Career counselling services are essential whether you’ve just completed your studies, are still in school, or are looking to switch professions.
Career counselling is a useful tool that helps you start, advance, or change your career. As an immigrant job seeker, one-on-one conversations with an adviser can guide you to do projects, assessments, and activities that showcase your abilities.
In this guide, Remitly explores the types of career guidance available to UK immigrants. Find out how you can take advantage of the National Careers Service and find a suitable career counsellor.
What Is the Importance of Career Counselling?
If you’re ready to explore your options, career counselling comes with the following benefits:
Assess your skills
Seeking career advice gives you a chance to evaluate your skills, interests, and traits with the help of a professional. During the process, you will discover your strengths and areas for potential improvement. This specific knowledge empowers you to make better career choices.
Once you know what you’re good at and what needs working on, you can pursue occupations that align with your skills and passions. As a foreigner moving to the UK, finding your purpose will ease the transition into your new community.
Refine your job search strategies
A professional counsellor can help you build a more attractive resume and improve your interview responses. Most of these professionals have established networks in different industries. With their help, you’ll discover jobs that fit your abilities and connect with various employers.
An adviser can also update you on job trends, workplace culture, available career paths, and salary expectations in the UK.
Navigating career change
Changing careers can be tricky. People switch professions for various reasons, such as needing personal fulfillment, dissatisfaction with a current job, or finding new opportunities.
Councelling could show you how to make the most of these changes to grow or pivot your career. For example, a counsellor could guide you to identify and develop suitable skills for a specific job.
Improve work-life balance
Maintaining a healthy balance enhances productivity and reduces burnout. Your counsellor can teach you more about how to manage your money, schedule time better, reduce stress, and plan for self-care. With their help, you can weigh your priorities and set attainable goals.
Types of Career Counselling Services
Curious about the most popular types of career counselling services in the UK? Here are some top options:
Professional career counselling
In the UK, counsellors are registered with professional organisations like the United Kingdom Council for Psychology (UKCP) or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Accredited careers advisers can help you navigate work-related challenges, explore career pathways, or improve your skil-lset to meet your professional objectives.
Specialist career counselling
These services are tailored to specific groups. These could include veterans, people with disabilities, and anyone returning to work after a long career break.
Specialist counsellors have the skills and experience to address the unique issues that these groups face. They typically provide face-to-face counselling, psychometric evaluations, and custom reports to ensure your career development.
School and university counselling
Most schools and colleges around the UK offer career guidance to students. The services usually include assistance with making career choices, CV writing, and interview success tips. Most service providers also give students access to job fairs and other employer events.
National Careers Service
The National Careers Services is the UK’s official provider of free advice on professional development. It targets everyone over the age of 13, regardless of career stage. If you want information about work, training, and learning, you may find this service relevant. Discover more about the National Careers Service and their activities on the website.
Assessment-based counselling
Certain career counselling services often include aptitude tests, personality assessments, and skills inventories. These advanced techniques help advisers understand your strengths and needs. In doing so, they are able to provide personalised advice on ways to ensure better career choice and advancement.
Unlock your Potential with the National Careers Service in UK
The National Careers Service is essential for individuals interested in finding information on education, career development, and training. The government-sponsored service offers free and reliable advice to help you make wise decisions affecting your future.
Who can access these services?
People of any age or employment status can access the National Career Service. It’s ideal if you’re experiencing barriers to employment, like disabilities.
However, anyone can benefit from this service. This includes students seeking career paths, professionals ready for a career change, or individuals resuming work after pausing.
How to contact and utilise the service
You can contact the National Careers Service using the following options:
- Call 0800 100 900 to talk to a career adviser directly. The calls are free from most mobile numbers and landlines.
If you prefer not to call, you can contact them via:
- Online chat
- Post
Remember to contact the National Careers Services during office hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturdays and bank holidays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Their offices remain closed on Sundays, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Other UK Career Services
If you’re looking for career services other than the National Career Service, consider the following:
University and college career services
Most universities provide thorough career services to their current and former students. From job applications to CV writing, networking events, and more, these providers often offer students support long after graduation.
Private career services
Professional counsellors offer personalised coaching and advice for a fee. These services are suitable for working professionals looking to advance or change their occupations.
Regional public services
Various regions like Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have local initiatives that offer career coaching to individuals of different ages and groups:
- Scotland: The My World of Work website provides career assistance to students and adults. Services include skills development, CV creation, apprenticeships, personal portfolios, and a dedicated job opportunity finder.
