The most clichéd word in the current professional sphere is ‘Career Guidance’. Most often this is wrongly understood by the young graduates, which either makes or breaks their careers.
It does not surprise me as a human resource mentor, when I come across a graduate who does not have any clue about their career choices. But I cannot hide my disappointment when I get to meet many students who come with a cluttered understanding of career guidance and think that they know it all. The sad fact is that they never realise that this is going to cause them more harm than good. It is time that they resort to correcting themselves by taking appropriate action and going ahead with a clear mind about what career guidance is all about.
One of the best ways is to look at this aspect from the standpoint of myths and realities of career guidance and to take affirmative steps towards a successful career.
Career guidance is always done on a person-to-person basis, in which the candidate and the resource person interact on various aspects of career choices to suit the candidate’s potential and interests. The practice of doing career guidance for thousands under one roof is actually not career guidance, but sheer marketing by certain groups or individuals.
Career guidance also can’t be done with a quick fix approach; rather it has to be worked out on scientific and professional parameters based on the education, interest, aptitude, professional development opportunities and so on. The candidate will have to take a final call based on the situation that is derived upon the interactive process.
Career guidance is also not all about money. Yes, money is an important criterion, but for a fresher, they have to be trained or groomed to look at a broader perspective. It will have to be an enriched and informed decision that empowers them towards personal and professional enlightenment which ensures the candidate’s job satisfaction, professional development and career improvement
opportunities.
Mental health
A professional career counsellor can help with anxiety and uncertainty
Decode that
Career assessment tools will have to be professionally interpreted and decoded
Take help
Self-administered choices don’t really work in the case of a sound career
