Experience and qualifications
Led by Anil Velpula, a certified career counsellor with more than 20 years of corporate, training and mentoring experience. About Anil Velpula.
Compare like with like
Ten things to check before you choose
| Check | What to ask | A good sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Experience | How long have you counselled students or professionals at this stage? | Specific, relevant experience, not just years |
| 2. Qualifications | What are you certified in? | Recognised career counselling credentials they can name |
| 3. Method | What happens from first call to final plan? | A clear, step-by-step process |
| 4. Assessment quality | Which assessment, and does it change by age? | Multi-dimensional and matched to the student’s stage |
| 5. Personalisation | How is my child’s situation taken into account? | Questions about the student before any recommendation |
| 6. Interpretation | Who explains the report, and for how long? | One-to-one time, with parents welcome |
| 7. Career knowledge | How do you know what these careers involve? | Real knowledge of courses, exams and workplaces |
| 8. Transparency | What is included, and are there extra charges? | Clear answers before you pay |
| 9. Roadmap | What will we leave with? | Written next steps, not just a report |
| 10. Follow-up | Can we ask questions later? | Support during the decision period |
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Also read reviews and, if possible, speak to a family who used the counsellor. Ask to see a sample report.
Be careful
Red flags
- Promises of guaranteed admission, jobs, salaries or visas
- One career name after a short test
- Advice that always ends at one college, coaching centre or agent
- Pressure to pay before your questions are answered
- No willingness to explain how a recommendation was reached
- “Top 10 counsellor” rankings the counsellor wrote about themselves
Price is not the test
Cheapest is rarely the best value
A low-cost test with no interpretation and an expensive package with no clear method can both disappoint. Compare what is included. Our page on career counselling fees explains the difference.
Our answers to the checklist
How Career Captain works
Judge us by the same ten points.
Method and assessment
A free first conversation, then an assessment built for the person’s stage (school, degree or working life), then a one-to-one counselling discussion.
Transparency and follow-up
Fees and what is included are explained before you pay. Sample reports are available on request, and follow-up questions can be sent on WhatsApp.
Questions families ask
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best career counsellor?
There is no single best career counsellor for everyone. Look for a qualified counsellor with a clear method, an age-matched assessment, one-to-one interpretation and no commission ties. Use the ten-point checklist on this page to compare.
Which career counselor is best for Class 10 or Class 12 students?
One who has experience with that stage, understands the stream and course options in your state, and involves both the student and parents. Ask them the questions on this page.
Should I trust online “top 10 career counsellors” lists?
Be cautious. Many are paid listings or written by the counsellors themselves. Reviews from real families and a transparent process are better guides.
Can I speak to Career Captain before deciding?
Yes. The first 15-minute conversation is free. Ask us anything on this checklist.
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Related guidance
Put us to the test
Send us any of these ten questions on WhatsApp.