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Career Counselor
Social ServicesYou help people figure out what they want to do for a living, which is the question that haunts everyone from 18-year-olds picking a major to 45-year-olds who just got laid off. You'll administer assessments, review resumes, conduct mock interviews, and talk people through the existential dread of career transitions. You're part therapist, part strategist, and part hype person — all for someone else's career.
Salary Range
Low
$38k
Median
$52k
High
$75k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
31K
Education
Master's in counseling, career development, or related field + National Certified Counselor (NCC) or equivalent
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Career assessment instruments (Strong Interest Inventory, MBTI, O*NET)
- ▸Resume and cover letter coaching
- ▸Mock interview facilitation
- ▸Labor market information and occupational outlook research
- ▸Job search strategy development
- ▸Career development theories (Holland, Super, Krumboltz)
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Motivational interviewing
- ▸Empathy with career anxiety and transition stress
- ▸Active listening
- ▸Coaching and encouragement
- ▸Adaptability to diverse client populations
What you'll actually do
- 01Administer career assessments and interpret results for people hoping a test will tell them what to do with their lives
- 02Review and rewrite resumes that bury relevant experience under paragraphs of corporate jargon
- 03Conduct mock interviews and deliver feedback that's honest enough to help and kind enough to not crush someone's confidence
- 04Help clients navigate career transitions that feel like jumping off a cliff into the unknown
- 05Research labor market trends so your advice is based on actual data, not what was true 10 years ago
- 06Manage a caseload of clients at every career stage, from 'I have no idea' to 'I need to pivot right now'
Related Shifts
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