Guidance Counselor Jobs Overview
Guidance counselors can have a profound impact on students. At age 17, who helped you choose and find scholarships and grants for college or trade school? As a middle schooler, how did you decide whether to take French, culinary arts, or other electives? When you were in fourth grade, who did you talk to when you had trouble keeping up with other students? If you want to help students make decisions about their academic futures while handling the many challenges of growing up, you might want to apply for guidance counselor jobs.
In elementary through high school, guidance counselors help students develop academic and social skills. They are often the go-to faculty member for help with decisions that can impact the rest of their students’ lives. Guidance counselors are the central resource to:
- Help a student plan their schedule.
- Suggest a tutor for a student falling behind in a class.
- Give advice on how to write a college application essay.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the need for guidance counselors will see a 10% growth over the next 10 years. That’s faster than the average increase for all jobs. Nearly half of all guidance counselors work for elementary and secondary schools. You’ll also find them in colleges, universities, social assistance agencies, or as self-employed career counselors.
If you think you’re suited for social service jobs, you might want to explore related occupations such as:
Guidance Counselor Education and Skills
To be qualified for guidance counselor jobs, you’ll need a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field like psychology, followed by a state-issued credential. Some states also require licensing for school counselors. A school guidance counseling curriculum includes:
- Multicultural counseling and advocacy
- Human growth and development
- Group dynamics, process, and counseling
- Counseling practicum and internship
Along with education, a guidance counselor needs:
- Analytical skills
- Compassion
- Interpersonal skills
- Listening skills
- Speaking skills
Take a look at this school counselor job description template for additional things an employer might look for in a school counselor job candidate.
Update Your Guidance Counselor Resume
Does your resume need a refresh? Monster has this school counselor resume sample to get you started. The example highlights the candidate’s certification and includes a clean list of key skills matching a school guidance counselor’s job responsibilities.
Carry that emphasis over to your cover letter to accompany your resume. If you want to improve your chances of a hiring manager noticing you, try these three attention-getting tactics for cover letters. You can up your game by browsing all the cover letter writing tips on Monster.
Interviewing for Guidance Counselor Jobs
What will a hiring manager ask you during an interview? We can’t tell you exactly, but we do have a list of sample school counselor interview questions and answers for you to study and use to plan how you will answer.
Here are three of the most common questions:
- What characteristics should a school counselor possess?
- How would you work with the rest of the school staff to increase the impact of your job?
- What would you do if one of your students reported domestic abuse?
How Much Does a Guidance Counselor Job Pay?
According to Monster, the median pay for an academic guidance counselor in the U.S. is $42,734. Your salary will vary depending on where you work. Use Monster’s Salary Tools to pinpoint that number. Be sure to look on that page to find out the next steps you can take in your guidance counselor career.
Want to Learn More About a Company You’re Interested In?
Augment your job search with some intel on the companies you’re thinking of pursuing. Monster’s Company Profiles will give you insight to help you decide if a company is a good fit.
- a link to their company website
- the year they were founded
- a summary of their business philosophy
Take the Fast Track to Guidance Counselor Jobs on Monster
Put some speed in your job hunt by completing your profile on Monster. That’s the first place hiring managers and recruiters go to find qualified job candidates for guidance counselor positions. It also opens the door for us to send relevant job postings and career advice to your inbox.