Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors Go Back to List Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Data base user interface and query software

Tasks
	Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
	Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
	Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
	Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
	Provide students with information on topics, such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
	Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
	Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
	Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
	Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
	Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.

Skills
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Knowledge
	Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
	Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
	Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).   Related Experience:   Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $72,939.00 $35.07  $20.64  $24.38 - $43.27  Bridgeport/Stamford $76,194.00 $36.63  $21.12  $24.83 - $45.80  Danbury $80,964.00 $38.93  $23.18  $26.03 - $49.67  Hartford $73,897.00 $35.52  $22.67  $25.93 - $43.45  New Haven $71,589.00 $34.42  $19.78  $23.79 - $42.50  New London/Norwich $70,940.00 $34.11  $18.79  $20.96 - $46.33  Waterbury $71,321.00 $34.29  $21.63  $24.45 - $39.90  Torrington $78,131.00 $37.56  $23.94  $27.23 - $40.58

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   259   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.