Would you like to make a career change or support your colleagues through organizational changes? Choose career counseling!

Have you ever thought about your career with the same level of attention you give when analyzing a candidate’s career path? As a recruiter or HR specialist, you’re always at the heart of other people’s career decisions – offering advice, assessing potential, guiding them toward the right roles. But when was the last time you took a step back to analyze your career or sought career counseling? What direction do you want to take next? What do you want from the next phase of your career?

We get it – with the fast pace of recruitment and business, reflecting on your career often ends up last on the list. Yet, you know better than anyone how important it is to be aligned with your values, goals, and skills. That’s where career counseling comes in. And no, it’s not just for young people just starting. It’s a relevant and valuable process for you and other professionals alike. A dedicated career counseling association (like CGA) can be the space where you clarify your vision, refine your professional direction, and make the most of your expertise. Plus, you develop skills to guide other professionals in their careers.

Andreea Dumitrescu, Senior Recruitment Manager at BIA Human Capital Solutions, shared her perspective on career counseling during a focus group organized by the Romanian Career Counselors Association (ACROM), highlighting the kinds of activities you can pursue to find meaningful work.

In this article, you’ll discover:

• Why professional counseling is essential for you as a recruiter, specialist, or HR leader.

• What career counseling involves and the benefits it offers.

• The types of activities, resources, and communities that can bring you clarity, inspiration, and direction.

• How you can actively contribute to the development of career counseling while benefiting from a strong network of professional support.

• How the Career Transition service offered by BIA Human Capital Solutions can help you.

 

Wondering What’s Next in Your Career? Career Counseling Can Help You Find the Right Answer

Whether you’re just starting or have years of experience under your belt, there comes a time when you need clarity. Maybe you’re thinking about changing fields, aiming to grow professionally, or simply feeling like what you do doesn’t matter much anymore.

Career counseling is exactly the support that can help you see more clearly where you’re headed—and why.

Career counseling acts as a bridge between your potential and the realities of the job market, providing clarity, direction, and confidence in your professional choices.

From my experience, career counseling is the kind of support many of us wish we had earlier in life. In my recruitment work, I constantly see how important it is to know where you want to go and what suits you best. — Andreea Dumitrescu, Senior Recruitment Manager, BIA HCS

 

HOW CAREER COUNSELING WORKS AND WHAT BENEFITS IT BRINGS YOU, FOR REAL?

Career counseling is all about you—what skills you have, what you want to do, and what real options are out there to move forward. Together with a counselor, you explore:

• Who you are (your skills, interests, values);

• What do you want (your goals, motivations)?

• What options do you have, tailored to the current job market?

Along the way, you gain:

✅ Clarity in your choices—whether you’re picking a college, a specialization, or considering a career change.

✅ Confidence in your decisions, because they’re based on who you truly are.

✅ A personalized plan that takes into account your professional and personal context.

✅ Flexibility to adapt—you’ll be better equipped to handle transitions or career shifts.

✅ A connection to the job market reality—you’ll understand what’s in demand, what matters, and what’s evolving.

 

I’ve met young people finishing their studies without a clear direction, as well as adults who change careers without having the right tools. An effective career counseling service you can turn to should help reduce these uncertainties. (Andreea Dumitrescu, Senior Recruitment Manager, BIA HCS)

 

Career counseling helps you better understand your skills, interests, and values, and connects them with real opportunities in the job market.
(Andreea Dumitrescu, Senior Recruitment Manager, BIA HCS).

 

YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A COMMUNITY THAT UNDERSTANDS YOUR CHALLENGES

Besides one-on-one guidance, you can also be part of a wider network of professionals. In career counseling communities, you get access to:

• Training on current topics like career changes, personal branding, and adapting to the job market.

• Interactive workshops on interviews, CV writing, and strategic planning.

• Webinars and conferences that bring together experts in counseling, recruitment, and education.

• Up-to-date resources: market studies, best practices, and useful tools for career guidance.

• Networking with specialists — people like you who are looking for real solutions, not just theories.

I value access to training focused on current HR trends and coaching, guided practical sessions, and real-life examples. Continuous accredited training, access to up-to-date methodological resources and case studies, discounts for conferences and industry events, mentorship opportunities, and international partnerships also matter a lot.

An active professional networking platform and the promotion of members’ expertise through publications or media presence are extremely valuable. — Andreea Dumitrescu, Senior Recruitment Manager, BIA HCS

 

YOU CAN GET ACTIVELY INVOLVED – FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THE PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTRY

If you feel like you want to make a real impact around you, contribute what you know, and be part of a community that truly matters, here’s your chance to do all that by actively engaging in networks and initiatives in the career counseling field, such as those organized by the Romanian Counselors Association (ACROM). The benefits are mainly for you: you develop your skills, learn new things, expand your network, and increase your influence in your professional area.

What can you do specifically?

🗣️ Make your voice heard in national projects on career, education, and employment

Whether you take part in surveys, focus groups, or working groups, your field experience really counts. What you’ve noticed about your partners, what works, what’s missing in the system — all these insights can shape public policies.

Associations in this field are increasingly opening up dialogues with authorities and the education system. You can participate in committees, meetings with decision-makers, or contribute to official positions on key issues: career guidance in schools, retraining, counselor training, and more.

From my perspective as a recruitment manager, I see how little is discussed about the real skills the market demands compared to educational programs. CGA could become a channel through which specialists’ voices reach public policies, whether through partnerships with ministries or official positions and interinstitutional collaborations. — Andreea Dumitrescu, Senior Recruitment Manager BIA HCS

 

👥 Collaborate with Other Professionals on Shared Initiatives

You can join thematic groups, research projects, or workshops alongside fellow advisors, recruiters, or HR specialists. It’s a great opportunity to learn from others, share your experiences, and contribute to developing real solutions.

💡 Access Leadership and Initiative Roles Within the Community

You can lead a practice group, moderate a workshop, host a webinar, or even start a new project. Active involvement gives you visibility, helps you build your skills, and offers the genuine feeling of being part of a positive change.

 

Are You Going Through a Career Change or Want to Support Colleagues During a Company Restructuring? Discover How a Career Transition Program Can Help You!

Whether you’re in a phase of career change, transition, or simply feel the need to shift your professional direction, you don’t have to face it alone. BIA Human Capital Solutions offers real, tailored support to meet your needs—even in more delicate situations like organizational restructurings or reorganizations.

If you find yourself in such a situation—or if your organization is undergoing transformation—you can rely on the specialized services BIA provides. Our consultants actively support employees who are about to leave the company, giving them clear guidance, a structured framework, and the tools they need to move forward confidently and with purpose.

🔹 We organize personalized meetings to help you define the right professional path;

🔹 We provide practical advice on identifying new opportunities, crafting your personal marketing strategy, and writing your CV;

🔹 We guide you in choosing companies that fit your profile and in accessing career opportunities that aren’t always visible on the traditional job market;

🔹 We offer support even after you’re hired, ensuring a smooth and effective integration into your new organization.

🎯 If you’re at such a crossroads—or if you want to prepare a responsible transition within your company—request a personalized offer! We’re here to turn a moment of uncertainty into an opportunity for professional growth.

 

 

Read also: 

“Generation Z’s Job Expectations in the Age of AI. An Interview with Romina Surugiu (Dean of FJSC) and Marian Crăciun (Director of the Career Counseling Department