Career Development Professional
Career development professionals advise, coach, inform, and support people as they navigate learning and work transitions throughout the lifespan.
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Career Advisor / Coach / Consultant, Employment Support Worker, Work Development Officer
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Career development professionals work with clients of all ages and backgrounds. They help clients discover their preferred future and take steps toward achieving it. To this end they may support clients with:
Career development professionals work with clients individually or in groups. They help clients discover and appreciate their unique character traits. They then show them how to link those traits to career choices. To do this, career development professionals may:
For information about school guidance counsellors and counsellors in post-secondary schools, see the Educational Counsellor occupational profile.
Career development professionals work in a variety of settings. However, they most often serve clients in offices where they can hold private interviews. They may also provide group sessions online or in classrooms or boardrooms. Depending on the role, they may do some evening and weekend work.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in consulting to advise employers on human resources and other employment-related issues; in referring clients to appropriate services; in assisting clients with such matters as job readiness skills and job search strategies; and in providing established workers with information on maintaining a job or moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction or making a career change
Interest in compiling information to collect labour market information for clients regarding job openings, entry and skill requirements and other occupational information; and in administering tests designed to determine interests, aptitudes and abilities
Interest in interpreting test results and identifying barriers to employment; and in providing consulting services to community groups and agencies, businesses and industry, and to other organizations involved in providing community-based career planning resources
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Career development professionals need:
They should enjoy consulting with people and compiling information. They should also enjoy working with clients to develop innovative solutions to problems.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 110 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 04, 2021 and Nov 29, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
Health benefits: Health care plan | 79 |
---|---|
Computer and Technology Knowledge: MS Word | 75 |
Tasks: Identify barriers to employment and assist clients with such matters as job readiness skills, job search strategies, writing résumés and preparing for job interviews | 74 |
Construction Specialization: Client focus | 70 |
Health benefits: Dental plan | 70 |
Tasks: Interview clients to obtain employment history, educational background and career goals | 70 |
Computer and Technology Knowledge: MS Outlook | 69 |
Attention to detail | 68 |
Construction Specialization: Team player | 67 |
Computer and Technology Knowledge: MS Excel | 67 |
Most career development professionals have post-secondary education in a related discipline. For example, they might have a degree or diploma in psychology, education, social work, or human resources. Increasingly, employers are seeking applicants who have a certificate, diploma, or degree in career development. They may also accept an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Post-secondary schools throughout Alberta offer psychology, education, social work, and human resources programs.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
On an ongoing basis, career development professionals must keep up to date with changes in educational, occupational and labour market information.
Certification is not mandatory, but may be an asset when seeking employment. The Career Development Association of Alberta grants the Certified Career Development Professional (CCDP) designation to applicants who meet requirements. These include educational, experiential, and ethical requirements.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Career development professionals work for:
Career development professionals may also be self-employed or work on a contract basis.
Advancement opportunities depend on the nature and size of the employing organization. Roles may include supervising other career development professionals, overseeing daily operations of an employment program, or managing a human resources department. All opportunities are subject to the career development professional’s qualifications.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Employment counsellors
2016 NOC: 4156
82.6% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Salaries for career development professionals vary depending on the organization and the individual’s qualifications.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
---|---|---|---|---|
Starting | $16.50 | $36.05 | $26.25 | $24.50 |
Overall | $19.00 | $46.49 | $31.01 | $26.11 |
Top | $20.50 | $47.29 | $34.86 | $34.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
ALL INDUSTRIES | $57,315 |
---|---|
Business, Building and Other Support Services | $53,604 |
Educational Services | $41,495 |
Health Care & Social Assistance | $39,011 |
Public Administration | $84,978 |
Career Development Association of Alberta (CDAA) website: www.careerdevelopment.ab.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.