5 Reasons Why You Need a Career Counselor Today

I recently joined a number of career-related Linked In groups to stay on top of what is current in our field, and to interact with like-minded folks. What a great resource! I would highly recommend that if you have an interest in just about anything, you find a Linked In group to connect with. I digress. One of the topics that come up over and over in the groups I peruse is that we Career Professionals are poor communicators when it comes to educating the public about our VITAL service. Why this is, I'm not sure. Perhaps because we are in a helping profession, we are reluctant to “sell" what we do. Well, the time has come to spill. There are simply too many people who are visiting this site daily, who should be calling us for help immediately – call it Career 911.

With all the information available online, it's no wonder that many career seekers hesitate to spend their hard earned or quickly dwindling dollars on a Career Counselor. It “appears" as if everything one needs to make a career change is free. If you are in college, you may have tried to use the Career Center service but were disappointed to find that it is primarily a great resource, but does not offer the kind of in-depth counseling required for many students to define a clear career direction. So, I've decided to put my two cents in to educate those of you who have considered getting help, but have held back on making the investment. Yes, call this a blatant “commercial" no holds barred for our profession. It's time to “spill." Our country's national unemployment rate is only a symptom.

Here are five reasons you will want to get the help you need from a professional today:

1. You are a college graduate and you are still trying to get your “foot in the door."

Here's the thing. It is not really about getting your foot in the door. The job market is filled with people competing for the same job with no idea why, other than they need work now or they are being pressured to get out there and find something – and fast. How many years have you spent training (in college) so that you can now grovel to find anything and you really have no clue what you REALLY want in a career or what career happiness even looks like? Time for some help.

2. You have been fired from your current job because you weren't quite measuring up.

Or, you were laid off because they just had to cut personnel – but why you? There are likely a number of unconscious reasons why you may think you were doing fine, but your employer knew that there was something missing for you, even before you did. Deep down, you know the reason, but when faced with the shock of job loss, it's hard to see the truth. Here it is – you simply were in the wrong job or career. People who love what do they rarely get fired. Time to get help defining what career happiness is for you.

3. OK, you are just miserable in your current job but you're still working.

How much longer can you hold out? Two months, a year? Sooner or later your lack of enthusiasm for the job will show up in your work or you will end up with health issues, burn out or be laid off. Time to get help. Be proactive. Find the support you need to move forward and define your ideal work. Life is short. It's a small investment for a BIG return later on. Career Counselors are trained to help you see your work life from an entirely NEW perspective. How has the old way been working for you?

4. You think you already know what you're looking for in a job or career, but you are hitting a wall – and no, “I want to work for a non-profit organization" is not enough.

Employers are much more likely to spend time and focus on those who know what they want in all aspect of their work. They are attracted to those who know themselves, are clear and focused on their goals, and who can come in and tell THEM who they are, how they can contribute to the organization and how that organization can support them to do their very best work. They are confidently clear in their choice of a career or job goal. And it is clear to the employer that they are passionate about the job they are applying for. To get to this place, get help today. That's what we Career Counselors do – help you get there and become that person.

5. You have amazing, creative ideas about what you would love to do, but can't seem to get focused long enough to take the next step and do something about it.

Clearly, it's time to get help. Career Counselors who have the education, training and experience can help you clarify your dreams. Isn't it time to get the full on support you need from someone who understands the career/job world? Career counseling helps you define the goal – coaching then comes to help you get there.

Shell Mendelson, founder of NB Careers, specializes in guiding individuals with Career ADD and Career Paralysis to define an authentic career direction. Click here » to download a FREE “Six Minute Quick Goal Setting" exercise and take the first step on your job search journey.