I want to ask you a question, try to answer it as honestly as possible – Do you really want to study the subjects you have chosen/or the job you are currently pursuing? If your answer is yes, I am happy for you. But if your answer is no, don’t be surprised, you are among the 85% of the people who also feel like you.
We seek advice for each and everything in our day to day lives – what to wear, which phone to buy, what to watch, where to go to hang out…then why not seek guidance for such a crucial decision of our lives – Career Choice?
Another problem that we commonly face is the level of awareness about the various new-age careers – which is severely low. Ironically, career counselling as a field is still not majorly accepted and appreciated, even though there is a huge need for it. Most of the developed countries have a strong structure for career guidance, at school and a professional level, which helps an individual decide their further course of action. It is high time that India recognizes the importance of career counselling, not only for the students’ career development but for the nation’s development too!
Now, let me list down certain pressing issues which highlight the urgency of developing and accessing career guidance among the youth:
According to The Guardian, “about 600 million people, more than half of India’s population, are under 25 years old; no country has a higher number of young people”. Hence, there is a dire need for this youth to be guided and led on a career path that is right for them. Just imagine, if this force were in the field of their choice or based on their skills, no one can stop us from walking towards the path of a developed economy.
In addition, Mindler conducted a survey on more than 10,000 students. The findings indicate that 93% of students were aware of just 7 career options while there are more than 250 career options available at present, in India.
Given this information, do you think in such a scenario, people are pursuing careers that are right for them? The obvious answer is stark, NO!
What’s the solution? It’s simple, career counselling. Consider this, whenever you are trying to learn something new, for instance, baking a cake, would it not be easier to do it with someone guiding you on the side rather than you learning to do everything on your own? Career counselling is very similar when it comes to making career choices.
What is career counselling
Career counselling is the process where a career expert helps a student.
Career Counselling is a process that focuses on helping one understand one’s own self, as well as work trends, so that one can make an informed decision about career and education. Career Counselling helps manage a diverse range of problems such as low concentration levels to poor time management, trust issues with family to non-agreement between parents and children on which career to choose.
Career Counselling Process
The career counselling process involves taking a psychometric assessment and then meeting a qualified career counsellor.
You will take an assessment that will help you assess your current interests, aptitude, emotional quotient, personality characteristics and orientation style. Once you have taken the assessment, you can meet a career counsellor to plan further. A career counsellor is an expert who will help you understand and solve your career problems. He/She will listen to you, will help you understand your report and will provide you with updated information about various careers. The counsellor, with you, will help you develop a framework with specific plans to achieve your career goals.
Aptitude – Why is it important and how is it assessed?
One of the key elements in career counselling is aptitude. We may have a number of interests but we may not have the aptitude for it. Aptitude refers to your current skill set and based on that your ability to learn specific skills.
The Mindler Aptitude test measures a set of 10 different aptitudes (such as numerical, verbal, spatial, creative etc.). These are timed tests that assess your ability based on specific questions under each aptitude.
Benefits of Career Counselling: Why is it important to choose the right career path:
No one is born all-knowledgeable and each one of us requires guidance at some point in our life, at personal and professional levels. It makes us more aware, allows us to learn from others’ experiences, and helps us make a well-informed decision.
In the case of making career choices, Career Counselling is one way that can provide the student with constructive guidance and be helpful in multiple ways:
- Decide The Right Career
Career Counselling can help you explore a range of careers and evaluate all options in a structured way so you know what you are getting into. Counsellors are experts at assessing your personality, interests, and other aspects of you.
- Helps Provide Expert Resources
Career Counselling provides access to a rich repository of the resources and knowledge that makes you more aware so your decisions are not driven by gut or hearsay. This knowledge of careers, their scope, and ways to pursue them are important to parents and students since most of the time they do not have that kind of knowledge.
- Helps Change Unwanted Behaviour Patterns
Students and professionals have habits that are hard to break, such as procrastinating, not keeping updated on the latest developments in their chosen career paths, neglecting emotional and mental health, not trying to self-motivate, etc. A Career Counsellor helps break such behavioural patterns that lead to unproductive activities, both at home and in school/college/work.
- Helps Remove Career-Related Frustration
Choosing a career can be a demanding task for both parents and children. A lack of any source of venting out emotions and thoughts may add to the existing frustration. Career Counselling provides a platform where such frustrations can be reduced, and focus is redirected to selecting the best career options.
- Provides A Role-Model
Career Counselling helps students connect to experts who have enough life experiences to share. They are role models who have accomplished and helped people in their life. This is why Career Counselling can serve as an inspiration to students looking to find their way in this world.
- Helps Bring Stability in Thought
Career Counsellors can help you remain calm when it comes to making a career decision. Counselling helps bring about focus, and maintain that focus throughout our activities. Through proper scheduling and planning, they try and make your life more organized.
So, we urge everyone who is going to move into the phase of their life where they are going to make a career choice, make sure it is the right one.
In case you are having trouble finding the right career choice for yourself, talk to Mindler career counsellors and solve your career confusion. It’s never too late!