What You'll Do

  • Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
  • Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
  • Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
  • Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
  • Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
  • Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
  • Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
  • Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
  • Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
  • Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.38/5
Speaking 4.12/5
Social Perceptiveness 4.12/5
Service Orientation 4.0/5
Reading Comprehension 3.88/5
Writing 3.88/5
Critical Thinking 3.88/5
Active Learning 3.75/5
Learning Strategies 3.75/5
Monitoring 3.75/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.75/5
Coordination 3.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.

Common styles

Empathy, Cooperation, Dependability, Optimism, Social Orientation

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.25/5
Oral Expression 4.25/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.75/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.75/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.75/5
Speech Clarity 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

ACT Discover ACT WorkKeys Adobe ActionScript Adobe Photoshop Athena Software Penelope Case Management Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge Blackboard software Blackboard Wimba Bloomz Career Cruising Career decision-making programs Career Dimensions Focus 2 Career management systems CMS Career Zone Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC WONDER Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epi Info Chat software Coin Educational Products Climb K-5 Online Coin Educational Products Coin Jr. College Central Network Career Services Central

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Empathy (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.76/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.71/5)
  • Optimism (High importance: 4.66/5)
  • Social Orientation (High importance: 4.61/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

Similar Careers to Explore

Rehabilitation Counselors

99.8% similar profile

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

99.2% similar profile

Instructional Coordinators

99.0% similar profile

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

98.9% similar profile

Community Health Workers

98.7% similar profile

Directors, Religious Activities and Education

98.6% similar profile

Mental Health Counselors

98.4% similar profile

Clergy

98.4% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Academic Advisor Academic Counselor Admissions Counselor Adult School Counselor Advisor Articulation Officer Assessment Specialist Career Advisor Career Coach Career Consultant Career Coordinator Career Counselor Career Developer Career Development Consultant Career Development Counselor Career Development Facilitator Career Development Specialist Career Guidance Counselor Career Services Coordinator Career Technical Counselor Career Transition Specialist Child Guidance Counselor College Counselor Counselor Curriculum Counselor Disability Services Coordinator Education Coordinator Education Counselor Educational Advisor Educational Consultant Educational Guidance Counselor Elementary School Counselor Employment Coach Employment Coordinator Employment Counselor Employment Specialist Employment Trainer Employment Training Specialist Enrollment Counselor Enrollment Specialist Extension Course Counselor Financial Services Specialist Foreign Student Advisor Guidance Advisor Guidance Counselor High School Counselor High School Guidance Counselor International Student Counselor Internship Coordinator Job Coach Life Skills Coach Offender Employment Specialist (OES) Offender Job Retention Specialist Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) Outplacement Consultant Placement Coordinator Pupil Personnel Worker Residence Counselor Resume Writer Scheduling Specialist School Adjustment Counselor School Counselor School Guidance Counselor Student Advisor Student Counselor Student Development Advisor Student Services Coordinator Student Services Counselor Student Success Counselor Student Support Counselor Study Abroad Advisor Transition Advisor Transition Specialist Vocational Adviser Vocational Counselor Vocational Evaluator Vocational Examiner Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Vocational Rehab Counselor)

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.