GOAL: As many of my students/clients have realised, it is the final goal of a student/person is that single point which drives a person to work towards it. Ironically, most of us including me had trouble in setting up a goal for life. So the very essence of career counselling is setting or assessing your goal for a student or at least help towards setting up a final goal. So always, I ask my student first question: Do you have a purpose?
Believe me or not, almost 98% of them said No. That's not surprising. Our education system is not designed to address this vital aspect of life/career. So when I counsel, my priority would be to help you understand the importance of setting up a goal.
DREAM: Many students get confused with a vision in life and goal of life. Let me tell you that both of them have a significant difference. While you can dream of reaching any great heights, goals are to be very practical and achievable. I can say dream helps to set a goal though.
CULTURE AND HERITAGE: I am very sure that most of us never consider this aspect while planning a career. So in this modern world, we set the goals which never inherits good values from our culture. Thus when achieve most of us are isolated from our families, and we become part of lost culture and values.
MONEY Vs. PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION: Have any of your counsellors asked you if you are given to set priority between money and satisfaction, I bet you would say money is number one. But when I counsel, I make sure that I explain the outcome of both above aspects. Many of my students had wondered when I said satisfaction is more than money, and I had a tough time to explain to them about this. What do you think? You may comment on this critical aspect.
INDIA Vs ABROAD: If I ask you this question, I am sure many of you would say abroad. Reasons are visible, that you love to enjoy life in a foreign country and make a considerable amount of money. Be informed. You are losing many many essential aspects of life, not only yours but your next generation. So I make sure that, I ask each person I counsel, why one has craziness for a foreign country.
Once above basics of career planning are addressed it becomes easy for a student or a working profession to take planning to next step.