10 Essential Tips for Making the Most of Your Career Counselling Sessions

Why Career Counselling Matters

For young students preparing for higher education, one of the most daunting or consequential decisions is choosing the right career path. This choice is not only about whether you can secure a degree  and then a job but also about shaping the trajectory of your life path. The decision of “what to do” is inseparably entwined with “who you become.” With industries evolving rapidly, new professions emerging, and traditional roles being redefined, it is hardly surprising that many of you feel uncertain or even overwhelmed by the options before you.

This is where career counselling plays a crucial role. A well-structured counselling session can help you by illuminating your interests, assessing your strengths, and highlighting realistic opportunities, while also exposing you to career paths you may not have considered prior to the interaction with a counsellor.

At Lesli India, we often meet students who are bright, ambitious, and hardworking, but unsure about how their talents align with future opportunities. Without preparation, a counselling session can feel like a conversation that raises more questions than it answers. However, when you approach the same with clear goals and an open mind, the experience becomes transformative: it helps you move from confusion to clarity, and from doubt to direction.

In this article, we have outlined 10 essential career counselling tips for you, that are practical strategies that will help you prepare effectively, engage meaningfully, and leave each session with actionable steps. Think of it as your guide to getting the most out of career counselling, ensuring that the time you invest today lays the foundation for success in your career and life, tomorrow.

From setting clear goals and embracing self-assessment, to leveraging internships and staying in touch with mentors, these tips are about career planning and also cultivating the wisdom to make informed, strategic choices.

Tip 1: Set Clear Goals Before Your Session

Do not stroll into a counselling session without any preparation. Avoid treating the interaction like  a casual coffee chat or else you will likely emerge with platitudes rather than plans. Setting crystal clear goals is the sine qua non of effective counselling.

Ask yourself:

• Am I seeking clarity on a broad career direction? Do I need guidance on long-term planning?

• Do I want help deciding between two academic streams, selecting a college course, or exploring future careers?

• Am I looking for specific career planning strategies or immediate steps, such as preparing for internships or exploring postgraduate options? Or Do I need clarity about which entrance exams or courses to prepare for?

• Many careers grow out of hobbies or personal interests (art, sports, technology, writing). Be ready to share these with your counsellor.

By articulating these objectives beforehand, you transform your session from a vague conversation into a focused, fruitful dialogue. Remember, ambiguity is the enemy of progress.

Tip 2: Be Honest About Your Interests and Strengths

Career counsellors are not clairvoyants; they can only work with the material you present. This is where self-assessment in career counselling plays an indispensable role. Acknowledge what you truly enjoy, share your natural strengths and be open about weaknesses. Make it a point to talk about your interests outside school, as many careers grow from extracurriculars such as sports, coding, debating, photography, or even volunteering.

Moreover, reflect candidly on:

• What energizes you? Do you enjoy problem-solving, creativity, working with numbers, or helping people?

• Where do you consistently perform well?

• What tasks drain or frustrate you?

• Try and list all of this into a worksheet, so that would give you confidence and clarity while talking to the counsellor.

There is no shame in admitting weaknesses. The career counsellors at Lesli, are trained to listen without judgement. Please don’t assume they want to hear conventional answers. Infact, honesty helps the counsellors suggest realistic paths that suit your learning style. 

Tip 3: Research Career Paths Beforehand

Imagine attending a medical consultation without being able to describe your symptoms. How can the doctor help you in any way if you can't outline what it is you seek treatment for? Similarly, a student who arrives at a career counselling session without a clue about potential fields would be completely clueless about what is discussed by the counsellors.

It is important that you spend time exploring industries, roles, and emerging opportunities. Use career exploration tools, browse reliable online resources, or even shadow professionals informally. When you come armed with preliminary knowledge, you not only impress your counsellor with your seriousness, but you can ask sharper, more targeted questions.

Watch videos & webinars easily available on platforms like YouTube, Coursera, or TED Talks that often feature professionals explaining how they achieved their career goals and what their course of action was.  Try and get information by talking to your seniors or alumni as a quick conversation with someone a few years ahead can give practical advice about what a career is really like.

By researching, you enter the session as an active participant rather than a passive listener which also makes the session more interactive and interesting.

Tip 4: Ask the Right Questions

Remember, Better Questions, means Better Guidance. Counsellors will always respond better when they see you have prepared as it shows you respect their time and your own.

