Thursday, August 18, 2016

4 Things to Expect From Your First Career Counseling Appointment


Maybe the major you picked isn’t exactly what you had in mind. Maybe you want to learn more

about careers in your major. Maybe you are looking for some clarification for your academic, career, and life goals. Regardless of your reasons for coming to career counseling, you may be a bit nervous about your first appointment. Here is what you can expect:

#1: We will get to know each other

Your first career counseling appointment will be scheduled for one hour to allow for plenty of time to explore your background, goals, interests, skills, and more! This information allows us to develop a good understanding of your situation. Making plans for the future takes time; there is no pressure to make a decision after one appointment. Your counselor will ask questions to stimulate your thinking, provide encouragement, and suggest follow-up appointments and activities based on your goals.



#2 You’ll have a chance to ask your questions

Your career counseling appointment is a perfect time to address your questions and concerns. No question is off limits. If we don’t know the answer, we will do our best to put you in touch with someone who does!

#3 We won’t decide for you!

Career counseling will help you learn more about yourself, the decision-making process, and relevant information for careers of interest. We will listen to you and help you formulate action plans and goals, but the responsibility for career decisions lies with you.

#3 You might leave with (a little) homework


After your first appointment, we often give suggestions of research you can do to look into majors and careers that you are interested in, instructions to contact other helpful individuals or departments on campus, or career assessments to complete and review at a subsequent appointment.

A note about Confidentiality: Everything you say in your career counseling appointment is held in confidence, meaning the counselor cannot discuss it with other people. There may be instances where your counselor needs to share information with others: 1) At your request, we may share information with Career Services Coordinator to help you develop additional career or job search options., 2) If student divulges or is perceived as likely to commit any act of violence to self or others, the counselor must alert authorities as legally required, and 3) if a student reports being sexually assaulted, the counselor has a legal duty to make a report to RIT’s Title IX Coordinator.

Wait… come back! You may find that your interests and goals change and evolve with time. A return visit to your career counselor can help you continue to work toward your goals and get the information and resources you need to help you on your way.

Ready to make an appointment? Call us at 585-475-2301 or stop into the Bausch and Lomb Center, Office of Career Services.

By Janine Rowe, Career Counselor, Assistant Director for Disability Services

2 comments:

  1. Career counseling is required at the right time of anyone's career. Many people are there who have not set their life goals even after the graduation level. What they love to do and what they are doing, and what their career forcing them to do--often arises ample no of problems in their life. One should be first clear about their goal, what they want from their life. In my view, every individual should focus on the sector where they are really happy and can work continuously without break and without get bored.

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  2. Thank you Mike. I agree, many people feel not quite satisfied with their career and person "fit," and career counseling is often a good idea to get some ideas and feedback.
    - Janine

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