Finding the right person to talk to can make all the difference.

How to be effective behind the desk. When it comes time to get a little career guidance, there is no shortage of people who will claim to help you. Many times, people will call themselves a "coach" or "trainer" because they have no formal training in counseling Type "career counselor" into an Internet search engine, and you'll get everything from "career counselors" to "career coaches," from "personal consultants" to "life trainers." Many times, people will call themselves a "coach" or "trainer" because they have no formal training in counseling and must make that distinction.

How to be effective behind the desk. When it comes time to get a little career guidance, there is no shortage of people who will claim to help you. Many times, people will call themselves a "coach" or "trainer" because they have no formal training in counseling Type "career counselor" into an Internet search engine, and you'll get everything from "career counselors" to "career coaches," from "personal consultants" to "life trainers." Many times, people will call themselves a "coach" or "trainer" because they have no formal training in counseling and must make that distinction. A career coach can be a trained career counselor, but most are not. More often, they have specific training in a skill or niche, such as interviewing or coping with discrimination or glass ceilings. "Career coaches may have worked at an employment agency, or learned how to write good resumes," according to Susan Eubanks of the National Board for Certified Counselors. "There are also some who may be quite good at what they do but do not have the formal training and credentials." A career counselor has at least a Master's degree in counseling, and has additional training as a career counselor. A Nationally Certified Career Counselor (NCCC) has achieved the highest level of training in the career area, and passed an extensive examination. There are about 900 certified career counselors in the U.S. You can view career coaching and career counseling as working hand-in-hand. "I think of career counseling as more the direction-setting part of things and coaching as the execution--whether how to interview, developing networks, or how to enter an organization, how to gain and use power, or how to work as a woman in male-dominated organizations," says James Waldroop, of Waldroop Butler Associates, Cambridge, Mass. Career assistance generally costs the same as help you would receive from a regular counseling professional, anywhere from $30 to $100 an hour. The best way to locate a professional is to ask your friends and family for contacts, or check the Internet or phone book. You can also check with a local college's career planning office or with the NBCC. Pick several that seem to fit and go visit them in person. Make certain that you can schedule an initial consultation free of charge, or if a full appointment is not possible, then a 10-15 minute introductory session. Some career professionals also host group sessions, which you can locate either via the professional or by calling you local church, synagogue, YMCA or other community center. These sessions are free and have the added benefit of allowing you to learn from other jobseekers' experiences. When you meet your counselor, get answers to the following questions:: What are his/her fees? Can counseling be terminated at any time? Is payment asked only for services rendered? Can you pay by the hour and as you go? What are the details of this person's practice? Get in writing services offered and make sure you understand them and your commitment both personally and financially. What are their credentials? How long have they been in this practice? You're not trying to be snobby here; rather, you want to make certain you're getting a career coach, or a career counselor, depending on your needs. Finally, do you like this person? Do you feel a rapport and concern for your success? Unfortunately, there are those who would like to take advantage of your needs in a career search. Here are some things to avoid when searching for guidance in your career: They demand payment up front, or insist you sign on for a package deal. Although a package deal does not necessarily mean a counselor is dishonest (sometimes counselors offer packages for the client's own good, to keep them from giving up), do not comply if you believe someone is pressuring you into signing any sort of contract. They claim a 100% success rate in finding clients jobs. Even the best firms only have a success rate of around 86%. After all, they are only counselors. It is still you who must find and obtain the actual job. They refuse to let you meet them in person, to provide you with answers, references or other proof of success, or anything else you deem "sales-y" or suspicious.