular, volunteer, on-campus, and academic experiences to make the case to a hiring manager that you’re a good fit. Many employers are willing to hire and train the right candidate if she can demonstrate strong communication skills, drive, intelligence, professionalism, and other valuable soft skills—it’s just a matter of positioning.
“What’s the best job search strategy for me?”
Every spring, I work with students on identifying, applying for, and securing summer internships and jobs. And in the process, I’ve seen what strategies have (and haven’t) been effective in a variety of positions and industries. And it’s not the same everywhere—getting a job in fashion or publishing requires very different tactics than getting one in finance.
So enlist your counselor’s experience in strategizing your approach. Ask questions like: How should I allocate my search time between networking, informational interviews, and applying for jobs? What strategies have been effective for other people applying for these types of positions? How you should approach the job search will vary based on your role, industry, and location, but your career counselor likely has some advice that will help you out.
Three Questions to unlock your authentic career: Ashley Stahl at TEDxBerkeley
Should you ask questions during career counselling?
To make the most of your career counselling process, students keep asking questions to clarify their doubts. It’s actually a healthy way to start this career planning journey. Sometimes, as a career counsellor, you are required to ask questions and break the ice.
How can a career counselor help you prepare for an interview?
Preparing for an interview can give you the confidence you need to do well. Career counselors can be an excellent resource for improving your interview techniques. They can help you rehearse answers to common questions. They can also provide feedback on ways to improve your interview answers.
What can a Career Counselor do for You?
A career counselor can be a valuable resource whether you are recently graduated or looking to change careers. Career counselors have professional and interpersonal skills that can help with finding and preparing for a career. You can get the most out of your visit to a career counselor by preparing questions to ask them ahead of time.
Should you ask a career counselor if you’re looking for a job?
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask to meet with your career counselor throughout your search process—remember, that’s what she’s there for! Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. When she’s not helping college students secure their next summer internship or dream job, you’ll find Sarah blogging about food, hiking, and or researching her next trip.
