who knows about training for careers advice/coaching?

[iddybiddy]

1. Careers coaching courses - which ones are good? I was hoping for a course more specific than general life coaching.
   
2. careers advice/guidance courses - are there any shorter courses available to someone not already working as an advisor? I'm not quite sure about a full MA and was thinking a shorter course would be a useful introduction, but I've noticed many are devised for people to study whilst already working as an advisor.
   

BTW I do realise 1 and 2 are quite different - I'm weighing up options and possibilities at the moment!

[headlesslambrini]

There are not that many opportunities available within careers guidance at the moment. Are you thnking adults or young people?

[iddybiddy]

I was thinking adults. Do you know about courses?

[iddybiddy]

too quick with send ... it seems that many of the courses require you to be actually employed - is that right?

[headlesslambrini]

The adult service is delivered through national careers service now. Alot of the advisers are only educated up to level 3 as standard although some organisations have trained staff to a higher level. Generally you need to be employed and they will train you. Check out the careers guidance institute (CDI) and you should find some links / courses on there. TBH I would really research this area before you commit - there has been a lot of redundancies within the profession and alot of really experienced people are job hunting.

[iddybiddy]

I would ultimately be aiming to be self employed, but would want to have some proper training. Ideally I would like to do a very basic or introductory course almost as a taster.
Thx for replies btw!

[CareersDragon]

I agree with Headless! As a fully trained Level 6 Careers Adviser, working in the Guidance Sector at the moment it is difficult. The government have cut back on the face-to-face opportunities for guidance, by trying to provide web-based information backed up by telephone/email interviews. Having become self-employed last year, I can confirm that although there is obviously a great need for guidance (backed up by the threads here on MN), only a minority of people are prepared to pay for it (or feel that they can afford to pay for it) privately. Do you think that they would want to pay somebody who only has a basic level of training?