Exploring the helping skills used by careers advisers: Application of the Hill Counsellor Verbal Response Mode Category System

Abstract

This article reports on a study that explores the use of the Hill Counsellor Verbal Response Mode Category System as a framework for investigating and categorising the helping skills used by career advisers. Audio-recordings of 13 career guidance interviews undertaken by six careers advisers were transcribed and then coded using the HCVRMCS. At the time that data were collected career advisers participating in the study worked for Careers Scotland and used Careers Scotland’s ‘Approach to Guidance’ (Allen and Paine, 2006) in their interviews with clients.