Career Counseling

Career counseling, which often utilizes career assessments, can help individuals in numerous ways. For example, career counselors can help clarify career/ life goals, help develop career action plans, provide clarity on one’s strengths and weaknesses, encourage career exploration activities, assist one with working through various barriers related to deciding on, or finding a career, and help one to understand the convergence of personal and career issues.

Career counseling is available at no charge for WMU students. As we frequently find testing to be extremely beneficial to help an individual decide, clarify, or reaffirm a career decision, a referral to take the Career Guidance Inventory (CGI) is often made. There is a minimal charge for the CGI. Some students only need or want information relating to career. If a student does not need to or want to take the CGI they will be assisted through 1-on-1 career counseling or a referral to the appropriate resources (e.g. Career Resource Center). Although the determination of whether career counseling or career counseling with assessment is appropriate is made by the counselor and client, please let your counselor know at intake if you do not want career assessment along with career counseling.

A Good Career Decision:

In very simple terms, a good career decision derives from the synthesizing of an understanding of oneself (inside information) and an understanding of various careers and the world of work (outside information).

Career assessment (i.e. Career Guidance Inventory) is usually a good way for you and your counselor to gain an understanding of the inside information. Ideally this will include learning about your personality, interests, values, and skills. To learn about outside information including requirements, opportunities, and limitations you will want to take advantage of the resources in our Career Resource Center as well as the online resources recommended by the Center. Your counselor may advise that you talk with individuals employed or professors teaching in your career area(s) of interest or working/ doing internship in the area of your interest. This may be a helpful way to gather outside information.

How it works:

Call 269-387-1850 or stop in the UCTC and request to have an intake interview set up to help determine your career counseling needs. On the day of your appointment arrive 10 minutes early to fill out the computer intake information. On the computer intake write in detail why you are seeking career counseling services, whether you are interested in career assessment or not, and what you are looking to get out of the career counseling. You will then attend a 1 hour career counseling intake appointment. Besides career counseling your counselor may be of assistance by providing you with or pointing you toward various resources. If it appears that career assessment would be beneficial, your counselor will discuss this with you and possibly arrange for you to take the CGI.

FAQ’s

Q: I am not a Western Michigan University student. Can I still receive career counseling services?

A: Career counseling services without assessment (i.e. Career Guidance Inventory) is only available to students at WMU. Career counseling is available to students and non-students who complete the CGI and pay the appropriate fee. Please use the link to the CGI for more information.

Q: Can a career counselor help me to schedule my classes?

A: No. Career counselors may refer you to an academic advisor for assistance with class scheduling.

Q: Can a career counselor help me find a job?

A: Career and Student Employment Services located in Ellsworth Hall specializes in helping students and recent alumni prepare for and find jobs and/ or internships in their career field. For more information on their services please see www.broncojobs.wmich.edu