- Wales: The Careers Wales website can help you plan a career, prepare for work, apply and get suitable apprenticeships, search for jobs, and more.
- Northern Ireland: They have NIDirect website has resources for people of all ages. These services assist with job applications, career planning, making career choices, and creating CVs.
Comparing available services
| Service type | Features | Accessibility |
| University and college career services |
|
Limited to specific institutions |
| Private career services |
|
Available at a fee |
| Regional Public services |
|
Available within specific regions |
Finding a Career Counsellor
Choosing a new career or switching to a different one can be challenging. However, a career counsellor can make the process less daunting by providing the necessary guidance and clarity.
But how do you find a career counsellor that aligns with your expectations and needs? Follow the steps below.
Steps to identifying the right career counsellor
Research
Look for counsellors with suitable credentials and experience. You can start by searching on platforms like UKCP and BACP, as these are reputable platforms.
Referrals and reviews
Friends, family, colleagues, and peers in your professional network can provide helpful recommendations that shorten your search for the right career coach. Check online testimonials and reviews to learn more about a counsellor’s qualifications.
Initial consultation
Most counsellors provide a free consultation. Use this to assess the effectiveness of their approach before committing.
Top 5 questions to ask a prospective counsellor
You’ve done your homework and narrowed the list down to a few counsellors that you want to work with. How do you identify the most suitable one? Easy—just ask them these questions:
- What background do you have in career counselling?
- Do you have any examples or success stories from previous customers?
- What your counselling process looks like?
- Do you use any tools or assessments during the process?
- How do you usually work with your clients to help them achieve their needs?
- Can you tell me about your fees?
How the counsellor answers these questions will help you understand their method. With this information, you can establish whether their style fits you.
Understanding the counsellor’s role
A career coach has several responsibilities to fulfill, such as:
- Offering support and guidance in your career path.
- Helping you discover your skills, interests and values, and how they fit a specific career path.
- Guidance through interview preparation, CV creation, and job search.
But remember, these professionals aren’t a job search service or employment bureau. Their work is to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and tools to make solid career decisions. They guide you to capitalise on your strengths and overcome potential barriers to career development.
Preparing for Career Counselling
Early preparation ensures you will get the most from your sessions with a professional careers adviser. Some things you can do beforehand include:
1. Identify your career guidance needs
Before the first session, define your needs. Do you want to switch careers, find new opportunities, or advance in the current job?
Knowing your needs will help your coach tailor their services to your goals.
2. Gather the necessary documentation
Collect relevant information and documents that can give more insights into your career. These include:
- An up-to-date CV
- Job descriptions for any roles you have applied to or intend to apply
- Performance reviews from your previous or current employer
- Academic documents, like your certificates or transcripts from college
3. Set personal goals and expectations
Create concise, realistic goals for what you seek to achieve through career counselling. Write down:
- Short-term goals, like updating the CV or polishing your interview skills.
- Long-term goals, like pivoting to a different industry or securing a promotion.
Communicating these goals in advance providesa focus for your sessions. In turn, both you and the councellor will work towards the same objectives.
Making the Most of Career Guidance
It’s not enough to show up for your session. To ensure your councelling bears fruit, follow these easy tips:
Implement career advice
Start implementing everything your career adviser says. Practice interview skills, update that CV, and explore any suggested career paths.
Manage career progression
Set milestones to track goals and review your progress often. Network broadly and actively seek opportunities to grow professionally.
Get constant feedback and adjust
Continuously seek feedback from peers and other mentors to remain accountable and focused. Additionally, be ready to adjust your plans as you face new opportunities or hurdles.
Excel Professionally in the UK
Everyone wants a successful career, and may have many ambitions and skills. But if you don’t know how to best harness them, it may be challenging to achieve your dreams.
Using a career counselling service can help unlock your potential and progress quicker. Finding the right counsellor and implementing their advice is the first step to building a brighter professional future.
FAQs
What kind of support do career counselling services provide?
Some of the career counselling support offered include CV building, job search strategies, career development, skis assessment, and interview preparation.
Who can access the National Careers Service?
Everyone in the UK over the age of 13 can access the National Careers Service, including immigrants. Counselling services are provided to people seeking jobs, a career change, or further development in the country.
How do I find a good career coach in the UK?
To identify the ideal career councellor for your goals, do some research personally or online, get referrals from your friends, family, and peers, check reviews online or through accredited professional bodies, and attend the initial consultation to gauge if they are the right fit.