Career coach vs. career counselor: what’s the difference and which should you choose?

Career development is an important topic of conversation for any career-minded individual. While independently reflecting on your own career plan is worthwhile, there comes a time when professional assistance might be necessary. This is where career coaching, counseling, and mentoring come in. These professionals help you determine ways to improve your skill set, enhance your job opportunities, and make better decisions. However, when it comes to a career coach vs. a career counselor, how do you know which will work best for you? 

In this article, we will look at the differences between career coaches, mentors, and counselors and help you determine which option will provide you with the most value. Here’s what we will be covering:

• Biggest differences between mentoring, coaching, and counseling

• Do I need a career coach or career counselor?

• How to use the advice of a career coach or counselor

Biggest differences between mentoring, coaching, and counseling

The goal of a career coach, mentor, and counselor is the same – to help individuals develop the skills needed to have a long and successful career. The difference between these three career professionals lies in their approach to the task.

Here are some of the top ways career mentors differ from career coaches and career counselors:

Career Counselor 

Career counselors look for ways to ensure their clients find the perfect career path. To do this, they may administer tests and perform career and performance analyses to determine what type of job a candidate will be most successful at. 

A career counselor will also help you learn about all the various jobs that are available to you. This professional will teach you about the skills, salaries, and requirements that various jobs have so that you can decide which is the most appealing. Career counselors also help candidates get ready for the job market by improving their resumes and teaching them how to interview.

Career Mentor

Career mentors can also be beneficial to your career because they help you find ways to grow your career or transition into a new one. With a career mentor, the focus will be on discovering what challenges hold you back from advancing in your career and what skills you are missing.

With the help of a career mentor, you will be able to align your career path with your career goals and discover ways to move up the ladder. Also, similarly to a career counselor, a mentor can help you develop your resume and interviewing skills so that you shine when it’s time to move on to the next step of your career journey.

Career Coach

Most of the time a career coach has a simple goal in mind. Their main focus is to help their clients find a new job or land that promotion at the company they already work for. They focus less on helping an individual grow their skills and more on using what skills already exist to create the most attractive application package.

A career coach can help you determine what type of job your skills and experience are designed for. They can also help you come up with a plan for how to market yourself in the industry you are best suited for.

Do I need a career coach or career counselor?

Deciding whether you need a career coach or career counselor comes down to your goals, where you are on your career journey, and what outcome you are looking for from the experience. Here are some of the things you should consider when deciding whether a career coach or counselor will work better for you:

• Consider what your goals are. Those with goals of advancing in their current career may benefit more from a career coach while those looking for a fulfilling career may want to choose a career counselor.

• How do you feel about your current career? If you aren’t currently happy with your career path or are hoping to break into a fresh industry, choosing a career coach to guide you could be the best option.

• Where are you on your career path? If you have freshly graduated or are starting with little experience in your industry, a career counselor may be the best option for you. However, those who want to make their current career more successful may benefit more from a career coach.

How to use the advice of a career coach or counselor

After you’ve chosen which type of career professional will work best for you, you will then need to put their advice to work for you. Here are some of the ways you can do just that.

• Spend some time reviewing your weaknesses and finding ways to become better in those areas.

• Make a plan for your current career path that includes your future goals and the type of work you would like to be doing.

• Keep track of your progress and evaluate the results of your hard work as you go. 

Our goal is to help you become the best version of yourself and to find the perfect career to fit your goals and skills. To learn more about how we can assist you on your career path, be sure to visit our services page on our website.

Key takeaways

1. Career counselors help individuals find the best career path, mentors help employees grow their careers, and a career coach helps clients find a job or get a promotion.

2. Your goals, where you are on your career path, and how you feel about your current job all play a role in which type of career professional is right for you.

3. Reviewing your weaknesses, making a plan, and tracking and evaluating your progress are ways to get the most out of your relationship with a career counselor, mentor, or career coach.