Career guidance. It evokes associations with men in suits who want to go one step higher. In reality, career guidance is an important tool for starters on the labor market. It helps you answer questions about your talents and your possibilities. There are paid agencies that offer their services. It is much less known that educators such as the university offer their students many free services in this area. And: also of professional quality. During the studies, the goal seems clear: graduate! But once you arrive with your diploma, you may suddenly be bombarded with questions. What is the exact direction I want to go? Or: how does my future goal fit in with what employers offer? So there is still a significant barrier between what you already know about your dream for the future while studying, and the reality that you have to fit yourself into. Fortunately, there is a career counselor. Although you quickly think of a ‘man in a suit’ who wants to take another step on the career ladder, that image is not correct. The career counselor is also a good point of contact for the first step into the labor market or for changing course. The theme is even topical for people who are just entering the final phase of their studies. How and what? Read more.
The paid career advisor
You can obtain paid career advice from specialized agencies. A possible method is: you take a skills test, and then you have an interview with a certified and specialized career advisor. This discusses possible concrete matches between you and your future career options. Everything that has been said is usually put in writing and given away, so that you can read it at your leisure.
The free career counselor
Not every college or university student is aware that the educational institution often offers a free service: relatively extensive advice or guidance in taking the first step on the labor market in the direction you have chosen. An organization like the University of Utrecht provides a nice model of the services that are provided. Firstly, the university offers walk-in consultation hours for students with a career advisor. You can discuss your plans here, open options and test them.
Visit to a university career advisor:
what topics are conceivable?
- Career choice test
- Estimating suitable positions and employers
- Discussing motivations, qualities and interests
- Ways to get more information about positions and organizations
- Identify obstacles to your labor market orientation
- Checking your CV and application letter
(source: University of Utrecht)
Study meetings
In addition to these services, educational institutions such as the University of Utrecht also organize periodic kick-off meetings, where students approaching the final phase of their studies can orientate themselves on the labor market. A visit is also recommended if you don’t really know yet where your wishes and exact skills lie. An experienced career advisor is also available here. In addition to the opportunity to ask questions, you can also take a career choice test online, gather information and get tips about, for example, the current use of social media to find a job.
When to whom?
When will you go to which service provider? In fact, that choice is already made for you. Students may use the free services of career advisors within their educational institution. Little is known that you often still have a fairly long period after graduation to still apply. At the aforementioned University of Utrecht this is even a year. Once you are in the employment process, you are more likely to end up at specialized agencies. This comes with a – sometimes hefty – price tag. But anyone who, for example, is looking for – other – work from a benefit situation, can inquire about compensation through the benefits agency.