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Careers Counselling course online. Learn to advise others on their career choices. This accredited Level 3 course will develop your understanding of factors affecting career choices and planning, and your ability to help others plan and achieve career goals.
The course is aimed at students who have prior experience or training in a related field such as counselling or social work, but will benefit anyone in their own career planning and development.
Starting or changing a career can be quite a challenge. Without help, a person can easily become discouraged or overwhelmed.
If you want to help others (or yourself) make sound career decisions and set realistic career goals, this course will set you on that path. Careers Counselling involves more than just finding work for people.
Among other things, Careers Counselling may involve helping people:
identify the best job for their skills and interests
find any job to meet their personal and financial needs
find a better or more appropriate job for their situation
achieve job satisfaction through appropriate choices
plan and cope with career changes
better adapt to the workplace
improve their potential for advancement in the workplace
identify new career possibilities when circumstances change.
To be able to assist a person to understand:
the diverse nature of employment opportunities
the requirements for success in different types of jobs
reasons that people hire and fire employees
workplace conditions including contract law, industrial relations systems, health and safety issues, ethics useful contacts among employers, government departments, funding bodies, professional associations, industry experts, etc
factors that hinder or promote a person’s job-seeking effectiveness
trends in the local job market.
A good Careers Counsellor must be impartial and objective.
Learn more about the employment industry and about ways to help others (or yourself) develop and pursue a career path that is both achievable and appropriate.
Career Counselling is also a valuable addition to your teaching, counselling, management, life-coaching, or community services qualification.
It can improve parents’ ability to help their children choose suitable career paths, or student’s ability to plan their own career or career change.
See What Our Students Say!
“The modules within the course covered a vast number of areas required to be a competent Career counselor and will anable me to offer my students the very best advice regarding their careers and how to put this into action.
I have completed many home study courses in the past. This from ADL is without a doubt the most intense learning that I have completed. I felt that because of the amount of research I had to do, to enable me to fully meet the criteria, I have learned so much.
The option to do a small project instead of an exam was brilliant for me, as it is a long time since I had to do exams, and find that I am much better when the work submitted is attributed to gaining a certificate.
I fully intend to take another ADL course and Cara has been very helpful in pointing me in the right direction.” Gayle F – Certificate in Careers Counselling, Level 3 – UK
“Thank you so much. It has been such a great course and have learned a lot. It was really great to meet you too and all the staff from the ADL academy whom I came across in the building. Everyone is so nice and friendly. wonderful experience. Thank you once again”.Juudit A, Careers Counselling, UK
“The course was a valuable learning experience as it provided me with the knowledge and understanding for me as a Careers Advisor. The feedback was very good from my tutor, and allowed me to build upon my assignments that were marked. The comments were very informative and very useful. Well written course material.”Andrew W, Careers Counselling, UK
4. Career Services ….Where can people get help (Social Services, Work Experience, Education)
Career counselling services
Careers and vocational guidance
Vocational planning
Setting goals
Job seeking supportJob seeking strategies
Other services
5. Developing Counselling Skills
Key areas for career counselling
Helping clients focus on reality
Helping clients identify opportunities
Helping clients consider all elements
Overcoming resistance from clients
Listening skills
Questioning skills
Problem solving skills
Essential reality checks
Improving clients predictive ability
6. Conducting a Counselling Session
Why people come to a career counsellor
Strategies to develop trust
A career counselling session
Individuals who know the job they want
Psychometric testing for individuals still choosing a career
Types of psychological tests that may be used
Referring people elsewhere
7. Counselling Students and School Leavers (with little work experience)
Understanding youth
Career counselling for adolescents
Assisting indecisive teenagers
Career counselling for students
Giving advice on study
Choosing a course
Workshops for students
Workshops for university students
Resources for counselling students
8. Counselling Adults (inexperienced or facing career change)
Identifying adult needs The training program
Advice and support during job hunting
Course of action
Career changing
Easiest paths to career change
Challenging path to career change
Starting a business
Case study
Writing a business plan
9. Job Prospecting
Ways of finding work
Supporting clients decisions
Prospecting for work
Tips on getting a job
Writing resumes (CV’s)
Preparing for a job interview
10. Nurturing and growing a career once it has started
Getting a job is only the first step in a career
Self management for business people
Marketing and pricing
Case study
Advising clients about career advancement
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Learning Goals
Learning Goals: Careers Counselling BPS202
Identification of people and organisations which offer career advice or support and the services they offer
Improved ability to distinguish successful from unsuccessful careers, and to prepare for anticipated changes in the workplace.
Skills that will enhance your ability to guide others in the establishment or development of a career.
Ability to plan and execute an effective Counselling Session
Understanding and strategies for dealing with the needs of inexperienced young people.
