Education and Career Guidance (ECG) counselors cannot predict the future, but they can certainly empower students to make more informed learning and career decisions. Two ECG counselors share how they help students navigate their educational pathways.
Reporter Kang Im-jun
When Tony Gui's daughter was 18, she was at a crossroads. She asked him a question he wasn't prepared for. “So what should I do next?”
She was finishing her last year of junior college and staring into the void beyond the horizon.
As Ms. Gui recalled, the same advice she used to guide her during her elementary and secondary school years no longer seemed to apply.
“I used to tell her, ‘Do your best in school, get the best grades, and you can do whatever you want,’” he recalls. But she wasn't sure what she wanted. So what did he say next?
Now, a few years later, Mr Gui is working as an Educational and Career Guidance (ECG) Counselor at Anderson Serangoon JC. He says he knows better now what he should have said to her then.
Guide students on a journey of self-discovery.
ECG counselors like Mr Gui are placed in secondary schools and higher education institutions in Singapore, helping students navigate the rapidly changing educational and career environments around us.
Each junior college has an ECG counselor, and each secondary school receives one.
A student’s ECG journey typically begins right from the first year of secondary school, when students are encouraged to explore the question “Who am I?” This exercise helps them learn more about themselves and their interests.
An important step comes next year when students must recognize how their subject mix can affect their higher education options and future career choices, says Ms Lum Lai Mung, senior ECG counselor at Kranji Secondary School.
From their third year of secondary school until graduation, students are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities such as polytechnics and industry tours, as well as career attachments, while researching study and career options that suit them. Job attachments are also available to allow students to experience what it is like to work in a specific industry.
During her sessions with students, Ms Lum uses 'challenge cards' or conversation starters to help students understand more about themselves.
This is where an ECG counselor can step in to fill the information gap. “At this stage in their lives, secondary school students may not have the opportunity to make many important decisions. Some may have relied on their parents for school selection or even subject combinations.”
Although ECG counselors cannot predict the future, they can alleviate some of the uncertainty by helping students discover their strengths, preferences, and interests.
Mr. Gui agrees. After training as an ECG counselor a year ago, he must have now made room for her daughter to have those kinds of conversations and explored her courses and careers to help her daughter get closer to her dreams. I realized I did it.
Year-round program showing available choices
Workshops, school seminars and career counseling sessions are organized by ECG counselors throughout the academic years to bridge the gap between what you learn at school and the skills currently in demand in the job market. For example, an ECG fair is held every year for the graduating cohort of Kranji Secondary. Hosted by Ms Lum and the school team, the event will feature further education and career talks involving higher education providers, industry partners, parent support groups and alumni.
During the event, students gain insight into different industries, the skills needed in each sector, and the speakers' personal work experiences. Some of these are mid-career converts.
Explaining why conversations with career changers are particularly important, Mr Joshua Ang Yong Quan, Head of Citizenship and Character Education at Kranji Secondary School, explains: “They demonstrate the importance of being adaptable, lifelong learners. “It is unlikely that our students will stay in one fixed job for their entire lives, so we hope that resilience and adaptability can impact them.”
“The ECG fair also helps show students who are obsessed with a particular career that choosing a career may not be as easy as it seems. They will have to try harder or reexamine their choices,” says Ang.
Some students shared with Mr Ang how they reconsidered certain career choices after gaining a better understanding of the field. “For me it is a valuable learning experience. They have a better idea of what they want from their careers,” he adds.
Career symposiums and scholarship fairs are also held at the junior college level. Similar to careers fairs in secondary schools, students can meet companies and industry partners to learn more about the work involved in each sector.
Students can also get a taste of the world of work.
Hands-on experience is essential for learning and development. For students, career connections give them a glimpse into real-world work environments, allowing them to gain experience and explore a variety of career paths.
Ms. Gui is conducting workshops for first-year students to prepare them for employment after exams.
Mr Gui helps junior college students manage their learning journey and work connections before they begin their second and final years. Drawing on his experience as a mid-level transitioner with previous engineering experience at a technology company, Mr. Gui leverages his extensive industry knowledge and connections to create insightful learning journeys.
Surveys are conducted to gauge student interest in various industries. Based on the best selection, Mr Gui, together with the school's ECG team, contacts relevant industry partners to set up work attachments for students.
These hours allow students to experience and observe first-hand what it's like to work in a variety of industries, including healthcare, engineering, and early childhood education. “Ultimately, we want to make sure that students can experience what the outside world is like when they graduate from whatever program they go through,” Gui says.
He observed that some students and parents still believe that certain career choices, such as careers in engineering or finance, are “safer” or “more reputable.”
“Gone are the days of just looking at job titles,” he says. “Now employers are looking at the skills young graduates need to help their organizations navigate a complex world.”
Mr Gui and Ms Lum agree that the skills needed to succeed in today's job market tend to be non-academic, with a focus on teamwork and effective communication skills. These soft skills are relevant regardless of your career choice.
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In addition to facilitating school-wide events, ECG counselors also provide one-on-one counseling to students who need additional support.
It is not uncommon for counselors to encounter students who are unsure about what they are passionate about. This can sometimes lead to a slippery slope where students pursue further education in a field they are not interested in and end up in an unsatisfying career.
ECG counselors often use a variety of resources and tools to encourage conversation and exploration. This includes the MySkillsFuture portal, which identifies an individual's strengths, values, interests, personality and existing skills.
We also use “challenge cards,” which are conversation starters that encourage students to think about the obstacles they face and the resources and skills they need to overcome them. These conversations not only help build a relationship between the ECG counselor and the student, but also promote the student's process of self-discovery.
“It is important for ECG counselors not to be biased and dictate to students what they think is best,” adds Gui.
'Are your dreams realistic?'
For some students, just talking to an ECG counselor can help them overcome the fog.
Mr. Lum recalls meeting a student who wanted to become an astrophysicist but was not doing well academically. His obsession with earning a college degree led to frustration. It started to kill his passion for the field.
“I had to strike a balance between boosting students’ self-esteem and being practical,” said Lum. “It is possible for him to achieve his dream, but I reminded him that there may be another path to get there.”
As she spoke further with him, she introduced him to alternative routes such as polytechnic courses and job opportunities that could achieve the same results. As the results became clearer, the boy's hopes were renewed and his behavior and performance improved.
Mr. Gui's daughter may not benefit from her father's newfound expertise, but she has benefited from the university's ECG efforts. She organized a career symposium that piqued her interest in a career in the Singapore Navy. She later joined the Maritime Service Branch of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Mr. Gui is glad he found his groove, with or without his help. When she was younger, she said, “Her military career was the last thing on my mind, but she knew what she liked and wanted and I'm proud that she took her leap of faith to pursue it.” “Yes.”