Guidance Counselors are required to work at school settings to help students to prepare for continuing education. They help adolescents in order to facilitate their decisions about future careers. These professionals guide students to discover their weak and strong points and how to take advantage of those areas. They also intervene in cases where unpleasant behavior of one student is affecting other students at the school.

Guidance Counselors usually perform many of the following tasks:
• Evaluating overall status of a student.
• Creating reports.
• Listening to students.
• Giving advice about future careers.
• Interviewing students.

• Being a good listener.
• Having excellent interpersonal skills.
• Being able to work under stressful circumstances.
• Having good communication abilities.
• Being able to work with students from different backgrounds.
• Having a true desire to help others.
• Being trustworthy.
• Having good sense of humor.
• Having organizational skills.
• Having problem-solving abilities.

Guidance Counselor job placements require applicants having a bachelor´s degree in education, social sciences, guidance counseling, or behavioral sciences. It is also recommended to have a master´s degree related to those mentioned areas in order to maximize job opportunities. Some employers require candidates having training and advanced education in group dynamics, human behavioral courses, consultive methods in the school, guidance services, among other areas. Other route to become a guidance counselor is to have a licensure as a teacher and then complete a master´s program in school counseling.