Identifying and meeting the needs of inexperienced adults or those facing career change.
Understanding of how and where to find employment in the job market.
Appreciation of the need to nurture and grow a career and plan for change.
Practical (Set Tasks)
Set Tasks and Practice
Undertake research into the scope and nature of employment services and service providers in your region or locality;
Research a career area to identify the kind of work involved, requirements, who offers it, trends etc.;
Role play a counselling session to practice and evaluate your skills in helping a client with a issue;
Conduct research to improve your understanding of what careers counselling entails.
Plan a careers counselling session, including the session goal, timeframe, and anticipated issues;
Discuss career concerns with young people who are leaving or have recently left secondary school;
Discuss with adults their experiences of career change;
Plan strategies to assist young and adult clients deal with common and important identified issues.
What is Involved in Careers Counselling?
Examinations
Program Summary
More Information
Your learning experience with ADL will not only depend on the quality of the course, but also the quality of the person teaching it. This course is taught by Iona Lister and your course fee includes unlimited tutorial support throughout. Here are Iona’s credentials:
Licentiate, Speech and Language Therapy, UK, Diploma in Advanced Counselling Skills.
Iona has been a clinician and manager of health services for fifteen years, and a trainer for UK-based medical charities, focusing on psychosocial issues, mental health disorders, and also the promotion of communication skills for people in helping roles. She tutors and facilitates groups via workshops and teleconferences, and now specialises in Sight Loss. As a freelance writer, she contributes regular feature articles for magazines, has written five published books, as well as published courses relating to personal development and counselling skills.
Iona has aslo written published books, courses and articles across a wide range of subjects, mostly in the areas of health, counselling, psychology, crafts and wildlife.
She has drawn experience from clinical and managerial experience within the NHS as well as medical and humanitarian subjects. She has been a regular feature writer and expert panel member of a national magazine for six years.
Her books include: A Guide to Living with Alzheimer’s Disease (and associated dementias), The Psychology of Facial Disfigurement; a Guide for Health and Social Care Professionals, When a Medical Skin Condition Affects the Way you Look; A Guide to Managing Your Future, Facing Disfigurement with Confidence, Cross Stitch: A Guide to Creativity and Success for Beginners.
Courses written include: Mental Health and Social Work, Counselling Skills, Understanding and Responding to Substance Misuse, Journalling for Personal Development, Guided Imagery, Stress Management.
Current work includes: Tutor: Courses associated with Creative Writing, Counselling Skills, Psychology, Holistic Therapy, Certified Hypnotherapist and Hypnotension Practitioner.
Facilitator of Teleconference Groups: Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
Trainer (Skills for Seeing): Macular Society
Reviewer of Books/Information: Macmillan Cancer Support
Fundraiser: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Embroidery/Art Groups Facilitator, Board Member
Website Manager: The Strathcarron Project, Coordinator (Delaware & Tennessee) Human Writes
Excerpt from the Course
Careers Counselling – This is a mainly verbal process, where the counsellor and client are in a collaborative and dynamic relationship, focussing on identifying and acting on the goals of the client. The counsellor uses their repertoire of techniques and processes, to help the client come to an understanding of the options available.
Career – This is the interaction of work roles and the other life roles the person has over their life span. This includes paid and unpaid work. People create career patterns as they make decisions about education, work, family and other life roles.
Careers Counselling involves more than just finding work for people.
Among other things, Careers Counselling may involve helping people:
• identify the best job for their skills and interests
• find any job to meet their personal and financial needs
• find a better or more appropriate job for their situation
• achieve job satisfaction through appropriate choices
• plan and cope with career changes
• better adapt to the workplace
• improve their potential for advancement in the workplace
• identify new career possibilities when circumstances change.
To be able to assist a client in each or any of these processes, a Careers Counsellor must be aware of:
• the diverse nature of employment opportunities
• the requirements for success in different types of jobs
• reasons that people hire and fire employees
• workplace conditions including contract law, industrial relations systems, health and safety issues, ethics – useful contacts among employers, government departments, funding bodies, professional associations, industry experts, etc
• factors that hinder or promote a person’s job-seeking effectiveness
• trends in the local job market.
A good Careers Counsellor must be impartial and objective.
BROAD EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS
Employment generally falls into three broad categories:
1. Self Employment (e.g. Running your own business)
2. Contract Employment (e.g. Working for someone else as a contractor)
3. Employee (Working for one or more others as an employee).
The differences between contractor, businessperson and employee may vary from country to country, and even within a country. Differences can even vary over time (e.g. A contractor today has different rights and obligations than they did in the past, under some legal systems).
