Well Counselor

What do you picture for yourself when you imagine your first job as a counselor? Do you think about the clients you will see? Do you picture how you will decorate your office? Do you simply dream of a weekend off without homework? If you are early on in your program, thinking about your first job as a counselor may just be a daydream, but if you are getting nearer to internship or graduation, you may be starting to wonder: What should I look for in my first job after graduation? 

Start Planning Now

My first tip is to start planning while you are in your counseling program. Now, before you start panicking that you are already behind- Don’t. If thinking too far ahead will stress you out and prevent you from remaining present and enjoying your current life stage as a counseling student, then don’t start planning quite yet. Instead, schedule a time in the near future to start planning. Actually write it on your calendar as a reminder. For my planners out there who find comfort in looking ahead, I recommend keeping your career plans flexible enough that you remain open to unplanned opportunities. Regardless of how ‘into the future’ you like to look, there are some ways you can prepare for your post-graduation job search. 

If you’re not quite sure how to start, one way to begin planning is in your choice of practicum or internship site. Start researching potential sites ahead of time so you are prepared when it comes time to apply for an internship placement. Like I already mentioned, your internship can lead to a job opportunity. With that in mind, try to intern somewhere you may want to work. That doesn’t mean you have to intern somewhere you would like to end up working, but if you have the choice, it can be a helpful way to ‘get your foot in the door’ and try out that workplace to see if it’s a good fit. 

Consider Your Ideal Work Environment

You may want to consider whether you want to work at an agency or a private practice. When I say agency, I mean any job as a practicing counselor that isn’t at a private practice. With an agency job, you have an employer who gives you a set schedule, salary, and benefits. It could be at a nonprofit organization, a hospital or university, or a contract company (to name a few examples). There are pros and cons about getting this type of job. You may get your licensure hours more quickly because of access to a steady stream of referrals. You are more likely to have paid vacation days with the benefit of having co-workers who can cover your caseload while you take advantage of those vacation days. On the other hand, a private practice job often offers more flexibility with your schedule and more control over how many and what type of clients you see. With this flexibility, comes a potentially less predictable income. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. You may not have access to an on-site supervisor, or you may have to pay for supervision (an important financial consideration when accepting any job offer). These are just a few considerations as you determine your ideal work environment. See the table below for a few more considerations.

Consider Your Ideal Client

Do you know what you want to specialize in or do you want to be more of a generalist? If you know your specialty, consider finding a job at a site that is aligned so you can start that specialized training. If you want a more clinically diverse caseload or you aren’t sure of a specialty quite yet (which is totally fine!), then consider this as you job-search. I can say from my own experience that you will get a very diverse case load working in public agencies like state-funded health clinics or substance use treatment programs. But that doesn’t have to be part of your journey. If you know what you want, go for it and specialize away! (I have never been that decisive so I can’t relate).

Research Relevant Licensure Laws

When looking for that first job, be sure to look up the licensure regulations in the state you plan to practice. This is especially important if you plan to work in a state that is different from the state your university is in. I’m sure you talk about licensure in your program, but it is impossible for professors to know the relevant laws in all states so you will need to do your own research to be sure you take all the classes required of you and are prepared to get a job in a specific state. 

Now Get Started!

I hope these tips are helpful as you begin planning for the next step in your counseling career journey. My final reminder is to be kind to yourself and keep in mind that not everything goes according to plan, and it’s ok if you choose your first job post-graduation simply because it is the only offer and you need to pay the bills. It may not be your dream job, but it can be your ‘right now job’ and you can use it as a learning opportunity. No matter where you end up, you will be helping people and putting your counseling skills to great use.