Career consultants are people who help people match their skills and interests with job opportunities in a specific field or industry. Assessing the client’s skills, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and assisting in the process of successfully launching a career that is both personally rewarding and financially lucrative are all common aspects of career consulting.
Using the services of a career consultant is advantageous for a variety of reasons. Career consultants may be able to provide a level of focus to the job search process that would otherwise be difficult to achieve for young people fresh out of college. A competent consultant can quickly identify potential employers who are likely to have openings that would appeal to the young adult evaluating the young adult’s skill sets. As a result, the client can find work quickly and start building a career without having to spend a lot of time figuring out how to put that newly acquired degree to the best possible use.
In situations where people need to change careers, a career consultant can be extremely useful. This is especially true if the need arises as a result of downsizing or the gradual obsolescence of a specific line of work. The consultant can assess the client’s background, skills, and experience, as well as other career options that the displaced employee may or may not have considered. This process is critical because it can lead to the discovery of a whole new way to apply the employee’s skills in a new setting, or at the very least, identify what kind of training is required to make the employee attractive to potential employers.
A career consultant can also assist a person in determining whether they are better suited to working for someone else or starting their own business. A consultant may occasionally advise a client to work in a specific subcategory of an industry or profession in order to gain the experience needed to become a business owner. Because the goal is to capitalize on the client’s skills while also considering short and long term workplace goals, the career consultant can assist the client in developing a strategy for meeting immediate needs while also laying the groundwork for future career advancement.
Often, the process of career consulting will also focus on an individual’s career goals. While financial rewards are frequently one of the primary motivations for choosing and pursuing a career, there is also the issue of personal satisfaction and pride in the type of work one does. A good career counselor will always address these concerns, as well as the more practical aspects of defining skills and determining potential career options based on ability. In this sense, a career consultant differs from recruiters or even employment agencies, which are primarily concerned with matching skills to job requirements.