There are many different areas of work in career development and a range of job titles that match. Those who deliver information, advice and career guidance may be a careers adviser, career coach, career consultant, career counsellor or talent manager. There are also roles as a careers assistant, careers leader, head of careers and careers managers.
Employers for those engaged in careers practice include schools, sixth-form and FE colleges, universities, local authorities, independent schools, voluntary and community sector, custodial settings, private practice, Careers Hubs and Local Enterprise Partnerships.
There are also many roles in the government-funded careers organisations across the UK; the National Careers Service providers in England, Skills Development Scotland, Careers Wales and the Careers Service Northern Ireland.
There are also opportunities in training careers practitioners as well as in research, either as a freelance consultant or working for one of the universities or other research bodies.
Career development is a flexible profession where you can be an employee, on contract, self-employed or a combination. Roles can be full-time, part-time or term-time only and this flexibility means career development is a profession that can suit many people. As the skills and knowledge of careers professionals is transferable, many people work in both career development and allied roles.
Although the CDI is a UK-based professional body, we have members who are based around the world as well as UK members who have clients based abroad, offering support through online coaching sessions.