Competition for jobs in any career are on the increase due to the fact that there are very many qualified people in all careers this days and psychologists are not any different from the rest of the people (Kidd 2006). Having this in mind together with the knowledge that I have acquired to this day, I would really like to pursue a career in psychology as a vocational counselor. Of all the other careers in this field I choose it because as a career counselor, everybody needs a bit of counseling at some point in life and will therefore seek my help and I will be glad to offer it.
As a vocational counselor, there are skills that one needs to possess such as ability to listen carefully, speak fluently and convincingly, be socially perceptive, think creatively and critically and also be ready to serve others (Nathan & Hill 2006). Life experiences are also as important as well as professional experience after attaining higher education. Higher education in the field of psychology is also a must because it will empower a vocational psychologist with knowledge on how to go about work.
Apart from higher education and professional experience, I believe I possess these skills. I only need to polish up on my research capabilities because I know one achieves this as they climb up the educational ladder. The experience will also come as I get my hands on the job through volunteer and attachment as I pursue higher education. I will also need to develop a professional network to nurture and help me widen my scope of work. I possess a few strengths which put me in a fair place to pursue this course and one of my strongest is the ability to be patient with everyone always wanting to give other people a listening ear. But I have a single weakness that I need to work on, which is active reading.
In order to become a competent vocational counselor, as indicated earlier, I will have to pursue my higher education, I intend to do my first degree immediately after high school and I master immediately thereafter which might take me approximately six to seven years from now. This will then translate to a total cost of close to three hundred thousand dollars and of course this will be in public state universities. Because of the high end costs in private universities I may not afford to go there but as a student, I will seek employment and do it alongside my studies in order to raise funds besides getting a student loan and help from my parents. After attaining my degree then I can seek employment at the American Rehabilitation counseling Association from where I will not only earn a living but I will also find a good environment to further my experience, skills and knowledge from their educators on the ground.
References
Coetzee, M & - Jacobs, H. (2007). Career Counseling and Guidance in the work Place. Cape Town: Juta &Co
Kidd, J. M. (2006). Understanding Career Counseling: Theory Research and Practice. London: Sage
Nathan, R. & Hill, L. (2006). Career counseling. London: Sage
Niles, S. G. (2010). Developing Your Identity as a Professional Counselor: Standards, Settings and Specialties. Belmont: Cengage Learning
Sharma, R. N. & Sharma R. (2004). Guidance and Counseling in India. New Delhi: Atlantic