Questions, when thoughtfully framed, are the chisels that shape the marble block of ambiguity into a statue of clarity. Prepare a list of career counselling questions such as:

• What are the future prospects of this career path? How is the job market expected to change in the next 5–10 years?

• What are some emerging careers in my area of interest? or What are some lesser-known career options related to my favorite subject?

• How do I decide between two fields that both interest me?

• What skills should I be cultivating now? What non-academic skills (soft skills, digital skills, languages) will strengthen my career path?

• Are internships or volunteering important for this path? If yes, how do I find the right ones?

• What are the pitfalls or challenges I should anticipate?

• What should be my first three steps after this session?

Do not hesitate to probe further. The more interactive the session, the richer the insights. Keep this list handy and add further to it to ensure you get all your queries answered during your counselling session.

Tip 5: Keep an Open Mind

Here lies a paradox: to benefit most from counselling, you must be both focused and flexible. Too often, we meet students who cling to preconceived notions, dismissing unfamiliar suggestions as irrelevant. A decade ago, careers like AI ethics officer, digital marketing strategist, or UX researcher barely existed. Today, they are booming. By staying open-minded, you won’t miss out on emerging fields that may be more rewarding and future-proof.Being receptive means you gain insights you wouldn’t have found through Google or by blindly aping your peers. 

Many students walk into a session with a fixed choice: “I want to be a doctor/engineer/lawyer.” But sometimes your skills and interests align better with allied fields for example, biomedical engineering, health policy, or forensic science. An open mind helps you discover adjacent career paths that may suit you better.  Additionally, this reduces the pressure to succeed that you may feel if you cling to one option. 

Tip 6: Take Notes and Reflect on Your Session

A counselling session without writing anything down is like attending a lecture without taking any notes: fleeting and forgettable. Bring a notebook or use a digital tool to jot down key insights, recommendations, and even unexpected revelations. Summarize the session in your own words. Later, revisit these notes for self-reflection prior to making serious career decisions.

Ask yourself:

• What advice/ discussion/revelation resonated most strongly? 

• Did any advice challenge my assumptions? Which suggestions felt uncomfortable—but worth exploring?

• What immediate actions can I take? 

Link the notes to goals and break down the counsellor’s advice into steps to create a roadmap, transforming the advice you have received into an actionable plan.

Tip 7: Follow Up on Actionable Steps

Advice, however brilliant, is futile without execution. Break down the counsellor’s recommendations into actionable steps with realistic timelines. Whether it is researching a course, preparing for an entrance test, or updating your résumé, treat these as deadlines, not suggestions. Deadlines prevent procrastination and make progress visible. Seek accountability by sharing your action plan with a parent, teacher, or mentor, and request them to check in on your progress. Reach out to the counsellors when you have completed tasks and ensure they are kept posted on your progress. This makes them appreciate your commitment and they will be more willing to divulge information for next steps.

Career planning, like fitness, yields results only through consistent practice and not passive contemplation.

Tip 8: Utilize Career Assessment Tests

Psychometric assessments and aptitude tests are invaluable tools for identifying professional strengths and aligning them with viable career paths. From personality frameworks to interest inventories, these tests provide structured insights into your proclivities. Cross-referencing different assessments can reveal consistent strengths and interests. For example: If both a personality test and an aptitude test highlight good communication skills, it signals a strong direction to explore. 

Be honest while taking the test as many students answer based on what sounds “smart” or what parents expect. Selecting “I enjoy solving math problems” when in reality you dread maths, makes the whole exercise futile.

Discuss the results with your counsellor to understand how they can inform the decision-making process for your career and life.

Tip 9: Leverage Internship and Job Shadowing Opportunities

There is no substitute for real-world experience. Internships and job shadowing opportunities allow you to immerse yourself in a role, observe its rhythms, and evaluate if it resonates with your interests. As part of career guidance for students, we at Lesli India strongly encourage you to seize such opportunities, as they provide clarity in addition to making an impressive resume.

To seek advice from the counsellors regarding the same, please ensure that you come prepared with what are your fields of interest - medicine, IT, marketing, architecture, what type of exposure you seek and most importantly your availability as in details about school holidays, weekends, summer breaks. This helps the counsellor suggest realistic and relevant opportunities. Ask direct questions to the Counsellor:

• “Can you suggest internship programs or shadowing opportunities in my area of interest?”

• “Do you know organizations, alumni, or professionals who allow students to shadow them?”

• “How can I approach companies or professionals if I don’t have connections?”

