Understanding the difference will support and enhance your relationship with each avenue you consider.  Having a clear understanding and clear expectations of each will provide value from the get go.

Career Counseling

One of the main aspects of Career Counselors is to find work for you and find jobs within the given geographic area of your search.

Career Counselors

Career Counselors often have accreditation in areas of career counseling, and will provide assessment tools so that the client obtains better understanding of who they are and the direction they may wish to take in their career.
Developing a resume, writing cover letters and exploring the ‘hidden-job market’ are  some of the areas covered.

Most Career Counselors are paid to do this service whether they be employed by institutions, or HRSDC.  Many Career Counselors are funded through government sources.

Management Consultants (Headhunters) or Recruiters

A Management Consultant or Recruiter Corporate Companies will often provide ‘job descriptions’ to these groups to fill specific needs within their company. Good Management Consultants will know certain individuals in the market place and ‘recruit’ them to fill key positions. Often they will also have a core list of potential job seekers  and will utilize this list to find those who could fit the jobs they are wanting to fill for the employer. Companies often do not wish to reveal that they have openings.

Recruiters approach people from companies for the job openings. They select people they feel their clients are most likely to hire and make recommendations for the specified positions. They often give useful tips to the recruited job candidates and help them make their presentations to the corporations more beneficial so that it will improve their chances of being hired. Companies normally pay the recruiters when one of their candidates is hired. This can be anywhere from 10-25% of the first years earnings. With some more senior levels I have seen this figure go up substantially. The primary loyalty of recruiters is to the corporations they serve.

I spent 5 years in Management Consulting (headhunter) business and learned many aspects that have been beneficial in my role as a Career Advisor today.

Employment Agencies

Employment Agencies work differently from agency to agency. Some agencies deduct from the employee’s wages a specific amount that is for a period of time.  For example Fred earns $15 dollars per hour and the agency deducts $3 dollars from his pay to cover the employment services they are providing, normally for 3 months. After this time the employee is often ‘on their own’ and do not have to pay the agency any additional amounts. This probationary period (3 months) can be terminated by the employer or be continued if the employee is so interested.

Employment Agencies will provide assessment tests to determine if you have the necessary job function skills for their clients.

They might advise you to apply for jobs in the industries or fields that you would get the best paying jobs. Advise you to adjust your hiring direction based upon the wealth and needs of the industries or fields and based upon your experiences, education, assessment results, and qualifications. Most likely set up interviews for you, but not always. Help you adjust your resume to suit the desires of the hiring companies. Help you adjust your interview skills and you appearance to increase your chances of being hired. Advise you to obtain certain training certifications or educational degrees to meet the expected requirements of the most lucrative industries. They generally foster the trial and error job selection method.

Some of these counselors or agencies request payment in advance, and you hope for results. Others might agree to being paid a percentage of the money you are paid by the company that hires you, normally over a period of a year. Their primary focus is to get you job offers and to convince you to take them.

Job Placement Agencies

These groups are normally attached to governments or schools. They normally have the function of filling as many jobs as possible by matching prospective employers and prospective employees. They usually function more as a clearinghouse for applicants and employers. They might provide a little grooming advice for job applicants. The government or schools they are attached with normally pay them. Their primary focus is to place as many people as they can to benefit the government (to improve tax roles and reduce social service costs) or the schools (to improve graduate successes and future student enrollments). They generally use the trial and error job selection method.

Career Coaching

The purpose of a Career Coach is to assist you to accomplish your career based goals. A career goal is a future place you want to be, in your career that will require you to grow and improve as a person to achieve it. You use a Career Coach to improve your career or work position to suit your personal desires and motivations. Career Coaching avoids the trial and error method of job selection, by having you discover, design, and develop the work conditions to suit you.

The concept of career goals and coaching goals is a proven method.  

* Make a Career Transition from your present situation to really discover who and what makes you tick, then seek and obtain your ideal position, so you get to ‘Do what you love and never work a day in your life’. You will produce high quality results and find true meaning in what you do and the purpose of your life!

When you use a competent Career Coach you will discover the true meaning of ‘Life with Purpose’ what motivates you to create the work situations that allow you to perform at your highest level with the most pleasure. You will grow and improve as a person so you will achieve your career goals. Your Career Coach will be loyal to you and provide significant value in your valuation of your career.

• Career Counselors fill jobs and direct you on career paths.

• Career Counselors advise you to follow the paths to best opportunities based upon their expertise, their knowledge of the employment markets, and their knowledge of you.

• Career Counselors connect you with jobs, where you work for a company. Career Counselors will have varying loyalties and priorities with others sometimes receiving a higher place than you. You may not be asked to compensate the career counselors you use. Others frequently compensate them.

• Career Counselors are expected to be the experts in their field. They will have to evaluate and judge you in relation to their knowledge of the job market. They will advise you on a course of action based upon their job market expertise.

• Career Counselors may work with you as a team or group, with your file being transferred accordingly.

• Career Coaches will establish a very personal one-on-one, confidential relationship with you. Your career coach will reveal nothing about you, unless to another counselor or associate with your permission.

• Career Coaches assist you to accomplish your career related goals, which might include improving in your present position, or obtaining your new ideal position.

• Career Coaches do not advise you. They help you discover the uniqueness of you to create the work conditions around you that will assure your desired successes.

• Career Coaches will connect you with the best means of work for you, which will include jobs, but also includes becoming a partial entrepreneur and or become a business owner.
  

• Career Coaches have only one priority, YOU, and your achievement of your career goals. Career Coaches will be your equal partner and will not judge or evaluate you.