Career Project

1. Career Project By Lauren Counseling

2. Nature of the Work Counselors of all kinds assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems. This occupation doesn’t require any equipment, supplies, or tools because counseling can be done anywhere at anytime.

3. Nature of the Work Some specific specializations within this occupation are: • Athletic Counseling • Clinical Mental Health Counseling • Industrial/ Organizational Counseling • Marriage/ Family Counseling • School Guidance Counseling • Student Personnel Counseling The rest of my project will about school counseling specifically.

4. Nature of the Work The major duties and responsibilities for this occupation depend on the individuals they serve and on the settings in which they work.

5. Nature of the work License or certification requirements: • Every state has its own requirements for becoming a school counselor, but many of the states share a few common ones. • All States require school counselors to hold a State school counseling certification and to have completed at least some graduate course work; most require the completion of a master’s degree. • Some States require public school counselors to have both counseling and teaching certificates and to have had some teaching experience before receiving certification.

6. Average Day on the Job Hours: The hours of a school counselor are the same as the teacher hours of the school. They usually run from 7:00-2:00. Counselors are on call 24/7 though. Duties: To work with students, parents, teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, medical professionals, and social workers in order to improve ways of helping kids to be successful. Tasks to Complete: The tasks to complete differ from day to day. However, there is one thing that never changes and that’s helping people. Other: Manage time well, so much to do and not nearly enough time to do it in.

7. Education or Training Requirements Training/ steps that can be taken based on the level of education. • In high school any beginner psychology classes would help one that wanted to go into the counseling field. • Although many high schools don’t offer this, volunteer work at a hospital, school, or nursing home are other great ways to gain some experience (forms of helping people). • The intensity of the training needed increases as the level of education increases. Higher standards are naturally going to be held for those going into this field.

8. Specific Educational or Training Facilities (that offer the training for this career) Dream School: Salve Regina University (Tuition $26,700) School I could definitely get in: Westfield State College (Tuition $7,000) Schools that I would like to go to: Roger Williams University (Tuition $24,192) Saint Joseph’s College (Tuition $6,000) Saint Anselm College (Tuition $26,960)

9. Personal Qualifications Interests, Skills or Abilities • Helping people • Communication • Multitasking • Patience • Listening • Caring • Up to date on technology • Handling personal stress • Setting personal goals Physical Demands • None Other Qualifications • Intelligent • Sense of humor • Able to see the big picture • Attracted to helping others

10. Earnings Starting Wages: Average Wages: Top Wages: $27,600 A Year $50,400 A Year $77,100 A Year Benefits: These differs from place to place. However, one things stays the same. A school counselor is considered to be a hero for many, the best benefit of all!

11. Working Conditions The hours of a school counselor are the same as the teacher hours of the school. They usually run from 7:00-2:00. Counselors are on call 24/7 though. Hours: Physical Working Conditions: Stress Level: High Uniform or Dress Requirement: Travel: Most school counselors spend their day in an office, but they do have to attend meetings and give speeches to students. This depends on the school requirements, but usually business casual is expected. There is some travel involved in this career, the attending of meetings. Usually the distance is relatively close, but occasionally a longer distance will be traveled.

12. Employment and Advancement Outlook for the Occupation The employment trends for school counselors are slowly starting to increase. Employment Trends: Opportunities for Advancement within Occupation: Job Stability within Occupation: Depending on where the school counselor is working, some opportunities for advancement within the occupation are possible. For example if there are several school counselors working together, becoming the head/manager of all of these counselors would be a great promotion. In other places however, there is no where higher to go. This occupation is rather sturdy, especially because this career is becoming more popular. There is a larger need for school counselors, especially because it is a hard position to fill. The has been a large increase in job openings for this career over the past few years as well.

13. Related Occupations Counselors help people to evaluate their interests, abilities, disabilities, and help them with their problems. The occupations that are similar to a counselors do the same kinds of things. I would probably like most of these jobs because of that. I think that I would especially like being a teacher because I love working with kids. I would like to teach at an elementary school level though, if I were to go into this field. Related or Similar Occupations: • Teacher • Social and human service assistant • Social worker • Psychologist • Physician and surgeon • Registered nurse • Member of the clergy • Occupational therapist • Human Resources

14. Personality Characteristics of Typical People Working in this Occupation • Oral Expression- The ability to communicate to others in speaking so others will understand. • Oral Comprehension- The ability to listen and understand what others are saying. • Problem Sensitivity- Being able to recognize when something is wrong, or going to go wrong. • Speech Clarity- Being able to speak clearly so that others will understand. • Inductive Reasoning- Being able to combine bits of information to form conclusions. • Written Expression- The ability to communicate information and ideas with others through writing. • Nonjudgmental • Patient • Empathetic • Be able to handle stress • Be outgoing In this particular occupation there tend to be more female workers.

