How to Write a Resume for a Counseling Job

A counselor provides guidance for people undergoing a difficult or transitional period in their lives. Depending on the setting, this can mean a one-time meeting (school counseling) or an ongoing job (marriage counseling). It can be paired with work done by other professionals, such as psychiatrists or doctors (in cases of drug or alcohol abuse, for example).

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Write a Counseling Resume

1. Mention internships, especially if you have little job experience and want to expand your resume. Many counselors intern for at least a year following their graduation from college. If that's the case, highlight that position and write about what you learned.

2. Emphasize your successes as you write your resume. Youth counselors, for example, should write about new programs they created to deal with youth offenders, or their experience working with disadvantaged teenagers wishing to enter college. Even the smallest success in a program means a lot in this profession, so don't skip it because you think it doesn't look impressive enough.

3. Use the objective section to explain what you would like to bring to the company. This is the right place to mention ideas to implement or the passion you have for helping others. Make it specific to each company you apply to, so the employer feels that you are committed to the specific position they are offering.

4. Establish yourself as an expert by writing articles for professional periodicals or websites. Many counselors also have their own website or blog, where they offer help to those who write. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance your resume for free by simply dedicating a few hours a week to the project.

5. Skip the use of the word "I" in your resume. Experts believe that because counseling is all about the patient, it's important that the focus of the resume be on what you can provide rather than being on you. This doesn't mean you should ignore your accomplishments, but write them in a way that the "help" part is highlighted.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the field you are looking to work on, you may be required to pass a background check or submit to drug testing. If you have been through that before, you can note the clean record in your resume. You can even write about past job experiences dealing with individuals and substance abuse and how your understanding of the issue helped make a difference.

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