Financial Counselors

Skills

People in this career need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Express ideas clearly when speaking or writing.

Reason and Problem Solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Identify problems and review information. Develop, review, and apply solutions.
• Develop rules or follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Think of new ideas or original and creative ways to solve problems.

Use Math and Science

• Use math skills to solve problems.

Manage Oneself, People, Time and Things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with People

• Look for ways to help people.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Use several methods to learn or teach others how to do something.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Be aware of others' reactions and change behavior in relation to them.

Knowledge

People in this career need knowledge in the following areas:

• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
• Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of advertising and selling products and services.
• Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of producing, supplying, and using goods and services. Also includes knowledge of the methods for keeping business records.
• English Language: Knowledge of the meaning, spelling, and use of the English language.
• Mathematics: Knowledge of the rules and uses of numbers. Areas of knowledge include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and statistics.
• Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of computer hardware and software.

Interests

People in this career are people who tend to:

• Consider independence important. They like to make decisions and try out ideas on their own. They prefer jobs where they can plan their work with little supervision.
• Consider achievement important. They like to see the results of their work and to use their strongest abilities. They like to get a feeling of accomplishment from their work.
• Consider good working conditions important. They like jobs offering steady employment and good pay. They want employment that fits their individual work style. They may prefer doing a variety of tasks, working alone, or being busy all the time.
• Consider recognition important. They like to work in jobs which have opportunities for them to advance, be recognized for their work, and direct and instruct others. They usually prefer jobs in which they are looked up to by others.
• Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
• Have enterprising interests. They like work activities that involve starting up and carrying out projects, especially in business. They like to lead and persuade others, make decisions, and take risks for profit.
• Have conventional interests. They like work activities that follow set procedures, routines, and standards. They like to work with data and detail. They prefer working where there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• Have social interests. They like work activities that assist others and promote learning and personal development. They like to communicate with others: to teach, give advice, help, or otherwise be of service to others.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.