What's the best way to balance your career counseling goals with your clients' expectations?

2 Clarify your role and scope

Another important step is to clarify your role and scope as a career counselor. You are not a recruiter, a mentor, or a therapist. You are a professional who provides guidance, information, and resources to help your client make informed and realistic career decisions. You cannot guarantee a job, a promotion, or a salary increase. You cannot solve all their personal or professional problems. You can, however, help them identify their interests, values, skills, and goals, and connect them with relevant opportunities and networks.

4 Align your goals with your client's expectations

The next step is to align your goals with your client's expectations, and negotiate any gaps or discrepancies. This requires setting realistic and attainable objectives, based on the client's situation, skills, and opportunities. It also involves explaining the rationale and benefits of your recommendations, as well as addressing any concerns or objections that your client may have. For instance, you may need to educate your client about labor market trends and demands, challenge them to explore different career paths or acquire new skills, encourage them to take responsibility for their career development, and provide them with realistic feedback on their strengths and areas for improvement. By aligning your goals with your client's expectations, you can foster a collaborative and constructive relationship, and increase your client's confidence and commitment.

5 Monitor and evaluate the progress and outcomes

The final step is to monitor and evaluate the progress and outcomes of the career counseling process, and to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and learnings. You can do this by following up with your client regularly, asking for feedback on your services, reviewing the goals and expectations you have set, and recognizing and celebrating milestones. This will demonstrate your value and impact as a career counselor, helping your client sustain their career development. Additionally, it is important to check in on their actions, challenges, and successes, as well as assess whether the goals have been met or need to be revised. By doing so, you can help them identify the next steps or opportunities for their career growth.