We talk about career counselling, and its importance every single day. As it should be. But who makes career counselling happen? The Career Counsellor. And, their job is anything but EASY.
Counselling in itself has been considered among the toughest jobs in the world. Now imagine, counselling young students!
Keeping aside personal opinions, biases, emotions, and everything else to help children find their calling – That’s what the daily life of a career counsellor is.
But today, being in the field of career guidance, we understood how a career counsellor’s job revolves around – Listening. So, we decided to shift roles.
This time, our counsellor spoke, and we listened.
Here’s an interview with Ms. Muskaan Bhatia, one of the top career counsellors at Univariety.
During the time as a counsellor, what is the most common issue faced by students or parents for career choices?
Ms. Muskaan Bhatia – One of the most common issues that I as a career counsellor have noticed is the lack of knowledge and awareness amongst parents or students.
It is important for students to understand their personalities and what career they could excel at. By taking a personality test as early as the 8th standard, they can have a better understanding of their likes, dislikes, strengths and aspirations.
When it comes to parents, most of them do not know what their child’s aptitude is. More importantly, their lack of knowledge makes them take the easy way out. By nudging their child to take up what their relative has chosen as a career or even maybe a friend. Due to this, most children end up choosing subjects, or a career that they cannot connect to after some point in time.
What percentage of students have their careers already decided by their parents?
Ms. Muskaan Bhatia – Students that go to the schools where careers are discussed and talked about, usually make their own decisions. In those cases, parents offer their opinion but there is no ‘force’ or any kind of pressure.
However, roughly 40% of parents push their children to take up a career or subjects according to their preferences. Many times, they also stop their children from going to another city or country even if they have better opportunities or scope for a career of their choice.
I feel that the most important aspect of career guidance is finding a middle ground between parents and students. However important it is to educate a child to help them recognise their career aspirations, it’s equally important to educate parents as well. There was no counselling for them, and it is not their fault. But it’s never too late to start.
How do you converse with students who wish to switch streams midway through their education?
Ms. Muskaan Bhatia – Most students, after selecting their subjects, see how they are able to cope up or if it peaks their interest for 1 – 2 months. Only after that, if they are not able to connect with it, they express a desire to change streams. However, this should not be the case. I feel, with more research and guidance, the switching of streams amongst children can reduce to a great extent.
I always suggest students sustain and be in the course they have taken. In many cases, if a student wishes to go abroad, universities often ask why there was a shift in streams. More importantly, what did the student do to try and sustain themselves in the stream they had chosen.
There are 5 mantras to education abroad, and this is what I stress the most to students:
- Academic profile
- TOEFL, SAT, and other exams
- Extracurricular profile
- Letter of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose/essay
For example, if a student shifts streams, the shift, the validity, and the reason of the shift must be mentioned in the statement of purpose.
Students also ask me that if they sustain in their stream, and get low marks, can they still get admission in colleges abroad? Based on just the remaining 4 mantras?
My answer to them is – YES! 100%
However, based on the academic profile, we help them shortlist colleges. Since they have a more holistic approach to admissions, students with average marks can get into college abroad.
How has the attitude of parents and students changed towards career counselling?
Ms. Muskaan Bhatia – In the past 5 years, parents who have been open to career counselling for their children have thought of the career counsellor’s advice as penultimate. Most children never took career counselling seriously. Especially when psychometric tests have been an important part of choosing a career.
Compared to students, parents have been more welcoming towards career counselling for the past 5 years. When it comes to students, they usually don’t want to talk to a counsellor on their own and need a nudge from school or parents.
I broadly categorise them into two types in this context:
- Students who are abroad and know exactly what they wish to do.
- Students who have clarity on where they wish to study, but not what they wish to study.
My main aim to let students and parents know is that “Every career has a scope”.
How do you balance your job of counselling with your individual thought process?
Ms. Muskaan Bhatia – As a career counsellor, I keep my personal opinions aside during the sessions. However, after I take a psychometric test for a student and the report comes, I assess it. After which, I give all the options to the student.
Based on the results, I offer them 10 career options, 10 courses, and 10 colleges. From this, I sit with them and their parents to shortlist further. I have seen many times, medicine and engineering are often forced by parents in certain parts of India. Apart from them, they are also often conservative when it comes to their child going to certain countries or cities as well.
Something that bothers me the most is that parents do not come to us counsellors until their child is not performing well in their course. I always mention that counselling and guidance should start as early as 9th grade.
We concluded the interview by understanding what the scope of counselling was before, what it is now, and most importantly, what is the scope in the future. The job of a counsellor is not easy, and this interview was proof. They are the silent heroes who help shape the future of the future generation of the country. This is where education, awareness, and execution come into play. If you wish to cut out the confusion with the help of our counsellors, Book a Session with us today!
Aditya
Aditya is a Marketing Manager at Univariety. He loves writing about anything and everything. With a passion for writing and his vision to help students with their education, he wishes to see a better future for them. Aditya loves sports, reading, and photography.
-
Adityahttps://www.univariety.com/blog/author/aditya/
-
Adityahttps://www.univariety.com/blog/author/aditya/
-
Adityahttps://www.univariety.com/blog/author/aditya/
-
Adityahttps://www.univariety.com/blog/author/aditya/
