Hi Subhash,

Before I answer your question, my question to you is why do you wish to shift from an engineering profession to a counseling profession.

Think twice. Because it involves a major shift. And please note, once you shift a career, to move back to your original career, you would begin at the base. So best would be to think twice before you make this major decision.

As far as career counseling is concerned, as a counselor, I would suggest, before you opt for a course, it would be good if you could join a career counseling firm and get first hand experience.

Since Career counselling would involve not only guiding students towards a career, but being able to convince then that the field is the best chosen. Moreover, a virtual means of counseling is far easier than a one to one or face to face counseling.

Also career counseling would involve administering the career counselling test or Aptitude test, evaluating the result and making a career choice based on the result. Also in-depth knowledge of courses and University is a must.,

Hence my suggestion would be join a career counseling firm and get first hand knowledge.

After that, you could opt for a PG Diploma in Guidance and counseling a 2 years course for any Graduates. Please do not opt for a correspondence course, as it has no value.

Hope this helps.

Wish you good luck...

Dear Aspirant,

It appears that you are too from the frustrated and disappointed class of software engineers. You can definitely share your experience of how choosing a wrong career can land you in problems.

Switching from Software engineering (including the lifestyle, pay packages, corporate environment) to a career counselling / counselling domain is not that simple as you are thinking of. The difference on those parameters is huge. Will you be able to accept that drastic downward trajectory?

I think you should give another deep thought to your thinking of changing careers.

Why dont you learn new technologies in software which makes you relevant and demanded in the software industry?

Career counselling you can do part time and on holidays, when you gain good experience of industry and gather extremely good information stock of the education and career world.

Best wishes