Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors)
(NOC 4156)
in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community ServicesEmployment counsellors and career development practitioners provide information and help to job seeker clients on all aspects of the job search and career development. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. Employment counsellors and career development practitioners work for human resource departments of companies, employment service organizations, universities and colleges, consulting firms, prisons, and by federal and provincial governments. Supervisors of employment counsellors are included in this group.
Job Outlook
Average
Read more
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Hourly Pay
$21.54
Minimum$23.59
Median$41.03
MaximumAnnual Pay
$8,933
Minimum$39,095
Median$65,380
MaximumCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Hourly Pay
$16.30
Minimum$30.00
Median$51.30
MaximumAnnual Pay
$5,616
Minimum$44,335
Median$92,599
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Employment counsellors and career development practitioners provide information and help to job seeker clients on all aspects of the job search and career development. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. Employment counsellors and career development practitioners work for human resource departments of companies, employment service organizations, universities and colleges, consulting firms, prisons, and by federal and provincial governments. Supervisors of employment counsellors are included in this group.
Job duties
Employment counsellors:
- Interview clients to get employment history, educational background, and career goals.
- Identify barriers to employment and help clients with job readiness skills, job search strategies, writing resumes, and preparing for job interviews.
- Assess need for assistance like rehabilitation, financial aid, or further training and refer clients to the appropriate services.
- Provide established workers with information and strategies for maintaining a job or moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction, making mid-career changes, and adjusting to workplace transitions.
- Collect labour market information for clients about job openings, entry and skill requirements and other occupational information.
- Advise employers on human resource and other employment-related issues.
- Provide consulting services to community groups and agencies, businesses, industry, and other organizations involved in providing community-based career planning support or resources.
- May administer and interpret tests designed to determine the interests, aptitudes, and abilities of clients.
Sample job titles
- career coach
- career counsellor
- career development practitioner
- career resource centre coordinator
- case manager
- employer engagement specialist
- employment counsellor
- employment maintenance worker
- job coach
- job counsellor
- job developer
- workforce development officer
- workshop facilitator
Skills
- You should have an interest in the welfare of others and a desire to help them. Patience, maturity, and good listening skills are important. You must be able to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. Leadership, reasoning and decision-making skills are also necessary. An understanding of human nature is also important.
Job requirements
- A bachelor's degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or in a related field like human resources development, psychology, education or social services is required.
- A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field like educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work may be required.
Other considerations
- Movement to positions in personnel or training is possible. Progression to supervisory positions is possible through experience.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$40,051 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$44,312 median annual incomeCape Breton
$37,012 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$40,473 median annual incomeSouthern
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Health care and social assistance
Educational services
Public administration
Other services (except public administration)
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
35-44
25-34
55-64
65+
15-24
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
35-44
45-54
25-34
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
Bachelor
$38,939 median annual incomeHigh school
$43,139 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$38,222 median annual incomeMaster
$40,478 median annual incomeDiploma Above Bachelor
N/ACompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Bachelor
$45,929 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$35,398 median annual incomeMaster
$71,043 median annual incomeHigh school
$29,055 median annual incomeDoctorate
$100,443 median annual incomeEducation & training
Applied Behaviour Analysis
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on applying principles of learning and behaviour to enhance the development, abilities, and choices of children and adults and prepares students to address the behavioural needs of individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities and autism. They include courses in behaviour analysis and learning, behavioural and functional assessment, developmental psychology, applied behavioural analysis in developmental disabilities and autism, applied behavioural analysis in mental health and aging, research methods, evaluation of interventions, and professional and ethical issues.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Human Resources Development
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare students to apply integrated training, organizational development, and career planning and counselling skills to the design, management, and evaluation of programs to improve individual productivity, employability, and job satisfaction and organizational effectiveness. They include courses in psychology, organizational behaviour, principles of adult education, occupational counselling, skill testing and evaluation, program design, consulting practice, organizational development, and applications to issues such as training, management development, customer service, and total quality management.
Institutions providing this program
Human Services
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs focus on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepare students to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. They include courses in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the scientific study of individual and collective behaviour, the physical and environmental bases of behaviour, and the analysis and treatment of behaviour problems and disorders. They include courses in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
School Counselling and Guidance Services
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare individuals to apply the theory and principles of guidance and counselling to the provision of support for the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle and secondary educational institutions. They include courses in legal and professional requirements, therapeutic counsellor intervention, vocational counselling, and related sociological and psychological foundations.
Social Work
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counselling, and focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. They include courses in social welfare policy, case work planning, social counselling and intervention strategies, administrative procedures and regulations, and specific applications in areas like child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counselling.
Institutions providing this program
Sociology
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. They include courses in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Special Requirements: Standards exist for this job in Nova Scotia. Certification or membership in a professional body may be required by employers, but a certificate is not needed to do this work.
Special Requirements: Standards exist for this job in Nova Scotia. Certification or membership in a professional body may be required by employers, but a certificate is not needed to do this work.
Contacts
Additional resources
There are no additional resources for this occupation.