Did you know that the UPSC Civil Exam has a staggering success rate of just 1%? So, what about the 99% of the students who don't make it? They eventually find themselves at a crossroads, whether to keep pursuing the same exam or start anew. What if we told you that all those lost souls could've been saved by a simple 30-minute career counselling session!
Yes, it's true. Most students in India don't realize why career counselling is important. That's why we are here to teach you all about career counselling and why it should be widely implemented for the betterment of India and its future generations.
What is career counselling?
Career counselling is a process where a career counselor determines the perfect study route for a student. They also keep in mind their shortcomings, which greatly minimizes any bad career decision from happening in the future.
It is also a complex process, and each counselor usually has their own way of handling things. Some may be a bit lackluster and rush things off. While some may take their time and give the proper guidance their clients seek. Still doesn't change the fact that career counselling is important, regardless of the consequences.
Various Stages of Career counselling
The process will differ from counselor to counselor. But they usually have at least these four key stages in their session.
Stage 1: Relation
This is the initial stage where a lot of talking happens between the counselor and the person seeking guidance. Things like academic and personal background, work experience, career expectations, etc., are discussed. Sometimes a one-day session is enough for this stage. Sometimes it can take two or even more.
It all depends on the current position of the student. Some may be shy and can take time before fully opening up. Meanwhile, working professionals who are already at the crossroads can immediately spill all the beans.
Regardless, this is the most crucial stage that determines the end result. If you are the one seeking, make sure to share every single detail. Some may be embarrassing, and some may be painful to share; still, don't worry about judgment; just share it.
Stage 2: Exploration
Just like the name says, this stage explores all your career options. Modern career counselors like to use AI for this part. Just like at Infigon Futures, where they have fully integrated artificial intelligence for this process. Thanks to that, stage 2 hardly takes any time.
We can even call it the Assessment stage since people are often asked to take surveys and aptitude tests. They help to determine what kind of work is suitable for them and what kinds of required skills are already presented to their clients.
Stage 3: Decision
At this point, the client should have a detailed report of their career map. It'll include what kind of domain or goal they should aim for and which programs will help them reach the conclusion.
Remember this: the second to final stage fully depends on stage 1. If any information is left out, it'll reflect in stage two, which will further narrow down your options in stage 3 and so on. If you have more than 3 career paths, in that case, you did a good job. Anything lower than that will showcase left-out information in Stage 1.
Stage 4: Implementation
The student or the client will have all the bells and whistles to kickstart their career. Like the list of education they need to take, the list of courses they should opt in for, and the jobs they should be applying for afterward.
This stage is more of a self-guided one. The counselor will surely monitor your progress and give you a heads-up if you are straying away from your goals. At this point, all counselors act like parents, properly nurturing their fledglings, making sure they become what they dreamed of, or what they need the most.
Why is career counselling is important?
Everyone reading this article has wondered about this one way or another. It may be weird to think about it in India, but remember that every big nation has a government-level integration of this. India, as always, has a lot of room to grow, and career counselling is one of them. So without any further ado, let's see some of the crucial points that make the demand for career counselling even more demanding!
Suicide Prevention
We all know how failure feels; it's soggy, wet, and makes you drown over and over again. A lot of students even go as far as ending their lives. While career counselling cannot fully remove this from the lives of students, it can at least make this much certain: No student picks the wrong career and regrets it later on.
Low Chances of Career Switch
Career switching is one of the leading causes of depression among students and working professionals. Not all domains have the same entry barrier. For example, a lot of students try to crack down on competitive exams right in the middle of their college years. It does not only divide their attention from their studies, further degrading academic numbers, but also makes them perform mediocrely in those same exams since it isn't getting their full attention either.
It sounds ok; everyone did that, including me. But what it ended up doing was reducing my CGPA, permanently removing me from being hired anywhere on a merit basis. While there was basically no chance for me in competitive exams, since it never had my full attention to begin with. In the end, I made a career switch, and that's why I'm here writing this instead of working on a government job.
So, do I regret making my career switch? Ironically, no, I don't. Actually, this is the perfect career for me, and this could have happened right after 12th, only if I had taken career counselling at the right time.
Better Placement
India doesn't have a big unemployment rate anymore. But that doesn't mean everyone is getting their dream job. There are good jobs and, of course, bad ones. A successful career counselor can also help you minimize the chance of joining a bad company. Sometimes it's a direct approach, and sometimes it's a passive effect of taking a session before applying for a job.
Dynamic Mindset
A career counselor follows trends and encourages actions accordingly. This becomes a habit for the client as soon as they realize how dynamic the job market is. Each day something new happens, and it slowly alters the market from inside out. To tackle that, a dynamic mindset is essential, and a successful career counselor makes sure you become aware of that.
Counselling from Home
More and more counselors are opting for career counselling online. It makes it effortless for the student or the client since they can just relax on their couch while the session continues. Thanks to the use of AI, each session lasts significantly less while providing even better service than before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the average cost of career counselling in India?
And. In India, it can cost anywhere between ₹5000 and ₹20000.
Q2. Can I use a chatbot for career counselling?
Ans. Yes, you can definitely use ChatGPT or any chatbot for career counselling. However, we'll always recommend taking a real session because stage 1, or the talking part, heavily influences what kind of final output a counselor will give.
Q3. What is the situation of career counselors in India?
Ans. Last year, India only had 5000 certified career counselors against a massive 1.4 million students.
Q4. Can I get my career guidance online?
Ans. Yes, anyone can get their career counselling online through websites like Infigon Futures.
Q5. What is the importance of career counselling?
Ans. Being self-aware, making the right career-related decisions, and getting your dream job are some of the most important parts of career counselling.
