Career Counseling

Career counseling and exploration can help you at any stage in your student journey. We're here to help you develop your career goals and support you through the decision making process.

Let's explore: career counseling and development

We offer in-person and online tools that can help you dig deep on what career opportunities may be best for you based on your:

• Interests
• Goals
• Personality traits
• Values

We can even help connect you with GRCC alumni or professionals that currently work in the fields you're interested in, or we can help you figure out what you want to do with your major.

What is Career Counseling?

Career counseling is a process that helps you learn more about yourself and the world of work so that you can make well-considered decisions about your education and career. It occurs in the context of a collaborative, confidential, therapeutic relationship with a counselor who will apply counseling skills, career development knowledge, and awareness of educational and career information sources to help empower you to overcome barriers to decision-making.

Career Counseling does not Involve:

• Being told what goals you should pursue or what major or career is best for you.
• Academic advising. Be sure to work with your academic advisor in the Academic Advising & Transfer Center, TRIO Programs, Disability Support Services, or Occupational Support Program, or with a faculty advisor in your chosen academic program.
• Course scheduling. Admissions & Student Services can help!
• Resume development or job search services. Check out Student Employment Services!

What to Expect

1. Your first meeting with us will be an initial screening appointment. This is a brief, individual appointment with a counselor to assess your needs and goals, and to plan next steps based on that information. You may receive referrals to online resources for self-guided, career-related assessment and exploration, group-based services, individual career counseling, and/or a variety of other campus and community resources.
2. For career counseling, your next  appointment will focus more in-depth on your goals and expectations, and explore your career-decision making readiness, as well as influencing factors such as academic, family, and employment history.
3. Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled every two weeks or less frequently, depending upon appointment availability and your pace. Preparation may include between-appointment tasks such as completing assessments of your values, skills, personality preferences, and interests, and learning more about careers through written materials, videos, interviews, and/or job shadowing.
4. Career counseling often involves:
   • Talking about your thoughts and feelings about your academic and career choices
   • Discussing assessment results to enhance your self-understanding
   • Learning how to access and consider reliable information about careers of interest
   • Engaging in a guided process to help you reach a decision about your academic pathway, major, and/or career goal, considering the factors that are important to you.    

Make an Appointment

To schedule an initial screening appointment with a counselor, call or visit our office, (616) 234-4130, 368 SCC or schedule online:

Schedule an Initial Screening Appointment

Explore online

Use any of our online resources to take personality assessments and learn more about various careers right here in West Michigan.