Career Coach, Counsellor, or Consultant?

What is the Difference?

Career development professional titles.

You likely heard one or a few titles such as: Career Advisor, Employment or Career Consultant, Career Counsellor, Career and Employment Specialist, Career Practitioner, Job Coach, Workplace Inclusion Specialist, Job Developer, Workforce Advisor, and the list goes on. There is a lot of confusion around these terms. As a result, it isn't surprising that people I come across throughout my career simply ends up grouping them all together. In this blog, I like to share some insight so you can be educated in understanding the core differences.

Coaching, Consulting, Counselling & Educating Definitions

Although some aspects of services can overlap, each title operates with a different lens, background and approach.

Career Foundation, Career Professionals of Canada (CPC)

In the diagram above lists 4 main disciplines:

1. Career Coaches role is to challenge and assist clients to discover their own approach and desired career goals through non-directive and future oriented methods.

2. Career Consultants are past oriented and makes use of a directive advice or opinions for a solution-driven approach. It is up to the client to decide on what fits them best.

3. Career Counsellors focus on providing career guidance through the utilization of both career development theories and counselling techniques. They also tend to focus on drawing past events to discover career focused solutions.

4. Career Educators (typically in school settings) are future oriented and help clients find answers in a directive way. They are mainly focused on academic scores and achievement, and utilize career assessment tools such as Myers Brigg.

A Unified Goal: Helping Clients for Career Success

Despite their differences, all career development professionals share a common mission: to help individuals take control of their career and work-life journey. The Career Professionals of Canada (CPC) states:

"No matter what our specialty, Career Development Professionals work should revolve around enabling clients to take charge of their own career development. We facilitate this by assisting them in the process of identifying and access resources, planning and managing their career and work-life."

Choosing the Right Professional for Your Needs

When seeking career guidance, it’s crucial to research potential professionals and ensure their approach aligns with your needs. Consider the following when making your decision:

• What is your goal? Are you looking for direction, expert advice, emotional support, or structured education?

• What approach do you prefer? Do you want thought-provoking coaching, strategic consulting, in-depth counselling, or academic career guidance?

• What are their credentials? Look for certifications and affiliations with professional organizations such as Career Professionals of Canada (CPC) or other recognized institutions.

Investing in career services can be transformative, but choosing the right professional is key to maximizing your results. By understanding these distinctions, you can confidently seek the support that best fits your journey.

"My passion lies in life-long learning and connecting with others through the world of employment with joyful glee and excitement." - Yules Chan

As someone deeply passionate about lifelong learning and helping individuals navigate their career paths, I encourage you to explore your options and take charge of your professional future with excitement and purpose.

If you have not already, check out my blog on, Am I the Right Coach For You? You can also check out my accreditations on my About page.

Yules Chan (BFA, CWS, CCS) is a CPC registered career development professional in Calgary who is motivated in providing holistic excellence by finding your hidden genius through the world of employment.

For more information go to Brilliant Person Career Coaching or call +1 (403) 891-2673 for a 15-minute complimentary consultation. We provide both in-person and online services.