A personal trainer helps an athlete build skills, refine technique and reach better results. In the same way, a career consultant helps a client develop professional skills and move up the career ladder.

Career consulting is one-on-one work with an expert who helps you find your professional path, land a job or grow in your career.

How career consulting developed

Career consulting emerged in the early 20th century in response to the needs of an industrializing society. As industry and urbanization grew, people began looking for help choosing a profession. Over time, the profession of career consultant became more structured and widely recognized.

Who is it for?

  • People unsure about their profession. For example, a mother returning from parental leave who dreams of doing something new. The specialist will review your resume, take your wishes into account and identify your strengths. Putting all the details together, they will suggest which direction to take.
  • People looking for a job. If you have already been through several interviews without success, it is time to ask for career advice. An expert will improve your resume, help you prepare for interviews and spot the possible "traps" that may put employers off.
  • People who want to grow professionally. If you do not know how to move forward in your career, a consultant will help you build a development plan. This can also be useful if you have been in the same position for a long time and want to understand your market value.
  • People considering a change of field. If you have been in the same job for a long time and want a change but are unsure about current market trends, a career expert will help you choose a new direction based on your skills and interests.

What are they for?

  • Identifying professional interests and abilities. Not everyone settles on a profession right away. A consultant will help you identify your strengths and interests and suggest the most suitable lines of work.
  • Career planning. If you have already chosen a profession but do not know how to move forward, a consultant will help you put together a development plan that takes into account your wishes and the realities of the job market.
  • Changing careers. Life is dynamic, and sometimes changes make us think about switching professions. A consultant will help you weigh the risks, opportunities and prospects of a new line of work.
  • Developing professional skills. If you want to become more competitive in the job market, a consultant can suggest courses, trainings or other ways to upgrade your qualifications.
  • Solving professional problems. Conflicts at work, dissatisfaction with your current position, stress: any of these can be a reason to turn to a career consultant.

Types of career consultations

There are various formats of consultation: one-on-one sessions, group sessions, webinars and online consultations. The choice of format depends on the client's personal preferences and the nature of their questions.

What to expect at a consultation

Before meeting a consultant, it helps to review your career history and define your key questions and your expectations of the consultation.

Clients are asked to fill out a questionnaire in advance, where they can describe their goals, wishes, concerns and individual circumstances.

Before the meeting, the specialist gets to know you, clarifies your goals and carefully analyzes your resume, identifying strengths and weaknesses and assessing your experience and competencies.

Professional testing may also be carried out to gain a deeper understanding of your abilities.

Then the actual work begins. In some cases a single consultation is enough; sometimes a series of meetings is needed. It all depends on your needs.

For example, a recent graduate may only need a resume adjustment and interview preparation. A woman returning to work after a long parental leave may need, besides defining a career direction, coaching to overcome self-doubt. After all, the business world keeps changing, and it is important to keep up with current trends.

Consulting can bring clarity on professional questions, help with career planning and resolve conflicts at work. However, results depend on the interaction between client and consultant, and no results are guaranteed.

Examples of a career consultant's work

Let's look at real stories to see how career consultations can help.

  • Alexey has worked as a programmer at a large Russian IT company for several years. He wants to move to Canada and continue his career at an international company. A career consultant helped him adapt his resume and LinkedIn profile to international standards and prepare for interviews in English. Thanks to this help, Alexey passed the interview and received an offer from a Canadian company.
  • Pyotr is planning to move from Russia to Israel with his family. In Russia he is a successful lawyer, but in Israel his education may not be of use because of differences in legislation. Pyotr is considering a career in IT but cannot decide between developer, tester and analyst roles. A career consultant will help him make the right choice based on his interests and abilities.
  • Ivan, a beginner copywriter, faced professional burnout while working on undervalued projects. He did not know how to reach the next level and raise his market value. A consultation with an expert helped him identify ways to grow and set new career goals.
  • Maria, an experienced translator, was promoted to head a new department at her company because of growing international partnerships. But managing a department takes more than knowing a language. After turning to a career specialist, Maria received recommendations on additional training and management skills.
  • Natalia worked in offline advertising for more than ten years, but the market is changing fast, and she realizes she needs new skills for a successful career in digital marketing. After turning to a career consultant, Natalia received recommendations on the courses she needed, on following trends and on building a new, digital-focused resume. Thanks to the consultant, Natalia found an internship at a large marketing agency, which helped her adapt quickly to the new reality.

Where to find a career consultant?

Consultants often have a background in HR management, business administration or psychology. When choosing a consultant, it is important to consider their education, work experience, certificates and client recommendations.