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.
Student Focused, One-on-one meetings, Career Readiness, Teaching, Varied daily tasks
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
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Masters in Counseling and Guidance for Higher Education
Psychology
Coaching, Speaking & Writing, Education
Education
Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. A career counselor's daily tasks are varied and student-focused, including one-on-one meetings, hosting employer visits for career fairs, and teaching professional readiness courses.
2. Counselors work with students at various stages of their career development, from practicing interview skills to exploring career options and managing stress related to major changes.
3. The role involves collaboration with faculty to create internships and integrate them into university courses, showcasing the multifaceted nature of the job.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a career counselor look like?
Part of what keeps me in this role is that the day-to-day changes. I like variety and things that are not the same or repetitive.
There are themes, like I mentioned before, such as meeting one-on-one with students. However, there are also many different changes throughout the year.
For example, I might host an employer on campus for a career fair. In the morning, I could meet with them to discuss how they can set up their interview schedule. Then, I might have a block of time for students to meet with me one-on-one.
I could have a student I've worked with for a quarter who wants to practice behavioral questions before an interview with an accounting company. My next appointment might be with a student who is changing their major, is stressed, and has no idea what they want to do. We'll explore who they are.
Part of being a career counselor often involves teaching. Universities host professional career readiness courses, and I get to teach one. Afterwards, I'll meet with a faculty member to design a new internship for their course.
So, every day is different and student-focused. I don't have to be in meetings with administrators all the time, or with parents. I get to hang out and help college students. That's the day-to-day. You have to like working with people if you're going to be a career counselor.