Careers adviser

As a careers adviser, you'll work with young people aged 13 and over and adults who may be considering a career change, returning to work or looking to upskill or retrain. You'll provide impartial advice on routes into a variety of careers and industries and may support people from diverse backgrounds.

The role involves delivering careers guidance through a range of methods, typically with a hybrid approach. This means you'll usually offer support through a mix of face-to-face appointments and also via video and phone calls, email, online chat and social media.

You'll help people to:

• explore different career options that match interests, skills and values
• write and improve CVs and cover letters
• understand and navigate the job application process
• learn about current labour market trends and opportunities
• identify and develop key employability skills
• find suitable courses, qualifications and training routes
• understand what funding, grants or financial support may be available
• access other professional services where needed.

You may also like to explore the role of a higher education careers adviser.

Types of careers adviser

Most careers advisers work in a generalist role, but in some settings, there may be opportunity to specialise in particular career areas or client groups, such as:

• apprenticeships and work-based learning
• placements, internships and work experience
• higher education and graduate employment
• supporting people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)
• supporting people with criminal records
• government programmes, benefits and employability schemes.

Responsibilities

As a careers adviser, you'll need to:

• consult with people one-to-one or in small groups to discuss their career or education options
• listen to their ideas and career aims to tailor advice appropriately
• identify skills gaps and support clients to address them
• help clients identify and consider the range of choices available to them and agree realistic next steps
• draw up action plans for employment, education and training and support clients to achieve these goals
• help clients develop their own employability skills to confidently manage their career journey independently
• discuss with clients how to overcome any barriers to reaching their goals and refer them to specialist services or other agencies where appropriate
• research careers, options and relevant support organisations to meet clients' needs
• advise clients on how to source relevant training courses what funding, grants or financial support may be available
• provide advice on CVs, applications, job search strategies and interview techniques
• run small group sessions or larger presentations on careers and employability topics, including personal development
• help clients to understand the current labour market and employment trends
• use digital careers platforms, online guidance tools, skills assessment tools, career planners, psychometric tests and personal inventories.

You may also need to:

• carry out administrative tasks such as report writing and record keeping
• write careers literature or source and adapt information resources for use within the service
• plan and organise careers events, employer talks and virtual fairs
• keep up to date with labour market information, legislation and professional and academic developments by visiting employers, training providers and training events run by engaging with employers, training providers and professional networks
• manage a caseload of clients.

Salary

• Salaries for newly qualified careers advisers generally start at £25,000 to £28,000 in England, but usually from around £30,000 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• With experience and more responsibility, you may earn between £30,000 and £40,000.
• With salaries of £40,000+ possible in senior or management roles.

There is no single or nationally recognised salary scale for careers advisers. Salaries vary due to a range of factors, such as the type of employer you work for, location (often higher in London and major cities) and your experience and qualifications.

As a freelance careers adviser, you'll set your own fees and you may have a mix of contracts, including with schools and colleges and private coaching for individuals.

Freelance specialists offering consulting and work in careers training and lecturing can earn between £250 to £800 per day depending on their level of experience and expertise.

Income data from the Career Development Institute (CDI). Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll usually work full-time hours of 35 to 40 a week, across Monday to Friday or with a slight variation according to your employer’s needs.

There are opportunities with some employers for part-time, temporary or fixed-term work, as well as job-sharing and flexible working arrangements. Career breaks are possible if you stay up to date with developments in the sector.

What to expect

• Careers advisers offer advice in a variety of locations including schools, colleges, community centres, Jobcentre Plus offices, libraries, charities and housing associations, as well as through online and virtual services.
• Job opportunities exist in towns and cities throughout the UK.
• You may have to travel during the day to different places of work and to meet employers, training providers and professionals from other organisations, although some work may be carried out remotely.
• You may occasionally travel to other parts of the country for meetings and conferences, which may involve overnight stays.

Qualifications

There are two main ways to become a careers adviser:

• take a recognised postgraduate careers guidance qualification
• train on the job in the workplace or apply with relevant experience.

Graduates with a degree in any subject can apply to do a Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Career Development, which incorporates the Level 7 CDI-awarded Qualification in Career Development (QCD). These courses are available at several universities and take one or two years to complete depending on whether they are studied full or part time.

A degree in a relevant subject can be advantageous when looking into further qualifications, however, many providers will accept applicants with equivalent professional qualifications or substantial relevant experience. Courses typically include a mix of academic and supervised work placements.

