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JOB REPORT / 21-1012 · 35 TASKS

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors.

Can AI do the work of Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

  • Provide students with information on topics
  • Instruct individuals in career development techniques
  • Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by…

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors work. It covers the 30 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

30 of 35 tasks reviewed

This job has 35 core tasks. We went through 30 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

  1. TASK 01

    Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.

    AI DOES

    Searches and summarizes college programs, deadlines, financial aid options, and admission requirements instantly

    YOU DO

    Listen to each student's goals and fears, then turn information into a real plan that fits their life

  2. TASK 02

    Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.

    AI DOES

    Drafts resume feedback, generates interview questions, and suggests job search steps

    YOU DO

    Read the student's confidence, goals, and life situation to give advice that truly fits them

  3. TASK 03

    Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.

    AI DOES

    Auto-fills routine fields, flags missing info, and formats records to meet policy rules

    YOU DO

    Verify sensitive details, make judgment calls, and stay legally responsible for every record

  4. TASK 04

    Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.

    AI DOES

    Flags missing credits, checks requirement checklists, and drafts recommendation letter templates

    YOU DO

    Add personal stories, vouch authentically for the student, and make final judgment calls

  5. TASK 05

    Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.

    AI DOES

    Matches student interests and test scores to degree program options and surfaces relevant choices fast

    YOU DO

    Listen to the full student story and weigh personal, emotional, and life factors no form can capture

  6. TASK 06

    Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.

    AI DOES

    Drafts event plans, writes promotional flyers, and suggests program formats based on best practices

    YOU DO

    Build trust with students, employers, and community partners to make events actually happen

  7. TASK 07

    Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.

    AI DOES

    Scores assessments, summarizes records, and surfaces patterns across data points

    YOU DO

    Listen deeply in interviews and connect test results to the whole person

  8. TASK 08

    Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.

    AI DOES

    Pulls up relevant services, flags gaps in a client's profile, and drafts referral summaries

    YOU DO

    Listen closely to each person's story and decide what they truly need

  9. TASK 09

    Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.

    AI DOES

    Drafts schedules, writes welcome materials, suggests icebreaker activities, and summarizes common student concerns

    YOU DO

    Read the room, build real trust, and respond to students' emotions in the moment

  10. TASK 10

    Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.

    AI DOES

    Drafts scripts, slide decks, and FAQs for presentations

    YOU DO

    Show up in person and connect with the audience authentically

  11. TASK 11

    Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.

    AI DOES

    Drafts schedule options, flags conflicts, and summarizes program data

    YOU DO

    Build trust with staff and make judgment calls that fit your school's real needs

  12. TASK 12

    Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.

    AI DOES

    Searches job databases, flags matching openings, and drafts referral letters

    YOU DO

    Judge the whole person — their confidence, readiness, and fit — before making a referral

  13. TASK 13

    Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment.

    AI DOES

    Suggests interview questions, drafts intake forms, and summarizes client notes

    YOU DO

    Build real trust and read emotional signals during the live conversation

  14. TASK 14

    Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.

    AI DOES

    Drafts emails, analyzes enrollment trends, and suggests outreach strategies

    YOU DO

    Show up, connect personally, and read each student's unique situation

  15. TASK 15

    Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.

    AI DOES

    Suggests resources, drafts session notes, and flags patterns in student data

    YOU DO

    Build real trust and read the full human in front of you

  16. TASK 16

    Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.

    AI DOES

    Suggests personalized learning resources, tracks student progress, and drafts motivational messages

    YOU DO

    Build the real relationship and emotional trust that makes students actually listen and try harder

  17. TASK 17

    Refer students to outside counseling services.

    AI DOES

    Searches for local counseling services, summarizes options, and drafts referral letters

    YOU DO

    Read the room, build rapport, and decide what each student truly needs

  18. TASK 18

    Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.

    AI DOES

    Summarizes student progress data, drafts talking points, and flags patterns across grades or behavior reports

    YOU DO

    Lead the actual conversation, read the room, and build trust with parents and staff

  19. TASK 19

    Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.

    AI DOES

    Drafts outreach emails, researches employer contacts, and tracks follow-ups

    YOU DO

    Show up, build trust, and negotiate real deals with real people

  20. TASK 20SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.

    AI DOES

    Compiles data and generates draft reports automatically

    YOU DO

    Interpret patterns and add context

    About this analysis

    51% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

  21. TASK 21

    Establish and supervise peer-counseling and peer-tutoring programs.

    AI DOES

    Drafts program materials, schedules, training guides, and tracks student progress data

    YOU DO

    Watch how students interact, spot problems early, and build trust with young people

  22. TASK 22SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.

    AI DOES

    Generates job lists and career path suggestions

    YOU DO

    Know each student's real strengths and goals

    About this analysis

    47% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

  23. TASK 23

    Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.

    AI DOES

    Drafts lesson plans, finds research-backed program materials, and suggests age-appropriate activities

    YOU DO

    Show up in person, build trust with students, and read the room to respond to real emotions

  24. TASK 24

    Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.

    AI DOES

    Drafts policy language, summarizes rules, and flags inconsistencies in existing guidelines

    YOU DO

    Make the final call on consequences and build trust with students face-to-face

  25. TASK 25

    Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.

    AI DOES

    Surfaces risk-factor checklists, suggests referral resources, and drafts follow-up notes

    YOU DO

    Trust your gut, read the room, and own the mandated-reporter decision

  26. TASK 26

    Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.

    AI DOES

    Drafts follow-up questions, summarizes past session notes, and flags students who haven't been contacted

    YOU DO

    Build trust, read emotions, and respond to what the student truly needs in the moment

  27. TASK 27

    Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.

    AI DOES

    Drafts training materials, schedules, and feedback templates

    YOU DO

    Build trust and read how people are actually growing

  28. TASK 28SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.

    AI DOES

    Gathers career data and creates summary reports

    YOU DO

    Connect the dots to each person's story

    About this analysis

    40% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

  29. TASK 29SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.

    AI DOES

    Pulls course requirements and career path data

    YOU DO

    Listen deeply and guide each student's choices

    About this analysis

    31% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

  30. TASK 30SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.

    AI DOES

    Creates lesson plans and interactive presentation materials

    YOU DO

    Connect with students and adapt in real time

    About this analysis

    0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

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Data sources and attribution

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. rtwoai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025). Job outlook is from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–34. BLS data are in the public domain. BLS has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

Task collaboration data is from the Anthropic Economic Index, release 2025-03-27, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Anthropic has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

How we describe AI use in each task is our own characterization, not a measurement of whether AI can replace this job. Microsoft note that their metrics "should not be misconstrued or misrepresented as measuring the ability of AI to replace jobs," and that there is more to an occupation than the sum of its tasks.

Can AI do the work of Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors? — rtwoai