The nature and conditions of employment can also vary from one industry or discipline, to another. A Careers Counsellor needs to stay up to date with changes, and needs to be well aware of the current situation in any jurisdiction where they operate.
If you are not aware of these definitions and rules within your location, it would be useful to find out about them as soon as possible.
Services Offered in the Employment Industry
General Employment Agencies – These agencies collate information on individuals and match those individuals up with appropriate jobs.
Specialist Agents (e.g. Theatrical Agent, Writers Agent, I.T. Agent) – These individuals are well connected and very knowledgeable about a particular industry. Therefore, they can provide specialised guidance to job seekers in that industry.
Resume Writers – These individuals prepare professional-looking resumes for job-seekers either as part of a career support program or for a fee. It is important to note that different resume writers prepare different styles of resume.
School Careers Counsellor – Ideally, these are counsellors trained to provide job-seeking assistance and career counselling to young people before they leave school. In reality, many are simply teachers who have agreed to take on this role.
Job Advertisers – Professional or government job advertisers promote existing positions, sometimes for a fee to the employer. Some advertisers will also charge job-seekers a fee, to be paid after employment commences.
Private Careers Counsellors – These trained counsellors provide individualised counselling and career guidance to clients who pay fees as agreed upon. Workers in this area may be counsellors who specialise in career counselling, or may counsel exclusively in the employment area.
Business Consultant – Any person with business experience and skills may offer a consulting service that is particularly aimed at people wishing to begin small businesses, or to improve or expand existing businesses.
Assumptions Underlying the Practice of Careers Counselling
Careers counselling has a number of underlying assumptions, which should be considered when supporting clients –
• People have the ability and opportunity to make careers choices within their lives. The amount of freedom of choice will depend on their economic, social and cultural context.
• Individuals are presented with careers choices throughout their lives.
• Opportunities should be available to people regardless of their disability, sexual orientation, age, cultural background, gender or religion.
• People will have a wide range of work roles during their lives. These include paid and unpaid work.
• Careers counsellors support people to explore, pursue and attain their career goals.
• Careers counselling has four main elements –
o Helping individuals gain a greater self-awareness in areas of interests, values, personality style and abilities.
o Connecting students to resources so they can become knowledgeable about jobs and occupations.
o Engaging students in the decision making process, so they choose a career path well-suited to their individual needs, abilities, values and personality.
o Assisting individuals to be active managers of their career path – such as career transitions, balancing life roles, as well as becoming life long learners to develop over their career.
• Individuals will enter particular occupations according to personal preferences, interests, external influences etc.
• Career decision making happens throughout a person’s life. It is an ongoing process. It doesn’t happen only once.
• All forms of work are valuable and all contribute to the well-being of society.
Activity
In number 7 above, it states that individuals will enter their occupation depending on certain factors. Write down a list of things that you consider will affect a person’s career choice.
You may have considered any of the following –
Financial Factors
Can I afford to go to college to train?
Can I afford to go to university to train?
Can my parents afford to send me to private school?
Did I have a good education?
Do I need to start work as soon as I finish full-time education?
Can I do a part-time course while working?
Can I afford to do a part-time course while working?
Family Factors
Are my parents encouraging me to choose a certain career?
Were my parents in a certain career and I’m expected to follow the family “tradition”?
Do my parents disapprove of certain careers?
Do I have a family of my own?
Do I have young children so need to consider working or staying at home with them?
If I work, what about childcare?
Can I afford childcare to enable me to work?
Can I take a career gap?
Will this affect my ability to return to my career?
Do I want to return to the same career?
Do I need to earn more money to support my growing family?
Do I need promotion to support my family?
Can I spend more time at work to get the promotion?
Work/home life balance?
Training
Do I have the qualifications to get onto the training course?
Do I have the skills, personality and ability to do the training required?
Is the training a long-term consideration or a short course?
This is only a very brief list of questions a person might consider when thinking about their career choice. All of these should be considered. A careers counsellor will need to ensure that they are aware of all the factors affecting a person’s career choice. You have probably thought of many more.
Activity
In number 8, it states that career decision making happens throughout a person’s life. It is an ongoing process. Think of yourself someone you know and develop a flow chart of their career.
Getting Work In a Modern World eBook course online. A realistic guide to getting a job or starting out in business.This is a must read; for students, parents, the unemployed, careers advisors or anyone interested in changing or forging a sustainable career.
This is a must read; for students, parents, the unemployed, careers advisors or anyone interested in changing or forging a sustainable career.
In the past, careers were simple. If you went to school and did the right training, you could be pretty certain of finding secure work, and earning a decent living.
Careers are no longer simple!
The world is in transition, and the changes occurring today are no less significant than those of the industrial revolution or reformation.
