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.
Career Exploration, Job Search, Career Development, Communication, Problem-Solving
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. You don't have to be an expert to be a good career counselor.
2. Good listening and providing space for students' questions are crucial.
3. Knowing how to refer students to the right resources is more important than having all the answers yourself.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before entering the industry?
I wish someone had told me that you don't have to be an expert to be a good career counselor. I was very nervous that no student would ever get any value from me if I didn't know everything about every major, career, and industry. That's ludicrous.
You're never going to know all of that. So I wish I had known that. If you're willing to listen, give students space to ask questions, and time to process, that's all they need.
I did need to learn how to train on giving a good resume review and all that, but that's something I can learn. So I wish I had known you don't have to be an expert. Even with fewer than ten years in my career, I still don't have all the answers, but I know how to refer students to the right place. I truly wish I had known that.