Once you decide you’re ready for career counseling, the next thing to do is find your counselor. Beyond searching for “career counselors near me,” you can also follow the steps below to streamline your process: 

Determine your career counseling objectives.

• What do you want to get out of having a career counselor? Consider possible outcomes, such as identifying a new career path, pursuing career advancement opportunities, feeling more confident, or finding your dream job. 

• What kind of program would you like to join? You could hire a counselor for a single private session, sign up for ongoing sessions regularly, or join an online or onsite counseling program. 

• What do you want to experience while in a program? Examples could include exploratory exercises or taking creative approaches to charting a career path. 

Explore career counseling services.

You’ll find a range of career counseling services available, but it’s worth taking the time to find the right fit. Search the internet, job listing sites, and college career support offered to students and alumni. Read up on how different counselors work with career seekers, including their programs’ structure, duration, and cost. 

List career counselors who may be a good fit for you. Reach out to your top choices via email or by phone to gather more information that may not be available online, such as: 

• The methods they use to help someone get the most out of their goals, experience, and interests

• The kinds of career seekers they usually work with

• What their former clients have been able to achieve through counseling

• The outcomes they specialize in helping people reach

Hear from an adult developmental psychologist and career counselor on the role that skills and passions play in career development:

Discover career guidance tips and continue learning about career counseling on Coursera

A career development course can be a great way to learn more about your career potential and how counseling could benefit you. Get started with Coursera. Try Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact to learn more about finding meaning in your work, building professional connections, and more.