School Counsellor / Careers Adviser CV Example

A school counsellor / careers adviser CV should clearly show your command of individual and group counselling, careers guidance and school pastoral processes. Express the assessments you use, the preventative programmes you run and your pupil-parent engagement with concrete outcomes. Keep it one page, ATS-friendly and free of a photo or personal details.

Build your own School Counsellor / Careers Adviser CV in 5 minutes

Ready-made templates, AI content generation and tailoring to the job — start free.

Create your CV with CVLayer →

Sample School Counsellor / Careers Adviser CV

Rachel Bennett

School Counsellor / Careers Adviser

Bristol, UK

Summary

School counsellor with 7 years of experience delivering individual counselling and careers guidance in secondary schools. I manage SEND support in partnership with the SENCO and educational psychology services, and design data-informed preventative pastoral programmes.

Experience

School Counsellor · Riverside Community College

Sep 2020 – Present
  • ›Prepared the annual pastoral framework plan and ran preventative programmes covering 850 pupils.
  • ›Reduced anxiety levels among Year 13 by an average of 30% (per assessment data) through an exam-anxiety group counselling programme.
  • ›Tracked the EHCP processes of 24 SEND pupils in coordination with the SENCO and external services.

Counsellor · Oakfield Secondary School

Sep 2017 – Aug 2020
  • ›Ran careers guidance seminars for Year 9 using Holland (RIASEC) and interest-based careers assessments.
  • ›Designed a whole-school anti-bullying awareness programme and held parent information sessions.

Skills

Individual & group counsellingCareers / vocational guidancePastoral case management systemsAdministering assessments (Holland/RIASEC, interest inventories)SEND & EHCP processesCrisis interventionParent meetings & referralPreventative pastoral programme design

Education

BSc Psychology (Counselling & Guidance) · University of Bristol (2013 – 2017)

What to Highlight in a School Counsellor / Careers Adviser CV

  • ✓Name the assessments and inventories you use (Holland/RIASEC, interest inventories, wellbeing scales); avoid a generic "I ran tests".
  • ✓Highlight your SEND, EHCP and inclusion experience as a separate point; employers value it highly.
  • ✓Back preventative/developmental programmes you have run with participant numbers and measurable outcomes.
  • ✓Always include your pastoral framework planning and case-management system experience.
  • ✓Signal your grasp of safeguarding, confidentiality and ethics in the summary.

Technical Skills

  • •Pastoral case management systems
  • •Administering & interpreting assessments
  • •EHCP & SEND process management
  • •Careers guidance programmes
  • •Crisis intervention protocols
  • •Pastoral framework planning

Soft Skills

  • •Empathy
  • •Active listening
  • •Confidentiality & ethical awareness
  • •Collaboration

Common Mistakes

  • ✕Writing up programmes as a task list with no measurable outcomes.
  • ✕Glossing over SEND/EHCP and assessment experience with vague, general phrasing.
  • ✕Carrying confidential case details that cannot be shared onto your CV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which assessments should I mention on a school counsellor CV?

Name the careers/interest inventories you use (e.g. Holland/RIASEC) along with any wellbeing and attitude scales. This makes your practical competence concrete.

What should stand out when applying to independent schools?

Emphasise your number of one-to-one sessions, careers guidance and parent communication skills; independent schools value measurable pupil progress and satisfaction.

Build your own School Counsellor / Careers Adviser CV in 5 minutes

Ready-made templates, AI content generation and tailoring to the job — start free.

Create your CV with CVLayer →
→ School Counsellor / Careers Adviser Interview Questions & Answers

CV ready? Prepare for the interview next.