The Definition
CAREER COUNSELLING IS COUNSELLING OR MENTORING/COACHING ON ISSUES RELATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL’S CAREER. WITH MORE AND MORE DIVERSE CAREER OPTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES EMERGING, CAREER COUNSELLING HELPS INDIVIDUALS MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE ABOUT THEIR CAREER PATHS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER CHANGE.
Self-Analysis
CAREER COUNSELLORS HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TASK OF SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-ANALYSIS. THEY THEN MATCH THE APTITUDE, SKILLS AND INTERESTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH VARIOUS JOB TYPES.
Job Clarity
THEY ALSO HELP IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS JOB OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND PROVIDE CLARITY ON DIFFERENT JOB ROLES. OVERALL, CAREER COUNSELLORS HELP INDIVIDUALS MAKE INFORMED CAREER CHOICES AND HELP THEM DEFINE THEIR CAREER PATHS TO MAXIMIZE THE SUCCESS IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREERS.
Historical Roots
CONDUCTING PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS FOR CAREER PLANNING IS JUST AN EXTRAPOLATION OF THE 20TH CENTURY CONCEPT, WHEN THEY WERE ORIGINALLY USED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. IT WAS IN 1905 THAT ALFRED BINET INTRODUCED THE FIRST ‘INTELLIGENCE TEST’.
Evolution
THEY HAVE SINCE EVOLVED TO BECOME A COMMON FEATURE OF THE SELECTION PROCESS – PARTICULARLY WITHIN LARGE, COMPETITIVE ORGANISATIONS, WHICH PREFER THESE TYPES OF TEST AS THEY CAN ASSESS EACH CANDIDATE ON THEIR ACQUIRED SKILLS RATHER THAN EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.
Scientific Method
PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS ARE A STANDARD AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD USED TO MEASURE INDIVIDUALS’ MENTAL CAPABILITIES AND BEHAVIOURAL STYLE. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO MEASURE CANDIDATES’ SUITABILITY FOR A ROLE BASED ON THE REQUIRED PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND APTITUDE (OR COGNITIVE ABILITIES).
Precision Matching
THEY IDENTIFY THE EXTENT TO WHICH CANDIDATES’ PERSONALITY AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES MATCH THOSE REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE ROLE TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAREER PATH.