Most of the students go through school, wondering which career path to take and often they end up enrolling in a course that they are not interested in and ultimately they end up changing courses after 6 or 12 months. Its both a waste of time and money and of course, energy. For any student to make the right career choice, it is important for them to go for career counseling to get an idea about which course one should study, which institute one must apply for, what are the career possibilities in the course and so on.

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet
• Yellow pages
• References from friends and family members
• A list of courses of your interest
• Budget or an idea of the amount of money you can afford to spend on the course

Step 1

Think about your interests, skills, likes and dislikes. Make a preliminary list of careers that interest you before looking for a career counselor.

Step 2

Decide whether you prefer a counselor with a highly structured approach who utilizes career interest tests, or someone whose style is more about discussion and exercises.

Step 3

Use yellow page to locate career counselors in your area. Most of the colleges and online education portals have counseling services to help students decide which course or college to choose.

Step 4

Use the World Wide Web to find private certified counselors who can guide you online about your career and anything you might want to know during the admission procedure.

Step 5

Consider your present financial situation while choosing an online counselor as there are some counselors who might ask a fee. However there are many free services available which can be the most viable option for you.

Step 6

The best-qualified counselors must have a master's degree in counseling. Ask about their credentials when you contact them.

Step 7

Ask family members, neighbors and friends for the names and contact information of career counselors they might know of.

Step 8

Check out the overall experience and education of the counselor to judge the ability of the counselor. Here it is the question of your whole career thus it becomes more important for you to get a good counselor. Hence, give time to find out the right online career counselor.

Step 9

Talk with several counselors to determine if it's a good fit. Ask questions about their experience, knowledge of the job market and how many sessions may be required.

Step 10

Consider a counselor’s approach as they might have the ability to make you comfortable and speak up your mind. When you are going for online counseling it is important for you that you don’t end up answering in just yes or no. A lot of questions will be asked about your skills, interests and values, your preferences, and your experiences. Answer them honestly and articulately.

Step 11

You must feel more comfortable while talking with a career counselor and there must not be any sort of nervousness. In short, he/she must be pleasant to talk with and he/she must have the patience to listen to all your queries for hours.

Tips & Warnings:

• Make sure the counselor you choose is a good listener and has knowledge of the job market.
• Gather as much information as you can and then trust your instincts.
• Compare at least three career counselors before you hire one.
• Make sure the one you hire has the appropriate education and experience and the latest info on career possibilities in India.