Some counselors like to think outside of the box. These organizations employ counselors and offer up specialized types of employment that many have come to love.
1. Government Agencies: You may not realize that there are many different government agencies that are looking for counselors. If you have an educational background and have worked in a school then you can find some great opportunities. You can be a part of creating legislation or even be involved in creating tips and tools that counselors everywhere can utilize.
2. Hospitals: You may not realize that counselors are required for hospitals, particularly those with an educational background. When there are children that must stay in the hospital for a prolonged period of time, then they may require such an individual to help them. It’s a different approach, but it can be quite beneficial.
3. Counseling Associations: If you have a great background, you can be a part of the type of organization that supports counselors just like you. The people that serve on these councils often have a counseling background. You can be the one that creates the reference materials and guidelines that you have utilized for all these years.
4. Parenting Associations: Parents need support and therefore want to turn to experts in the field. This is a way to give back to your community and to help parents who need the expertise of a counselor to make their jobs easier.
5. Nonprofit Associations: There are so many nonprofit organizations out there that are dedicated to helping kids. These all look for experts who may want a different type of career whereby they provide support to parents, kids, and officials within their organizations. This is a great way to utilize your background and really make a difference with the experience that you’ve gained working as a counselor.
6. Colleges: The job of counseling doesn’t just end at the high school level. Many counselors assume that they will only be needed for the K-12 years, but that’s not so. Many colleges and universities require the services of good counselors that can really make a difference and help their student body. Though this isn’t necessarily the traditional type of counseling job, it’s a great way to give back and be a counselor that students require.
7. Academic Support Groups: Whether you help students to prepare for college, for admission entrance exams, or to offer up the top level of career counseling advice, the help is needed here. You can utilize what you have gained working in the field and apply that into universal language and tools that can really reach out to kids that need the help.
If you have ever thought of a different way of working as a counselor, then these are great opportunities. They require a specialized background and can be quite lucrative as well.
Mary Fred does research that focuses on discovering where students can pursue a Master of School Counseling.