There are two ways to react to change; either to become unsettled, or to see the opportunities it offers.
This book is all about recognising the changes in todays world and discovering a career path, remaining flexible in your approach to work and building an advantage over your competition in the workplace.
We are living in exciting times; and opportunities do abound for employment; but success depends upon a wholistic approach. Learning is still important, but qualifications might not necessarily be as important as you think. Learning must be coupled with other things like communication and technical skills, attitude, networking and experience.
Studying remains an important piece of the puzzle if you seek a successful career; but without the other pieces of the puzzle, it may simply leave you stranded in unemployment queues.
168 pages
Full colour
Lots of job profiles
An emphasis on hor to adapt to change
Chapters
Part 1 Choosing a Job: Planning a Career
1. Career Myths
2. Finding Your Path
3. Understanding Employers
4. Preparing for a Job
5. Jobs to Consider: Looking to the Future
Part 2 Career Profiles
6. Information Technology
7. Business, Management and Sales
8. Health and Wellbeing
9. Horticulture
10. Wildlife and Environmental
11. Animal Care
12. Agriculture
13. Hospitality and Tourism
14. Media
15. Education
Assessment
Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.
If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.
In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience. This ADL feature is an added bonus not found at most online schools. Set Tasks are not required for assessment.
Some courses also have optional Self-Tests which are available on our online learning platform. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.
How our courses work
Choose Your Learning Method You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, USB or Correspondence. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline.
Tutor Allocation Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited.
Feedback and Assignments Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. Tutor feedback is given in the form of notes written on the assignment. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.
Your assignments are located at the end of each lesson. You submit them for marking whenever you are ready. There is no time limit.
Set Tasks and Self-Tests Most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson before for the assignment. This is where you get the opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge, skills and practical experience. Many modules also have short Self-Tests.
Exams Once all assignments have been completed you may then elect to sit for a one and half hour exam in your own location. If you prefer not to take the exam you do have the option to undertake a project instead. Once the exam or project part of the course is completed, your Certificate is then processed. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for this.
Design Your Own Qualification ADL offers students the flexibility to self-design their own qualification – bundling together a combination of 100-hour modules into a qualification higher than a certificate.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.
General
Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning? A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.
Q. Do I need to buy text books? A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc) A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. Is there an age limit? A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.
Q. Are your courses up-to date? A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.
Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy? A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.
Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students? A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.
Enrolment
Q. When can I enrol/start? A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.
Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world? A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.
Q. How long do I have to complete the course? A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.
Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take? A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.
Assessment
Q. Assessment – how does it work? A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.
Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do? A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.
Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work? A. Yes –
Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module? A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.
Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done? A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.
Qualifications
Q. What qualification will I receive? A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.
Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification? A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.
Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript? A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.
Tutors
Q. Our tutors – who are they? A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.
Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time? A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.
Q. Practical work – How is this done? A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.
Career Options
What's Included
What your tuition fees include
All Course Material via Online, USB or Correspondence
Assignments Marked
Professional Tutor Feedback
Set Tasks - Practical Exercises to help you develop skills
Self-Tests – multiple choice questions at the end of lessons in most modules
Unlimited Personal Tutor Support – via our student classroom
Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
All ADL Exam or Project fees (exception RHS exams)
If you require further details about any of the RHS industry recognised qualifications please, call one of our friendly RHS Course Advisors on +44 (0)1227 789 649 or email: [email protected]
Q: When can I Enrol/Start My RHS Course With ADL? A: Anytime, Anywhere. There are no enrolment deadlines.
Q: I live Overseas. Can I Study From Overseas? A: You can study any of the RHS theory qualifications overseas. All courses are offered in English. You will need to email RHS Qualifications direct to arrange sitting for your examination overseas.
Q: Is There a Time Limit for Completing an RHS Qualification? A: At present there are no time limits. However, RHS is contemplating in the future, the introduction of course time-lines.
Q: Are There Any Entry Requirements (Pre-Requisites)? A: The RHS Theory courses do not require prerequisites, previous experience or any knowledge of horticulture. You just need passion for all things horticulture.
Q: What Course Should I Start With First? I Am New To RHS Qualifications. A: We highly recommend that you start with Level 2 – Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance.
Q: What Does ADL Course Material Include? A: Includes Power Point Presentations, Videos and written course lessons.
RHS EXAMS
Q: When Do Exams Take Place? A: Exams are held on fixed dates in February and June of each year. You should register as a candidate at least 3 months before these dates, so please do not leave exam registration to the last minute
Q: Where Do I Take My Exams? A: UK: You take the exams at the RHS Wisley Centre, located between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey or at other authorised RHS centres around the UK. Overseas: please email RHS qualifications direct for centre information.
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