Alternatively, if you already work for a careers organisation, you could train on the job while working towards a qualification. Qualifications include the:

• Level 4 Diploma in Career Information and Advice - for those providing careers information and advice, but not guidance
• Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development - for those providing careers guidance and development.

You can also choose to complete a Career Development Professional Higher Apprenticeship, which is a Level 6 apprenticeship that typically takes around two years to complete.

Search for postgraduate courses in career guidance/development/coaching.

See CDI for more information on the different training options and providers available.

To get a place on a course, you'll also need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (or the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme in Scotland).

Many employers will look for those who already have, or are willing to work towards, a relevant careers qualification.

Skills

You will need to have:

• excellent communication and listening skills
• the ability to motivate and build positive, professional relationships with a range of people
• flexibility and adaptability
• emotional intelligence and an empathetic, inclusive and non-judgemental approach to work
• an understanding of confidentiality, data protection and professional boundaries
• the ability to work independently or as part of a team
• research skills for finding out information about a range of careers and training opportunities
• the ability to manage and prioritise your own caseload
• strong organisational skills and time management skills
• analytical and problem-solving skills
• the ability to work effectively and remain calm under pressure
• confidence using digital tools and online platforms.

Work experience

Careers advisers come from a range of backgrounds, and there isn't one specific type of work experience required to enter the profession.

Experience of working with young people or adults, or in an advisory, guidance or support role, can help increase your chances of success at the application stage. Prior experience in coaching, mentoring, recruitment or employability support can also be advantageous, and some course providers will look for evidence of relevant experience.

Customer service or client-facing experience, where strong communication and listening skills are essential, is also highly valued.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

You can work in a range of settings across the public, private and voluntary sectors, including schools, colleges and local authorities.

The National Careers Service (in England) is one of the largest employers of careers advisers. Funded and managed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), it delivers online and telephone careers advice service for anyone aged 13 and over, and offers face-to-face appointments for adults aged 19 and over through local offices across England.

You could be employed at a National Careers Service contact centre or in one of its local delivery offices. Work is contracted out to different careers organisations, and premises can include:

• schools or further education colleges
• Jobcentre Plus offices
• training providers
• libraries
• community centres
• probation offices
• custodial settings
• housing associations
• healthcare settings
• charities
• faith and community venues
• local authorities
• veterans' services
• organisations supporting people facing redundancy.

It's also possible to work within consultancies or large organisations, advising employees on career development and progression.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland careers advisers work for all-age careers guidance services. For more information, see:

• Careers Wales
• My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
• nidirect: Careers (Northern Ireland)

With experience, you can also work on a freelance or self-employed basis.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Careers in Careers - the Career Development Institute recruitment website
• Children & Young People Now Jobs
• Jobs.ac.uk
• TES Jobs

Professional development

As a career development professional, you'll undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career to keep up to date with changes to education, training, policy and the labour market.

Experience can lead to responsibility for specialist areas of work, for example delivering career guidance to people with special educational needs or disabilities, or focusing on information and resource development. See the CDI Career Development Qualifications and Progression Pathway for more details.

The training you receive will vary depending on your employer and the qualifications and experience you bring to the role. Each employer is likely to deliver role-specific on-the-job training, which may include data protection, equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, or managing challenging situations.

If you don't already have the Qualification in Career Development (QCD) or the Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development, you're likely to work towards one of these recognised qualifications. For information on available courses, as well as CPD opportunities, see the Career Development Institute (CDI).

The CDI also manages the UK Register of Career Development Professionals, which careers advisers are strongly encouraged to join. To be admitted to the Register, you'll need the QCD or another CDI-approved qualification at Level 6 or above. Once registered, you must complete a minimum of 25 hours of CPD each year and comply with the CDI Code of Ethics.

Career prospects

Once you've gained experience, you'll have opportunities to move into a supervisory role, and then on to team leader or management positions. In more senior roles, you'll be responsible for managing a careers service, centre or team of advisers, and will typically spend less time delivering guidance and more time on strategic planning, service development and leadership.

Depending on your role and setting, there may be opportunities to specialise. For example, in supporting people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or working with specific client groups, such as unemployed or from underrepresented or marginalised communities. You could also move into the higher education sector as a higher education careers adviser.

With experience, there are also opportunities to work on a freelance or self-employed basis, supporting fee-paying clients in a private or consultancy setting. Other options include working as a careers consultant within a careers or management consultancy.

Depending on your interests, it may also be possible to move into related roles, such as youth and community work, health and social care, counselling, employability or employment services.