The Growing Importance of Career Counselling in India
In recent years, career counselling has undergone a significant transformation in India, becoming an essential part of a student’s educational journey. As the education landscape continues to evolve, students are now exposed to a wide array of career paths, subject combinations, and opportunities for studying abroad. This shift has made the role of career counsellors more critical than ever.
Career counselling is no longer just about choosing a degree or a profession; it’s about helping students understand their strengths, interests, and the diverse options available to them. With the job market changing rapidly, starting career counselling early can make a substantial difference in a student’s future.
A World Beyond Engineering and Medicine
The traditional focus on engineering, medicine, and law is gradually giving way to a more diverse range of career choices. Students today have access to multidisciplinary education that allows them to explore unconventional fields. Bhawna Venugopalan, a student counsellor at Silverline Prestige School in Ghaziabad, highlights the importance of initiating career counselling as early as Class 10. She states that while it’s better to start early, it’s never too late to begin.
This proactive approach helps students align their capabilities with suitable career paths. It also encourages them to think beyond conventional options and consider careers that reflect their unique passions and skills.
Breaking the Herd Mentality
Despite the growing diversity in career options, many students and parents still fall into the trap of following popular trends. Ali Khwaja, a career counsellor and founder of Banjara Academy, explains that this “herd mentality” often leads students to pursue fields like artificial intelligence simply because they are trending, without considering whether they are a good fit.
Career counsellors play a crucial role in guiding students to make informed decisions. They use various tools to assess aptitude, personality, creativity, and skills, ensuring that each student finds a path that suits them best. For example, if a student is interested in law but lacks strong memory retention, a counsellor might suggest corporate law instead of other specializations where memory plays a more significant role.
While the herd mentality persists, there is a growing awareness and openness to alternative, personalized career paths.
Higher Education: A Maze of Choices
As India’s education system becomes more flexible, students are faced with an increasing number of choices when it comes to higher education. Geeta Jayanth, Head of Chaman Bharatiya School, notes that students are no longer confined to traditional streams such as science, commerce, and arts.
Today, students can choose unconventional subject combinations, such as English Literature, Physics, and Music. However, this flexibility brings complexity, making the guidance of career counsellors even more important. They help students navigate through the maze of options, identifying universities and courses that align with their aspirations.
For those aiming for top international universities, planning ahead is essential. Geeta emphasizes the importance of starting early, especially for competitive destinations like Oxford or Cambridge.
The Role of Parents
One of the biggest challenges in the career counselling process is changing the mindset of parents, particularly those with limited exposure to the vast range of career options available today. Geeta explains that it’s not necessarily the parents’ fault, but rather the result of their limited knowledge or exposure.
To bridge this gap, schools have started conducting regular parent orientations, alumni sessions, and open university forums. These initiatives allow parents to hear firsthand about the success stories of former students, helping to shift their scepticism into informed support.
Schools also keep parents updated on modern educational practices, including presentations, original research papers, and responsible computer use. This approach helps parents understand the evolving educational landscape and support their children in making informed decisions about their future.
The Evolving Role of Career Counsellors
At the heart of all these changes is the evolving role of career counsellors. They are no longer just there to assist with applications but to provide guidance, purpose, and direction. Counsellors help students understand their unique journeys, from academic progress to extracurricular activities, offering a tailored approach to career guidance.
By focusing on individual needs and aspirations, career counsellors play a vital role in shaping the future of students in an ever-changing world.
