Adult guidance worker

Adult guidance workers help people to make informed and realistic choices about their education, training and employment options.

Also known as:

Educational guidance worker

Work activities

Adult guidance workers help people to think about their career, learning and training opportunities. They also help to link people’s skills and interests to career ideas. Guidance workers usually see clients through pre-arranged appointments, though they sometimes work on a drop-in basis. Sometimes they help clients over the phone. Clients have a range of needs and requirements. Some will be looking mainly for information, on courses on a specific subject, for example. Other clients will be looking for advice; maybe they are unsure of the possible ways forward for them. Some people will benefit from an approach that includes an element of counselling. Building a trusting relationship with clients is essential. By listening carefully, and asking the right questions, the guidance worker can begin to understand any barriers that the client must break through to reach their goals. It is important that the guidance worker doesn’t make judgements or try to impose solutions on their clients. Their aim is to enable people to talk about and clarify any problems for themselves. They then help them to choose the best way forward.

Adult guidance workers provide information in a number of ways. They have access to a library of information on different careers, courses and training opportunities. They also use the internet and computer software, such as course databases and guidance and information programs. Some advisors give presentations to groups or run courses or workshops to help adults in the community. Some work with adults from certain groups, such as people with learning difficulties, or people who are homeless. Sometimes adult guidance workers act on a client’s behalf. This could be to help them enter a course, get financial help or arrange childcare or student accommodation. Sometimes they provide ongoing support and advice to people who have successfully re-joined education. This could include help on issues like finance and accommodation.

Personal qualities and skills

As an adult guidance worker, you need:

Good communication and interpersonal skills.
The ability to help people from many different backgrounds, with different levels of self-confidence and experiences of education.
To listen carefully, and ask the right questions to find out about the client’s skills, interests and values.
The ability to show genuine interest in the needs of your clients.
The ability to empathise with problems your clients encounter.

You should be:

IT literate.
Flexible and adaptable.
Able to work well in a team.
Well organised and self-motivated, with good problem-solving skills.
Able to help people towards making important decisions, without imposing solutions.
Non-judgemental and objective, especially when dealing with sensitive issues.
Knowledge of assessment techniques such as psychometric tests and computer guidance software is useful.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for adult guidance workers vary with employer and duties.

Guidance workers normally work a standard full-time week, Monday to Friday. Part-time work and job-share may be available.

Cuts in government spending has impacted on funding in certain areas. Adult careers advisors often give advice and guidance by phone or online through the National Careers Service rather than face-to-face.

Opportunities for adult guidance workers occur throughout the UK. Employers include careers service companies, the National Careers Service, Employment Service/Jobcentre Plus, colleges, libraries, community and adult education centres and some charities.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, on job boards, on employers’ websites, on the Government’s Find a Job service. Vacancies are also posted on relevant job boards, such as Jobs in Advice, or Careers in Careers.

Entry routes and training

Many adult guidance workers are graduates. Employers place importance on the right personal qualities. Skills and abilities gained in an area such as teaching, youth and community work, social work, probation work or personnel work are useful. Some entrants have also completed a postgraduate qualification – usually the Qualification in Career Development (QCD). The QCD is available at universities across the UK. The QCD combines academic with work-based learning and can be taken over one year full-time or two years part-time (at some centres). You may be able to enter a QCD course if you don’t have a degree, if you can show the course provider that you are able to cope with postgraduate level study. Other postgraduate courses are available, with titles such as Career Management and Counselling, and Career Education, Information and Guidance.

Other qualifications are available for people who are already working in guidance-related areas; in colleges, universities, Jobcentre Plus, and for voluntary agencies, for example. The level 4 diploma in advice and guidance is aimed at guidance practitioners and can be applied to related areas, including adult guidance and higher education. The level 6 diploma in career guidance and development is also available.

With experience, it is possible to progress to supervisory and management positions.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career may be an exception from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (when working with vulnerable people, for example). This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

Many entrants are graduates, although there is no formal entry requirement for this career. The usual minimum entry requirement for a degree in any subject is:

Two A-levels.
GCSEs (grades 9-4) in other subjects.

Other qualifications, such as an Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualification or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma could also be considered.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Generally, experience is highly valued in this job. Relevant skills and abilities gained in either a paid or voluntary role, can help you to become a guidance worker, especially if you combine this with appropriate qualifications. Some people become guidance workers after working in areas such as teaching, social work, probation work, careers advisory work (with other groups), counselling, and community or youth work.

Skills and abilities gained working with adults in a guidance or supportive role are an advantage.

A range of colleges and universities offer courses in career development including with part time/flexible and distance learning study options.

Related careers

Advice centre worker
Careers advisor
Counsellor
Education welfare officer
Recruitment consultant