Career Practitioner information
The information in this section is for people wanting to know more about career practitioners - what they do and how to find one
What is career development?
Career development is the lifelong process of managing life, learning, work, leisure and transitions in order to move towards a personally determined and evolving future. It applies to people of all ages.
What is a career development practitioner?
Career development practitioners provide services that help people manage their careers, make occupational and study decisions, plan career transitions and find career information.
They may be called:
- Career counsellors or advisors
- Employment counsellors
- Career management consultants
- Career practitioners
- Career coaches
- Rehabilitation counsellors
- Guidance officers
- Work development officers
- Employment support workers
- Work experience coordinators
- Job developers
- Placement coordinators
- Vocational rehabilitation workers.
Where do career development practitioners work?
Career development practitioners work in a range of settings including: schools, TAFEs, universities, business organisations, government agencies and private practice.
What do career development practitioners do?
Career development practitioners may work with individuals or small groups. Some of the services they provide include:
- Career counselling
- Career education
- Job placement
- Employment services
- Recruitment
- Career coaching
- Training
- Mentoring
- Resume preparation
- Career planning
- Administering and interpreting tests
- Teaching job hunting strategies
- Coordinating work experience or internships.
When looking for a career development practitioner you should ask about:
- the way they work;
- the assessment tools they use;
- their qualifications and experience;
- specialised skills and knowledge;
- their costs;
- how many sessions might be required.
Either as a personal exercise, or in preparation for meeting with a career practitioner consider the following questions:
- What is important to you?
- What do you value?
- What do you want out of work?
- What are your special talents and skills?
- What type of work roles interest you?
- Which employers and organisations need what?
- Which employers and organisations need what you can offer?
Most practitioners charge a fee per session, however some use a sliding scale which means they offer lesser fees to people on lower incomes. Some also offer a 'package' with a number of sessions which may include a specific set of activities.
How do I locate a Career Practitioner
You can locate a career practitioner by contacting your local CICA Member Association. (insert link to the Practitioners page)
http://www.cica.org.au/about-cica/member-organisations-of-cica
