Employment Counsellors (NOC 4213)
Description
Employment counsellors provide assistance, counsel and information to worker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. They also provide counsel and information to employer clients regarding human resource and employment issues. Employment counsellors are employed primarily by federal and provincial governments but are also employed by large establishments and private employment service agencies. Supervisors of employment counsellors are included in this unit group.
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Example Titles
- career counsellor
- career development consultant
- career development counsellor
- employment counsellor
- occupational counsellor
- outplacement counsellor
- relocation consultant
- relocation counsellor
- supervisor, employment counsellors
- vocational counsellor
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Classified Elsewhere
- Employment Counsellors (4143)
- Employment insurance officers (in 1228 Immigration, Employment Insurance and Revenue Officers)
- Personnel and Recruitment Officers (1223)
- Vocational rehabilitation counsellors (in 4153 Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors)
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Duties
Employment counsellors perform some or all of the following duties:
- Interview clients to obtain employment history, educational background and career goals
- Identify barriers to employment and assist clients with such matters as job readiness skills, job search strategies, writing résumés and preparing for job interviews
- Advise employers on human resource and other employment-related issues
- Administer and interpret tests designed to determine the interests, aptitudes and abilities of clients
- Assess need for assistance such as rehabilitation, financial aid or further vocational training and refer clients to the appropriate services
- Provide established workers with information on maintaining a job or moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction or making a mid-career change
- Collect labour market information for clients regarding job openings, entry and skill requirements and other occupational information
- Provide consulting services to community groups and agencies, business and industry, and to other organizations involved in providing community-based career planning resources.
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Skills
Employment counsellors need the following skills and abilities:
- a a genuine interest in helping people of all kinds,
- respect for people from all walks of life,
- patience, understanding and tolerance, objectivity and tact,
- have a good understanding of human behaviour and how individual traits may make someone more suited for one kind of job than another,
- the ability to motivate and inspire clients,
- excellent verbal and written communication skills,
- good organizational, planning, and research skills,
- computer communication skills,
- ability to work independently and with other professionals, employers and community agencies,
- the ability to maintain confidentiality,
- good organizational skills in maintaining clients' records and resource materials,
- good time management skills,
- the ability to handle a large caseload and to cope with stress,
- knowledge of the local labour market is essential; knowledge of broader labour market conditions and how to obtain information is also necessary.
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Employment Requirements
- In Manitoba, a bachelor's degree or college diploma in a related field, such as psychology, social services or education, is usually required.
- Completion of secondary school and several years of experience in services related to counseling or in a helping profession may replace formal education
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Terms & Conditions
Employment counsellors commonly work in an office environment. They are employed by Manitoba Advanced Education & Training (in local Employment Centres), by non profit social agencies, and private sector placement offices. Most employment counsellors work during regular business hours and work a 37.5 or 40 hour week. In the private sector they may travel on occasion to visit clients.
The majority work full-time (86%). In Manitoba, self-employment in this occupation is not common (6%).
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Earnings
$27,200 per annum - starting
$39,600 per annum - average
$59,700 per annum - high
Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.
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Education / Training
Brandon University offers the following programs:
- Bachelor of Education B.Ed. [2 year After degree]
- Graduate Diploma in Education with area of concentration in Guidance and Counselling
- Master of Education with area of concentration in Guidance and Counselling
The University of Manitoba offers the following programs:
- Aboriginal Counselling Skills Certificate through Extended Education
- Applied Counselling Certificate program through Extended Education
- Bachelor of Education B.Ed. [First Degree plus 2 years]
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Master of Education, Guidance and Counselling Specialization
- Master of Arts, in Psychology.
- Master of Social Work.
The University of Winnipeg, Faculty of Education, offers the following programs:
- Integrated Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)/Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)/Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Program [5 years]
- A 2-year after-degree Bachelor of Education Program for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree.
- University of Winnipeg/Red River College joint integrated Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)/Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)/Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Program [5 years]
Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Faculty of Education, offers the following programs:
- Baccalauréat en éducation voie élémentaire
- Baccalauréat en éducation voie secondaire
- Diplôme postbaccalauréat en education
- Maîtrise en éducation
The Canadian Mennonite University offers the following program:
- pre-professional program for students wishing to further their studies in the professional education program.
University College of the North offers the following programs:
- Applied Counselling Skills paraprofessional program
Assiniboine Community College offers the following programs:
- Aboriginal Community Development, Social Stream Certificate (2 years)
- Applied Counselling Skills Certificate through Continuing Education
Red River College offers the following programs:
- Applied Counselling Certificate (6 months) also available by distance education
- Career/Employment Counselling Certificate through Continuing Education or by distance education
Yellowquill College offers:
- First Nation Community Management Diploma with specializations in Social Development, Community Health, or Community Wellness.
Providence College and Seminary offers the following programs:
High School:
- Some high schools offer programs in Family and Community Education.
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Career Paths
Employment and career counsellors may start their careers working for community service agencies, youth employment centers, or friendship centres. Some may start in a human resources department of a firm.
Some counsellors move to positions as personnel officers or job skill trainers.
Experienced employment counsellors may advance to supervisory and management positions.
With additional education, counsellors may move into research, school guidance (Education degree required), or start their own private job placement firms.
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Outlook
Employment prospects for employment counsellors are expected to be good in the period 2010 to 2014. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 490.
Much of the work of employment counsellors is supported directly or indirectly through government programs. Employment with publicly funded counselling services is expected to remain fairly stable, and focus on the unemployed and disadvantaged groups. The wealth of Internet resources now available and being developed to help those choosing or changing a career has replaced some of the reduced the need for in-person and assisted services in both the public and private sectors.
Employment opportunities are most likely to be with non-profit organizations that serve immigrant groups, aboriginal peoples or disadvantaged youth or with consulting firms that specialize in placement services for corporations that are downsizing. Organizations in the private sector often accept experience in lieu of education credentials; however the wages are usually lower in these cases.
Jobs in this occupation are fairly evenly distributed throughout Manitoba. Across industries, the greatest concentrations are in Public Administration (33%), followed by Health Care and Social Assistance (23%) and Administrative and Support Services (21%).
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Employment by Age Group
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Employment by Industry
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Employment by Region
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Employment by Gender
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Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification
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Employment by Visible Minority
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Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.
Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...
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