Benefits and Challenges of Being an Education Counselor

Aside from assisting in handling behavioral problems and mediating disputes, education counselors offer support to both students and teachers. Education counselors perform different tasks that impact students' overall development, especially regarding their career choices. Counselors also advise students and assess the various career pathways they want to take.

It can be helpful to understand more about the advantages and downsides of this route if you're considering becoming an education counselor. In this blog, I've outlined the benefits and challenges of the job.

The wins

A career as a school counselor may be a good fit if you enjoy engaging with young adults and adults. Also, if you like addressing issues, educating career choices, spreading information on mental health, and more. Your abilities, character qualities, and hobbies may influence how much you will enjoy being a school counselor. Here are a few advantages of working as a school counselor:

Ability to serve

Helping students overcome challenges and supporting them with personal and social issues can be a rewarding way to earn a living. Education counselors are given a chance to impart encouragement and share direction to help students succeed academically and socially. The opportunity to make a positive impact on students is what motivates people to become counselors.

Job security

When people have job security, they can count on their company to be open to them. Job security is one advantage of working as a school counselor. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2020 and 2030, employment opportunities for school counselors will boost by 13%. This is higher than the typical growth rate, and during that period, the sector may gain 4,400 or more jobs. As more educational institutions create career centers that assist students in getting ready for jobs, the need for career counselors is anticipated to rise.

Included benefits

The added benefits of working as a school counselor are yet another perk. Incentives for education counselors can largely depend on where they work. Health, vision, and dental insurance are frequently provided as part of the benefits package for school counselors. They can also reap the benefits of retirement plans, employee assistance programs, professional development initiatives, and more.

Regular work schedule

Education counselors’ work schedules follow school timetables, so they receive time off for vacations, breaks, and other days when schools are closed. They also seldom work on weekends or nights. A big advantage of being a school counselor is maintaining a stable and regular work schedule and sufficient vacation time. But if you plan to work all year, summer work for counselors is available.

The challenges

A school counselor's duties can differ based on your work and designation. To assist students at your school, you may be required to be flexible or put in long hours as a school counselor. The following are some downsides of working as a school counselor:

Long education and training

To become a school counselor, you will most likely need a bachelor's and master's degree and extra qualifications. This can take a total of between six and eight years of educational background and training. You must be certain that you truly want it before moving ahead since it demands a specific education level. While not always a disadvantage, the duration of training may be too much for others.

Fast-paced

Education counselors may operate in demanding and fast-paced settings. At the same time, they may deal with a large group of students and resolve conflicts. Counselors also have a lot of tasks on their plate. They develop instructional resources and collaborate with instructors to address behavioral problems and navigate career options.?

Stressful nature

Teachers in the same workplace as education counselors are beginning to report rising job stress. Schools are different now than before. In reality, engaging with students is becoming more and more difficult. Some students’ personal and family issues may be tough, and the internet has amplified bullying. Being a school counselor will expose you to a great deal of stress and even high stakes at work.

Working with a community of experts

With many benefits and drawbacks, a career as an education counselor could be an ideal job in the world for you. Otherwise, it may not be a suitable fit. And it is in your hands to take the path you want to pursue.

MSM Unify has an extensive roster of excellent education counselors and agents that can help you be the best in your field.

Biography

Avinav Sharma is the Head of Strategy at MSM Unify. I have over a decade of experience in student recruitment and counseling. I attended and completed numerous workshops and certifications in international education and continue to master my skills by attending conferences worldwide and learning from fellow industry experts.