Career guidance, also known as vocational guidance or job guidance, refers to the set of processes through which a person is accompanied and guided in the search for a job or profession that fits their interests, motivations and abilities. Today, with constantly evolving work environments and a wide range of career options, having the right support to navigate the world of work has become essential.
The process of professional guidance involves providing the person involved with all possible information about different forms and options of employment and training, in addition to helping them identify their strengths and weaknesses and being consistent with their skills and strategies to maintain a satisfactory job.
In this article we are going to explore the different functions that career guidance has in people’s lives and its importance for maintaining the world of work. From self-awareness and exploration of options to informed decision-making, skill development and career transition, career counseling offers a wide range of services and tools to help individuals chart a joyful career path.
What is career guidance?
Before we dive into the various functions of career counseling, it is important to understand what is meant by career counseling and what its main objectives are. Professional guidance refers to the set of services and activities implemented, in most cases by psychologists or social workers, to help people make decisions related to their professional development.
Its fundamental objective is to provide individuals with the necessary tools and knowledge so that they can make informed and correct decisions about their career. In this sense, career guidance seeks to help people understand their own abilities, interests and values, and how these relate to the world of work. It also focuses on providing relevant information about different career options, the labor market and employment trends.
In addition, career guidance also aims to support the development of skills necessary for career success, as well as encourage long-term career planning. This involves helping individuals identify and close skills gaps, set realistic goals, and design effective strategies to achieve them.
Main functions of career guidance
Next, we will review some of the main functions of career guidance:
1. Exploration and self-knowledge
Promoting exploration and self-knowledge of the people involved is considered one of the fundamental functions of professional guidance. From the point of view of professional guidance, being able to understand oneself and our mental processes is essential to make correct decisions in the professional field.
Professional guidance makes use of different tools and techniques to encourage people to identify their strengths, weaknesses, interests and professional goals. By using assessments and tests, it is possible to discover the skills, values, and work preferences that each person has. These processes help individuals have a clearer vision of themselves and what they want to achieve throughout their professional career.
Being aware of these skills and preferences is the first step in being able to exploit the different career options that are available and that align with your interests and goals. At this point, the role of professional guidance is to provide information about the various careers and work fields, individualizing this information to the preferences of each person, so that they can understand the available opportunities and the skills required in each of these options.
On the other hand, career guidance also encourages reflection and self-evaluation. By exploring personal values, people are able to analyze how they relate or would relate in different work contexts. It is important to keep in mind that career guidance should not be limited to young people choosing a career. It is also relevant for professionals at different stages of their working lives looking to make changes or transitions.
2. Information and decision making
As we have mentioned, giving as much information as possible and individualized to each person is a very important part of professional guidance, but this should also include support in making decisions based on all the information presented. In today’s dynamic world of work, it is very important to understand all the opportunities available and evaluate the advantages and challenges of each option. Counseling professionals offer resources and data on different career options, labor market trends, job demand and salary prospects. This information helps individuals understand the opportunities available and evaluate the advantages and challenges of each option.
In addition, career guidance provides support in the evaluation and comparison of different careers. This allows people to make decisions based on a deeper understanding of how they would fit into a specific career field and what type of work would provide them with satisfaction. To do this, it is important to put decision-making processes into practice, which also implies considering factors such as the necessary academic training, the required skills and the opportunities for professional growth and development in each field. Career counseling helps individuals evaluate these variables and understand how they fit into their personal goals and circumstances.
It is important to highlight that decision making in career guidance is a continuous process. As the employment landscape evolves and individuals’ needs and goals change, it is critical to review and adjust career decisions. Career guidance provides the necessary support so that people can adapt and make wise decisions throughout their professional career.
3. Skill development and planning
Skills development and career planning are essential components of career guidance. This function focuses on helping intervened individuals acquire the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace and design effective strategies for their long-term professional development.
Career counseling identifies skills gaps and helps individuals develop a plan to close those gaps. Counseling professionals can provide guidance on learning and training opportunities, educational programs, and training options that are relevant to your chosen career field. This allows people to acquire the necessary skills and stay up-to-date in an ever-evolving work environment.
Furthermore, career planning is a fundamental aspect of career guidance. Professionals work with individuals to set realistic career goals and design a clear path to achieving those goals. This involves creating short- and long-term strategies, identifying milestones, and regularly evaluating progress.
4. Support during job transitions
As we have previously mentioned, career guidance is not only something related to starting out in the world of work, it also plays a crucial role in providing support during job transitions. By assessing these career changes, career counseling helps individuals develop job search skills, such as writing resumes, preparing for job interviews, and utilizing effective networking strategies.
When individuals face the transition to a new work environment, career counseling can help them adapt to the changes and establish themselves successfully. This may include guidance on the work culture and environment, strategies for establishing effective working relationships, and advice on how to deal with common challenges that arise during the transition.
Additionally, career guidance is invaluable for those considering a career change. Counseling professionals can help evaluate transferable skills and opportunities in different fields, as well as provide information and guidance on the steps necessary to make a successful transition. This may include advice on acquiring new skills, pursuing training or education programs, and strategic planning for career change.
Career guidance contributes to job success
In conclusion, the functions of career guidance play a fundamental role in the development and success of people in the workplace. Through exploration and self-knowledge, career counseling helps individuals understand their skills, interests, and values, and align them with available career options. Likewise, it provides relevant information and supports making informed career decisions, taking into account factors such as the labor market and growth opportunities.
Additionally, career counseling focuses on developing skills necessary for success at work and long-term strategic career planning. Provides support during job transitions, whether searching for a job, adapting to a new environment or changing careers.
In an increasingly complex and competitive work environment, having the support of career guidance has become essential. It enables individuals to make informed decisions, develop relevant skills and adapt to changes in their career path. We must not forget that professional guidance contributes to the achievement of a satisfactory career and well-being in the workplace.