While advisors and counselling can assist with a range of issues that arise in your professional life, it is a big and often costly commitment. Here are several scenarios in which you should seek out other resources to further your career and resolve the challenges you are facing:

Conflict with your manager or colleagues:  While a career advisor could provide support and general information on how to manage conflict at your workplace, it is also important this is raised and addressed internally. If there is a systemic issue at your company with staff or management than it is critical that HR participate in resolving it, so that it can be quickly and effectively addressed in the future.

If you are unsure: If you are going to spend time and money using the services of trained professionals, then it is worth knowing exactly what you want to achieve from the relationship. Write down a list of career problems you are experiencing, goals you want to achieve but might be struggling to articulate, or areas of you resume you want to transform to be adequately prepared for your sessions. This way, you can be sure you will get the most out of career counselling.

When you are not seeing any benefits, or the relationship is taxing:  If you are not getting along with your career advisor, if their advice is leading you further astray, or worse, is visibly detrimental to your personal and professional well-being, then sever the relationship and look elsewhere for a more suitable advisor. A great advisor should share your professional vision, understand and respect your values, and be acutely aware of your work-related needs.

Should you decide you do want career counselling, do not be afraid to shop around for the perfect career advisor, using a range of different resources to find them. Seek out advisors who have a history of success and positive reputations to ensure that you work as a team, propelling your career forward.