I provide career counseling and job seeker services to formerly incarcerated individuals. My duties include identifying individual's values, develop possible career paths, referrals to supportive services, employer services, career coaching, job search and classroom instruction, and regular follow-up in executing client's individual employment plan. I facilitate customer access to supportive services, social services, training, education, and employment services, as well as job search mechanics.
CAREER
Rehabilitation Counselors
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$38,560
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+10.5% (faster than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Rehabilitation Counselors Do
Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.
Other Job Titles Rehabilitation Counselors May Have
Employment Specialist, Job Coach, Rehabilitation Counselor, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
I spend my days working with kids and adults and teaching them executive function strategies and social thinking skills. The perfect day would include me hearing that what I taught someone helped them make a friend, get a job or helped them to be more socially competent.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
- Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Rehabilitation Counselors
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (56%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Organizational Communication, General
Graduate
Clinical/Medical Social Work
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Emotional intelligence and emotional literacy is one of the most important keys in life. Learn how to express yourself in healthy and productive ways. Know how to write a good resume and have good interview skills. People skills and knowing how to asses someone's values, talents, and interests is really important.
I would honestly say that there's nothing that I learned in school that I use now. This field of work isn't something that you just fall into, and there definitely wasn't a great level of awareness of social learning issues (people who struggle with social skills) when I was going through college and graduate school, so I really had to seek this out on my own. You definitely need a willingness and desire to deeply learn about the issues you'll be working with.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Do some volunteer work to see if you like working with kids or adults who are diagnosed with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome. You probably know some already from your school.
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