• “What skills or preparation should I have before applying for an internship?”

Counsellors often have industry contacts, alumni networks, or institutional tie-ups. Students could request a list of companies or NGOs that accept students and even request help in drafting emails or resumes for internship applications. After the session, students should reach out to suggested contacts, apply for multiple opportunities and keep the counsellor updated on progress and challenges.

Tip 10: Stay in Touch with Your Career Counsellor

Career counselling is an ongoing relationship between you and your counsellor.  Try and schedule follow ups and ask the counsellor, “When should I check in again to update you on my progress?” at the end of each session. Share updates regularly as a career counsellor can help you recalibrate your roadmap as your personal aspirations shift. Before making important decisions such as choosing subjects, applying for internships, and shortlisting colleges, reach out for advice. Do show gratitude and build a rapport. A simple “Thank you for your guidance, it really helped me with…” goes a long way. 

Counsellors are more likely to invest effort in students who engage respectfully and sincerely. Maintaining such contact ensures that you benefit from a sustained mentorship. This can also open doors to internships, references, and professional networks.

Taking Charge of Your Career Journey

Career counselling is a dynamic dialogue, an iterative process of reflection, questioning, and recalibration. By setting clear objectives, approaching the session with candor, researching career paths, and following through with deliberate action, you can transform counselling from a mere conversation into a career-defining transformative tool. When you embrace internships, utilise assessment tools, and maintain contact with your counsellor, you are investing in the infrastructure of your long-term career blueprint.

At Lesli India, we firmly believe that you must get the most out of a career counselling session. We do not want you to passively absorb advice, we encourage you to 5take charge with curiosity, commitment, and courage. The world of work will continue to evolve in ways we cannot entirely predict, but those who approach it with preparedness and adaptability will flourish.

So the next time you sit across a counsellor, remember: you are seeking guidance and forging your destiny. Equip yourself with these ten tips, step into your session with confidence, and stride forth knowing you are actively shaping a future worthy of your talents and aspirations.

FAQs

1. How can I prepare for my first career counselling session?

• Preparation is half the battle won. Before your first session, reflect deeply on your interests, strengths, and uncertainties. Jot down any specific dilemmas, whether it is choosing between science and commerce, deciding on a specific degree, or wondering if entrepreneurship is a viable path for you. Conduct a bit of career exploration online so that you arrive with context, not confusion. At Lesli India, we always tell students: think of your counsellor as a surgeon. The more precise your description of the symptoms, the more effective the remedy.

2. What should I ask during a career counselling session?

• Asking relevant questions is the central point around which the entire counselling session revolves. Consider inquiring about:

• Future prospects of careers you are considering.

• Skills currently in demand in the job market.

• Alternative career planning strategies if your first choice proves impractical.

• Educational pathways such as courses, certifications, or training programs that would strengthen your standing.

• Do not be shy of asking what pitfalls to avoid.

3. How many career counselling sessions do I need?

• The need for counselling varies greatly from person to person, depending entirely on individual circumstances. Some individuals come in with a clear sense of direction but seek guidance on how to effectively execute their plans. In such cases, just a few focused sessions may be sufficient. Others, who may feel uncertain or lost about their goals or life path, can benefit from a long term  relationship that allows for deeper exploration and gradual clarity.

At Lesli India, we typically recommend beginning with at least two to three sessions. The first is dedicated to a comprehensive self-assessment, helping you gain insights into your current state, motivations, and challenges. The second focuses on developing a tailored strategy aligned with your personal goals. The third serves as a follow-up session to evaluate your progress, refine your approach, and address any emerging concerns.

Beyond these initial sessions, we encourage you to view counselling as an ongoing resource and the sessions, as a space for continuous growth, support, and reflection, available whenever you need it.

4. Can career counselling help if I’m unsure about my interests?

• Indeed, that is precisely when career counselling is most valuable! Few of us emerge from adolescence with crystalline clarity about our professional inclinations. Counsellors deploy career assessment tests, self-reflection exercises, and structured dialogues to unearth hidden likings. Sometimes, uncertainty itself is fertile ground; it allows you to approach the process with openness rather than preconceived bias. In short, if you are lost, counselling provides direction.

5. How do I choose the right career counsellor?

• A counsellor must inspire confidence and credibility. Look for:

• Qualifications in psychology, education, or career guidance.

• Experience across diverse industries and student profiles.

• Approachability, since honest conversations require trust.

• Use of tools and assessments rather than generic advice.