by Peter Kamuri

With increasing demand to succeed in life, many people are now turning to career counselors for advice.

Career counsellors can help you assess your own personal qualities and interests as you decide which path to follow.

They also advise on financial success, goal setting, business, family matters among others.

As the demand for career counsellors grows, those in need of these services have also been growing steadily. This has seen proliferation of quacks masquerading as counsellors.

Here are some guidelines to help you get a good career counsellor.

Start by determining the number of counsellors you need to contact. However, it is important to note that talking with too many can lead to confusion.

Among those you have found, establish those you can have a working relationship with.

Ascertain their level of training and whether they have the relevant experience. What is the highest level of formal training has he achieved? How long has he been a counsellor?

Shop widely. Consult people who have benefited before, ask friends for recommendations or visit the Internet.

Ask the counsellor to give you a list of his referees. Although some are likely to give you unreliable ones, with good probing you can get additional information.

Ask how much they charge for their services.

Do they charge hourly, weekly or monthly? At times be wary of those who ask payments upfront as good counsellors will have confidence in their clients.

Establish how they give their services - full time or part time basis. Know exactly what services they give and whether they can give specialized ones if that is what your need.