The English word, “Counsellor” was first used in 13 century and it has roots in the French expression “consigliere.” Its meaning is “One who gives counsel or advice.” Now, if one checks dictionary for the meaning of the word “Advice,” it is “guidance or recommendations offered with regard to a prudent action!”
Therefore, if counselling has to be truly counselling, the recommendations given have to “result in a prudent action” and to advise anybody for taking a prudent action, the counsellor has to “Understand” the counselled first! In other words counselling cannot be simply called “Advising;” it is much more than that.
Unfortunately where Student Career counselling has become a business, counselling is mostly misunderstood than it is understood in modernity.
What do you understand by career counselling?
Does this only means what all career options you have by choosing Science, Commerce or Humanities? Or does counselling means right career opportunities you have after college or course?
Career counselling is actually a growth process that must guide you to understand yourself and your true potentials to make career, educational and life decisions.
Counselling is not same going to a psychiatrist for a mental illness or to find out solutions for a lingering stressful situation that acts as a barrier in your life. Chill it is not that a big deal.
Career counselling is something a counsellor does by first understanding your strengths, then making you aware of your strengths, explaining you the correct options in a given situation to match your strengths and then helping you to choose the right subjects/programmes/courses so that you are more likely to succeed in life. Well, “Success is said to be one of the most sought after things under the sun!”
Understanding which path is more suitable and what are the areas that need utmost attention to a student become the vital learning discovery for a counsellor before he or she attempts counselling to give true value to the counselled.
During this process of growth, the most important thing is to correctly work on your weaknesses that are probably creating a hurdle in your life. It’s simply done by understanding WHO AM I? This is the first step. And accordingly moulding yourself into the area for which you are meant for.
“Correct Person at Correct Place” is what is career counselling. There are thousands of options, courses a person has to opt, but what makes you “happy” is the crux. A common phrase – Follow your Passion, Follow your heart, But what is it? What does my heart say? Is it required? How can I achieve it, where am I lacking? Where can I be fit in?
If all this is being answered then that’s a perfect counselling place you are at.
– Radhika Goenka
About Author: Radhika is a Career Advisor and Mentor at WOW Factors India Pvt Ltd. She is an expert on “WOW Brain Profiling” and has helped thousands of students in knowing ‘what they are’ and helping them to choose the right career. LinkedIn Proefil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radh…
