The objective of Career Counseling and Guidance is to bring career awareness among the students at the secondary and senior secondary education. In India the career counseling is late starter. However with the growth of competitiveness in the last two decades this has become a major concern in our education system. The career counseling gives an understanding to the students the importance of ones academic potential, attribute, personality, talents, interest, expectation, resource, strength and weakness while choosing a course for a right career at the right time for a bright future. This intends to show the students a planned route to a career right in the school years keeping in mind all above attributes so that the students remain motivated and effective during the most difficult years of the school system i.e. 10th to 12th and helping them to choose an appropriate stream/career after 10th or 12th standard. It must be the endeavor of a career counselor to bring parents, students and teachers together to understand the effectiveness of career counseling and guidance and make recommendations that would help students to come as close as possible to a 'match' between the students profile and courses available and to lessen the parents pressure on the child.

For most students stream choice after 10th and a course after 12th is a matter of chance, social pressure, and largely determined by academic performance and not by scientific choice. Students are mainly illusion with 3 to 4 careers like Medicine, Engineering, CA/CS, or Management. However the counseling must cover introduction to career planning, myths on career counseling, effective career planning by understanding aptitude, personality, interests and abilities. There after about 200+ career options after 10+2 which are generally covered in five groups viz. People based, Creative, Business, Physical/Outdoor & Science based careers. The career counseling must have the coverage of premier institutes, admission process placement work environment etc. Also the students must be told about the Indian Education System: Indian Univ vs Foreign Degree; Indian Recognizing Bodies for Courses; Regular Courses vs Distance Education; Vocational Courses; Aptitude, Attitude and Personality; Types of Universities in India; Usage of Internet for all information; How to prepare for Exam; Goal Setting; See beyond horizon; Failure is never final; Winning edge; Image Building and positive thoughts; Time and stress management; Dealing with expectations of elders; Ethics and Values in life; Mind mapping; How to remain motivated; Art of Living: a meaningful Life; Dealing with school and entrance coaching; Motivation; Job Prospects after course etc. However the major focus always remain on Career Planning, Psychometric analysis and best career options available to the students according to their aptitude, interest, academic input, hobbies, personality, grooming, family background, financial support etc.
My sincere advice to students and parents is to avail the career counseling from the right career counselor at the most appropriate time i.e. class 10th of the school studies. It is the most valuable guidance the student gets from the counselor. Even mid level working executives too avail career counseling. The earlier it is done the better for the student. One must be out from the herd mentality and choose the stream or subjects or career as per the his or her intelligence, abilities and interests.