Travis, Career Counselor at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo: Advize Career Interview

A career counselor at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo shares a fascinating journey from a psychology major unsure of their future to a fulfilling role supporting students.

The work involves diverse daily tasks: one-on-one advising, teaching, and collaborating with faculty and employers. A key skill is "unconditional positive regard," fostering positive relationships with students and employers.

The most rewarding aspect is witnessing student successes, from securing jobs to starting companies.

While challenges include limited funding and a demanding workload, the unique perspective on emerging job trends and the impact on students' lives outweigh these.

Success in this field requires work-life balance, continuous learning, and strong relationship-building skills.

Aspiring career counselors can gain experience through mentoring and university career center roles, learning that expertise is less crucial than listening, guidance, and fostering self-reflection.

A significant lesson learned is the profound impact of positive relationships on career satisfaction. The path to this career may be circuitous, with valuable insights gained from exploring what one *does not* want to do.

This ultimately led to a rewarding career supporting others in their journeys.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Travis Raynaud

Career Counselor

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Masters in Counseling and Guidance for Higher Education

Psychology

Education

Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student

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Career Path of a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Travis's career path began unexpectedly, as a psychology major unsure of their future, and "didn't have a good idea of what I was gonna do with my degree". A pivotal internship in student leadership at Cal Poly, followed by a master's in education with varied student affairs roles, ultimately led to discovering and developing expertise in career counseling within the university's career center.

Career Path of a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Main Responsibilities of a Career Counselor at Cal Poly SLO

A career counselor at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's main responsibilities involve collaborative, one-on-one support for students seeking career guidance, focusing on "exploration," internship opportunities, resume/cover letter development, interview preparation, and graduate school applications. The role uniquely blends career advising with counseling, encouraging self-reflection through questions about "what they value and what are their interests and what are they good at" to personalize support.

Main Responsibilities of a Career Counselor at Cal Poly SLO

A Day In The Life Of A Career Counselor At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

A career counselor's day-to-day work is "changes every day," involving diverse tasks such as one-on-one student meetings—ranging from mock interviews to major exploration—teaching professional readiness courses, collaborating with faculty on internships, and coordinating with employers visiting campus for recruitment. The role is highly student-focused, offering "variety" and the rewarding experience of directly helping college students navigate their careers.

A Day In The Life Of A Career Counselor At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Most Important Skills For A Career Counselor At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

A career counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo emphasizes "unconditional positive regard" as a crucial skill, believing it essential to effectively support stressed students and employers. This approach, trusting that each interaction is genuinely intended to be positive and collaborative, allows the counselor to provide the best resources and foster a productive working relationship.

Most Important Skills For A Career Counselor At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Favorite Parts of Being a Career Counselor at Cal Poly SLO

Travis, a career counselor, finds the most rewarding aspect of the role to be "the students," witnessing their diverse accomplishments and celebrating their successes, such as landing jobs, as "every day" brings new stories of students "starting their own companies" or returning from impactful experiences abroad. The work is deeply fulfilling, even if not the highest paying, because it provides the opportunity to witness and support students' growth and achievements.

Favorite Parts of Being a Career Counselor at Cal Poly SLO

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Career Counselor At Cal Poly

Travis's biggest challenges as a career counselor at Cal Poly stem from limited "funding" impacting resources like company tours and guest speakers, and the emotionally demanding workload of meeting with "30 students a week," requiring careful balance to avoid exhaustion. This highlights the tension between resource constraints and the high emotional labor inherent in career counseling.

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Career Counselor At Cal Poly

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Career Counseling Industry As A Career Counselor At Cal Poly SLO

Travis enjoys the career counseling industry because it allows access to emerging job trends —"my finger's on the pulse of like jobs and the economic workforce"—before the general public. This unique position also places Travis at the intersection of industry needs and university curriculum, bridging the gap by informing companies about student skillsets while simultaneously understanding industry demands.

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Career Counseling Industry As A Career Counselor At Cal Poly SLO

What Type of Person Thrives in Career Counseling According to a Career Counselor at Cal Poly

Career counselors who thrive maintain a "work-life balance" while demonstrating continuous learning through attending conferences and networking to understand evolving employer needs; this curiosity and adaptability, as described by a career counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, are essential for providing effective guidance to students.

What Type of Person Thrives in Career Counseling According to a Career Counselor at Cal Poly

What A Career Counselor At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Education Industry

Travis, a career counselor, wishes someone had emphasized that "you don't have to be an expert" to excel in the field; the ability to listen, guide students to resources, and provide space for reflection are more crucial than possessing encyclopedic career knowledge.

What A Career Counselor At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Education Industry

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Career Counselors

Undergraduate students can gain relevant experience through mentoring roles within their university, such as "mentoring in your sorority or...athletic team," or by working in the university's career center as a peer advisor. These opportunities offer a "preview of what career counseling is," allowing students to explore whether this career path aligns with their interests.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Career Counselors

Significant Career Lesson From a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

The most significant lesson learned by the career counselor is the importance of "relationships," noting how impactful positive coworker, manager, and student relationships are on career happiness and success. Investing in these relationships leads to greater job satisfaction, even when faced with challenges like long hours or lower pay.

Significant Career Lesson From a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

College Experiences That Helped a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Succeed

Travis, a career counselor, shared that a key to their success was proactively identifying what they didn't want to do, using experiences like shadowing and applying for various positions to eliminate career paths. This process, while not yielding an immediate dream job upon graduation, provided valuable momentum and self-awareness, leading to more informed and fulfilling career choices by avoiding "miserable" situations.

College Experiences That Helped a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Succeed

How Being A Transfer Student Has Influenced A Career Counselor's Career At Cal Poly SLO

Travis's experience as a transfer student significantly impacted their career path, initially leading to feelings of "not hav[ing] a sense of belonging" and delaying their bachelor's degree. However, late involvement in campus activities and an internship ultimately led to the realization that "there are people that get paid to talk to college students about their career dreams," inspiring their career as a career counselor and a deeper appreciation for their role.

How Being A Transfer Student Has Influenced A Career Counselor's Career At Cal Poly SLO

Advizer Personal Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-raynaud/