15. Personal Satisfaction from the Work in the Occupation: Challenges and Satisfaction When it comes to my personal values, they match up with school counseling perfectly. I love helping people and want to make a difference with what I do. I enjoy talking to people and helping them fix their problems. I also consider myself to be a rather approachable person. I’m usually the one to go to when needing help with a problem. I think that it’s really important that people aren’t judged and that everyone is given a fair chance. Status of Job: When it comes to the career of school counseling, the position is respected by society. This is considered to be a very difficult job for many. Societies opinion on the occupation is somewhat important to me, because I want to be taken seriously with my career path. Of course I’m going to follow the career path that makes me the happiest, but having a respected career also plays an important role in that.

16. Interview School Guidance Counselor Licensed K-12 MBA, MED, CAS

17. Here are the questions that I asked and the answers I received during my interview. Q- “How did you get into this occupation and what steps did you take?” A- “I went from a career in business to a business trainer dealing with psychology. Then I became a substitute teacher while I went back to school and began to take psychology classes. I decided that I liked to work with kids to help them. I had to get a graduate degree in school counseling and psychology (taking a total of 2 years for this). Then I had two internships in schools for hands on experience.” Q- “How did you get interested in this field of work and then find this job?” A- “When I was in college I had a special opportunity and helped a college set up an internship program. I had to help students with career counseling, which is what I am doing now, and I loved it! One day I was looking through the paper and saw this tiny little add for Amherst High School and I got hired there for a maternity leave. I interviewed with the principle and I was 1 of 3 for the position, and I got it. I then moved to working at Smith Academy, where I am now.” Q- “What are some jobs or volunteer work that may help me get into this field?” A- “Working at summer camps and doing any volunteer work will really help. Dealing with patients, working in nursing homes, visiting hospitals, playing with kids, anything like that is great.”

18. Q- “What are you expected to do on the job and can you describe a typical day?” A- “Well, it’s unique because I’m the only one here, unlike in most schools. I work with students ranging from grades 7-12, which is really hard considering the age difference. First I could be talking to a senior about having trouble with sending information to a college and then a little seventh grader could walk in crying because someone looked at them the wrong way. Making the transition between these age levels can be difficult at times. More specifically I’m not only expected to be working with the kids, but write reports for cases of violence, or write other reports for outside of the building. The order of a typical week day goes as follows: walk in to meet students at the door, IEP meetings, 1 or 2 crises in the building, problems with parents (think they are the most important thing at the time), student or teacher issues, planning ahead for future meetings, working on the curriculum development, and any other issues that come up because they are happening all the time.” Q- “What are some specific skills needed to be successful in this job, and what skills, aptitudes, or personal qualifications will help me?” A- “Communication, patience, multitasking, handling stress personally, up to date on technology, always setting goals for the future, desire to continue to learn, sense of humor, intelligent, caring, see the big picture, these are all things that are needed to be successful and they will definitely help you.” Q- “What personal traits, values, interests, are helpful for job success in this occupation?” A- “Being attracted to the helping of others and listening.”

19. Q- “What preparation, training, education is required for your job?” A- “A minimum 60 credit approved graduate program on school counseling and psychology.” Q- “What is there that gives your personal satisfaction in your job, and are there any negatives?” A- “I enjoy working with all the students and knowing that I can make a difference. The only negatives are not having enough time in the day and not having any other counselors to work with.” Q- “What are the work hours? Are weekends needed? What about holidays?” A- “My contract is the same as the teachers. I am expected to be here during school hours (7:15-2:15) minimum and I am also on call 24/7 in case of a crisis. Weekends and holidays I am only on call in case something goes wrong. I do however take time to do volunteer work for the school, especially during homecoming.” Q- “Would you do this again if you could choose all over again? Why or why not?” A- “If I could do this over again I would have entered this field sooner instead of the having the other jobs that I did. I love my job so much.” Q- “Can you recommend any resources or websites about your career?” A- “www.schoolcounselor.org, www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov, www.APA.org, www. MASCA.org, and www.NAMI.org. These are all sites that I visit on occasion.”

20. Sources for my Occupational Information • Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Counselors, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm (visited December 1, 2007). • Personal interview. 10 December 2007. • "Occupation Profile- America's Career InfoNet." Careeronestop. 2007.America’s Job Bank. 1 Dec 2007 <http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=111111111&jobfam=&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=211012&stfips=25&x=18&y=8>.