In a career counseling session, the counselor will help a person explore skills and strengths, consider education levels and give advice about continuing education, and determine interests and personality type. Counselors may also administer an IQ test or an aptitude test. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has also been shown to be useful at helping individuals determine possible careers based on personality traits.
Some potential topics of discussion in career counseling:
- Particular skills or talents. In which careers might they be useful?
- The educational commitment required of various careers.
- The potential earnings of various careers.
- The daily working environment. Some people enjoy working in an office, while others might be more successful in a fast-paced or outdoor environment.
- The opportunities for change or advancement in a particular career. Some careers are more flexible than others. Lawyers and doctors, for example, may shift their focus or area of specialty but will generally remain lawyers and doctors. Other careers or education paths might more allow mobility between positions in a given field.
- The necessary skills/education for a desired career.
Some counselors may also be able to offer advice on how to improve one's position at a job that is, for the most part, enjoyable. For example, possible ways to earn a promotion or the best methods to negotiate a salary adjustment could be discussed.