What Do Guidance Counselors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for guidance counselors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what guidance counselors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Guidance Counselors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about guidance counselors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Guidance Counselors advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Popular Job Titles For Guidance Counselors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Academic Advisors
- Employment Specialists
- School Counselors
- People Managers
- Housing Specialists
- Assessment Specialists
- Scheduling Specialists
- Job Developers
- High School Counselors
- After School Counselors
- Financial Services Specialists
- Career Advisors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for guidance counselors can be found.
Best Industries for Guidance Counselors
Guidance Counselors Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 45.1%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 18.5%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 14.4%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 6.3%
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services: 2.5%
- Educational Support Services: 2.3%
- Other: 10.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of guidance counselors can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 45.1% of all jobs for guidance counselors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Education and Hospitals (State Government) (18.5%), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (14.4%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6.3%), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (2.5%) and Educational Support Services (2.3%).
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What Do Guidance Counselors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what guidance counselors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work guidance counselors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that guidance counselors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for guidance counselors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Guidance Counselors
Based on 144,204 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Guidance Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 22,200 | 15% |
| School Counseling | 16,561 | 11% |
| Social Work | 15,732 | 11% |
| Academic Advising | 15,497 | 11% |
| Psychology | 12,007 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Guidance Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 66,747 | 46% |
| Customer Service | 35,418 | 25% |
| Writing | 33,319 | 23% |
| Management | 31,672 | 22% |
| Planning | 29,310 | 20% |
Based on 144,204 job postings related to guidance counselors, student services was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 15% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for school counseling, social work, academic advising, psychology and case management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for guidance counselors, followed by customer service, writing, management, planning and leadership.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 22,200 | 15% |
| School Counseling | 16,561 | 11% |
| Social Work | 15,732 | 11% |
| Academic Advising | 15,497 | 11% |
| Psychology | 12,007 | 8% |
| Case Management | 11,445 | 8% |
| Marketing | 10,977 | 8% |
| Human Services | 8,980 | 6% |
| Auditing | 8,525 | 6% |
| Mental Health | 8,180 | 6% |
| Office Equipment | 6,745 | 5% |
| Disabilities | 6,673 | 5% |
| Rehabilitation | 6,659 | 5% |
| Project Management | 6,206 | 4% |
| Special Education | 6,182 | 4% |
| Data Entry | 6,098 | 4% |
| Student Information Systems | 5,970 | 4% |
| Higher Education | 5,815 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 5,732 | 4% |
| Accounting | 5,215 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 66,747 | 46% |
| Customer Service | 35,418 | 25% |
| Writing | 33,319 | 23% |
| Management | 31,672 | 22% |
| Planning | 29,310 | 20% |
| Leadership | 27,422 | 19% |
| Problem Solving | 23,560 | 16% |
| Microsoft Office | 21,558 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 21,183 | 15% |
| Advising | 20,901 | 14% |
| Detail Oriented | 19,614 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 19,218 | 13% |
| Operations | 19,168 | 13% |
| Research | 18,337 | 13% |
| Presentations | 16,896 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 16,467 | 11% |
| Microsoft Excel | 16,465 | 11% |
| Teaching | 16,035 | 11% |
| English Language | 14,852 | 10% |
| Sales | 14,452 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Guidance Counselors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Advisors | 18,270 | 14.8% |
| Employment Specialists | 15,016 | 12.2% |
| School Counselors | 13,566 | 11% |
| People Managers | 11,657 | 9.5% |
| Housing Specialists | 9,755 | 7.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was academic advisors, with 6,344 unique job postings. Employment specialists were second, with 6,046 postings, followed by school counselors, people managers and housing specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to guidance counselors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Advisors | 18,270 | 14.8% |
| Employment Specialists | 15,016 | 12.2% |
| School Counselors | 13,566 | 11% |
| People Managers | 11,657 | 9.5% |
| Housing Specialists | 9,755 | 7.9% |
| Assessment Specialists | 4,379 | 3.6% |
| Scheduling Specialists | 7,390 | 6% |
| Job Developers | 4,330 | 3.5% |
| High School Counselors | 2,957 | 2.4% |
| After School Counselors | 3,779 | 3.1% |
| Financial Services Specialists | 3,245 | 2.6% |
| Career Advisors | 2,887 | 2.3% |
| Guidance Counselors | 3,207 | 2.6% |
| Career Coaches | 3,396 | 2.8% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors | 4,084 | 3.3% |
| Elementary School Counselors | 2,421 | 2% |
| Guest Services Specialists | 5,659 | 4.6% |
| College Counselors | 2,363 | 1.9% |
| Placement Specialists | 2,791 | 2.3% |
| Middle School Counselors | 1,908 | 1.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for guidance counselors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for guidance counselors.
How much do guidance counselors make?
Guidance Counselors: How do you become one?
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