Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Depending on your personal career path, you might need to get licensed to start work. Counselors, for example, need special training. There are also many professional organizations related to human services careers. While your degree might qualify you for employment, membership to a national association could give you the credentials you need to get promoted or advance your career.
Some certifications related to human services careers include:
- Professional Licensing/Certification
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- PhD
Human services careers are steadfast in the job market. Human resources professionals help companies grow, and also help to recruit talented workers. Nonprofit organizations provide services to people in need or crisis. Whether it’s a guidance counselor in high school or a marriage counselor in adulthood, chances are good that we’ll encounter someone who devotes their life to a career in human services.
Human services careers follow traditional education patterns, which means that you could earn an Associate’s Degree in two years and a Bachelor’s Degree in four years. Your career, however, could require additional certification, licensing or training. Consult a career counselor to make sure you’re doing all you need to start your career.
How to Become a Career Counselor
A career counselor works with
individuals, helping them to identify their strengths, work inclinations,
and job aspirations. If you have a career counseling job, your day is spent
mostly meeting with people. Understanding a client's background and social
pressures is essential in helping the client make a career choice that is
gratifying. Many clients have careers in which they are currently
dissatisfied.
If you have a career counseling job, you coach people
in the process of matching their career desires with actual employment
opportunities.
Training Required for a Career Counselor
Position
Career counseling is unregulated, and therefore there are
no specific training requirements for this field. However, most career
counselors are licensed in counseling, and these licensure requirements
vary by state. To become a career counselor who is licensed, you typically
need a master's degree. Career counselors may have previously worked in
human resources management or social work.
A career in career
counseling can mean working long hours. An ability to think critically
without being emotional is essential in a career counseling job.
Career Counselor Salaries
Career counselor salaries vary with
job settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median
salary overall is $51,100. The median career counselor salary by job
setting is shown in the following examples:
- Elementary and Secondary
Schools = $57,800
- Junior Colleges = $50,400
- Post-Secondary
Schools = $44,000
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services =
$35,200
(Salary data retrieved 6/24/11)
To get the education you need to become a career
counselor, find a degree program now!