Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

What the job really is

Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.

At a glance

• Sector: Community & Social Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 21-1012
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
• Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
• Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
• Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.
• Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Refer students to outside counseling services.
• Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.
• Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.
• Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
• Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
• Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.

Tools and technology

Adobe Photoshop, Facebook, Google Docs, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Word

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Rehabilitation Counselors
• School Psychologists
• Instructional Coordinators
• Education Teachers, Postsecondary
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
• Social and Human Service Assistants
• Special Education Teachers, Elementary School

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.