University students turn to career counseling amidst confusion, anxiety

More students choose off-campus consultants

Li Wei and Zhang Yuan both studied in universities that offer courses in career planning counseling. "Perhaps because we attend the 'second batches' of these universities, the content is somewhat perfunctory and of limited use," Zhang said, adding that the teachers only teach "some principles," while he needs personalized counseling services.

"My classmates who went for counseling said it wasn't very effective," Li said, indicating that he does not trust the quality of school psychological counselors. "Counselors outside the school have higher prices, which should mean they are more dedicated and serious." In Li's view, the current "employment anxiety" needs to be cleared immediately, otherwise, he won't be able to "find the motivation to do other things."

In the end, through a certain psychological counseling platform, Li made an appointment with a nationally licensed second-level psychological counselor who is skilled in career counseling. The fee is 500 yuan per meeting, and Li expects to have three consultations.

Unlike the psychological counseling sought by Li, Zhang Yuan said that the counseling he chose was career planning counseling. In Zhang's view, career planning counseling services can not only help counselors form a clear, integrated, and appropriate self-concept and find the direction of their career, but can also help them integrate industry information, clarify their professional skills,and even make key career decisions. These are services that school psychological counselors cannot provide.

Zhang has his own criteria for screening career planning consultants. "The first step is to see if the counseling process they arrange for me is professional; the second is to see their service attitude especially if I still have doubts about certain issues, I want to see if they will provide 'after-sales service'; the third is to see if the advice they provide for me is based on evidence and is the result of their investigation and data analysis," he said.

For Zhang, when comparing using these three points, whether the consultant has a professional license or industry qualification is not that most important. "I think the services provided by consultants must be differentiated, and certification cannot measure the consultant's level of expertise."

But some people also choose to seek counseling on campus. In May 2022, Qi Ze, a graduate of a Beijing university, was struggling to choose between a high-paying but less enjoyable job at an internet giant and a lower-paying but "dream" job at an advertising company.

She chose to seek help from the school's psychological counselor and, after five times of consecutive career planning counseling, Qi truly understood her own job requirements and her working abilities.

"During the counseling process, the counselor gradually guided me to truly find my interests, hobbies and career needs by asking questions," Qi recalled. In the end, she chose the advertising company. "The advice given by the counselor was that career choices should be viewed from a long-term perspective" she said.