Key points
- Career counseling is about guiding students about their career
- Skill-based education can significantly transform society
- Pakistan’s HEC has a helpline to provide career counseling to students
- Universities should arrange pre-graduation workshops about new professions
ISLAMABAD: Naveed Alam, a graduate of a reputable university in Islamabad, emphasised the importance of career guidance and counseling in helping students and families make informed decisions about their professional goals and paths.
He highlighted that one of the primary concerns for most students is the future prospects of their professions, particularly in terms of job opportunities.
Alam stressed that effectively harnessing the potential of youth through career counseling, skill-based education, and the development of professional competencies can significantly transform the socio-economic landscape of society.
He noted that many students, including himself, often realise only after gaining admission that they lacked a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of their chosen fields.
Students and challenges
Alam also shared that he faced several challenges before gaining admission to the university due to a lack of clarity about career options. He remarked that in his village, success is often defined by conventional career choices.
Alam observed that many students and their parents primarily aspire to careers in medicine, typically aiming to become doctors. However, he said that there are numerous other rewarding paths within the medical field, such as pharmacy and public health, which are often overlooked due to a lack of awareness.
He further pointed out that similar challenges persist after graduation, as many students remain uncertain about which career path to pursue due to inadequate guidance.
In response to a question, he stated that if given the opportunity to choose again, he would study English literature and pursue a career in teaching. He explained that his passion for learning and sharing knowledge stems from a desire to contribute positively to society.
What is career guidance and counseling?
Career guidance and counseling is a common requirement of many people worldwide. Its needs are diversified and might vary from individual to individual. However, various career guidance and counseling needs appear in the last few deacdes including awareness and development of personal abilities, professional and career-related skills, career planning, decision making, career information, academic information, job hunting, job search skills, and labour market information.
Career guidance and counseling also include the need for career-related services like CV writing, interview skills, stress management, guidance, and information about placements and internships.
Zehra Keshf, a researcher at Government College Women University Faisalabad (GCWUF) said that career guidance and counseling consequently lead to positive outcomes at societal and economic levels as it results in improved social capital, productivity, economic growth, and better living standards. Despite the benefits of counseling, it is largely an unexplored area in many parts of the world.
Five stages and career development
In her research article, she said from a theoretical perspective, career guidance and counseling are a necessity as careers are lifelong in nature.
An individual passes through five stages in their life for their career development. Individuals go to school and start focusing on the future during the first stage, according to her article.
The second phase of exploration begins around 15 years of age, individuals sift through various career options and try to fine-tune their choices, she added.
She states that exploration involves crystallisation specification and implementation of careers. At approximately 24 years, the third stage, individuals try to make space and prove their mettle. Then, the maintenance stage begins around 40 years, followed by the decline stage around 60 years of age, the article said.
According to the website of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), it had set up National Youth Helpline to provide Psychosocial Support and Career Counseling to students.
It said that Pakistan’s population consists of 64 per cent of youth who need guidance and support for their career, mental and psychological health. Several universities in Pakistan have also established Career Counseling centers to provide support to students for their bright future.
Jamal Shah, a university lecturer at a reputable institution in Islamabad, emphasised the importance of expanding career counseling services beyond urban universities to reach other regions of the country. He highlighted the need for awareness sessions and seminars to guide students in making informed decisions about their future careers.
Shah stressed that such initiatives would help students stay informed about emerging professions, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of technology.
He emphasised that industry collaboration with academia is essential to create meaningful opportunities for students, including internship programmes. He maintained that such cooperation is crucial not only for preparing students to meet industry demands but also for enabling academic institutions to conduct research on emerging and innovative subjects. He said that universities should focus on skills-based education to empower students.
He said that the universities should also arrange pre-graduation workshops regarding emerging professions.
