How to cope as a counsellor with no formal training

When I began as a career and college guidance counsellor in Kazakhstan, I faced a challenge that felt overwhelming: there was no formal education and training pathway or structured preparation for the role. 

Like many counsellors in my country and across other regions, I entered this profession without a degree in counselling, without mentorship and without a clear road map. What made it even harder was the enormous workload placed on a single counsellor – I was responsible for everything from career guidance to university applications, exam preparation, extracurricular planning and documentation.

Looking back, this challenge shaped my entire counselling philosophy. By sharing my experience, I hope I can help new counsellors navigate their first years with more confidence, clarity and support.

Challenge 1: Entering the profession with no formal training

In Kazakhstan, it is still common practice for schools to assign someone to the counselling role simply because someone has to do it. 

When I was hired, I had no formal education in counselling. My only related experience was working with university students who were transferring to partner institutions. Although that field is very different, it gave me one advantage: I could talk to students honestly about what university life was like, the challenges they might face and the opportunities available once they graduated.

However, I quickly realised that high school counselling was completely different, requiring knowledge of:

• Career exploration
• Application systems, such as CommonApp
• Recommendation letters
• Portfolio development
• University research and admissions criteria
• Psychosocial support and student well-being.

There was no degree programme, no national standard and very few trained mentors. I learned almost everything by doing – and it was slow, stressful learning.

This is how new counsellors can overcome this:

1. Invest in training early

Although Kazakhstan now offers short-term government courses in career guidance, many of them are theoretical and superficial. However, the landscape is improving. There are more agencies and organisations offering practical training, and online resources have become invaluable.

For example, I relied on:

• THE CAP for structured, global best practices
• College Essay Guy for guidance on personal statements
• College Board for CommonApp processes and recommendation letters. 

2. Seek mentorship

Reach out to practising counsellors locally and internationally. Most are willing to share templates, ideas and advice. Mentorship accelerates learning and reduces mistakes.

3. Build knowledge through online courses and guides

There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Webinars, university counsellor networks, admissions platforms and professional communities offer rich guidance that didn’t exist when I started out.

Challenge 2: Managing an overwhelming workload alone

In Kazakhstan, a single counsellor often supports the entire school. My workload included:

• Career guidance
• Portfolio and extracurricular planning
• University applications (local and international)
• SAT, IELTS and UNT guidance
• Transcript preparation
• Recommendation letters
• Parent meetings
• Meeting university reps
• Communicating with alumni.

With little experience, I worked from 8am until 9pm or 10pm every day. It was exhausting and at times discouraging. The pressure to know everything made the job feel impossible.

How new counsellors can overcome this:

1. Share responsibilities across the school 

You don’t have to write every recommendation letter. If you are new and don’t know the student well, ask teachers, class curators and administrators to help. 

Your role can shift to guiding structure and quality, rather than writing every letter yourself.

2. Delegate administrative tasks 

Transcripts, certificates and activity records can be drafted by class curators, students and school office staff. You simply review and approve.

3. Use alumni as mentors 

Current students value real stories. I regularly invite alumni to speak to juniors (year 12), share application experiences and offer mentoring. It builds community and reduces the counsellor’s workload.

4. Engage with university representatives

Instead of one-to-one student meetings, organise group sessions, online or in-person. Students get direct information, and you save hours of time.

5. Train teachers and curators

Share basic admissions timelines and requirements with teachers, so they can reinforce information during class hours. This creates a supportive ecosystem, rather than a one-person system.

6. Teach students key skills 

One of the most effective strategies I learned was empowering students to take ownership of their application process. I now teach students:

Email ethics: professional tone, clear subject lines, respectful communication with university reps

Time management: tracking deadlines, planning submissions, balancing exams and applications

Research skills: how to search for programmes, scholarships and requirements

How to navigate university websites: locating entry criteria, deadlines, course structures and contacts.

These skills not only prepare students for university life but reduce repetitive questions and administrative pressure on the counsellor.

Starting without training is difficult but is not a disadvantage. It builds resilience, empathy and creativity. The key is to learn continuously, ask for help and build up networks. 

And, most importantly, remember this: you are not alone. The global counselling community is growing, sharing and learning together. By supporting each other, we ensure that every student – regardless of country or system – receives high-quality guidance.

And that, in the end, is what makes this work meaningful.