Careers Guidance Counsellor - Student Pathways

Gems Education UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 112,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMS Education is seeking a Careers Guidance Counsellor for the Student Pathways program in Dubai. The role focuses on helping students navigate university options, training paths and future careers through individual guidance and workshops.

You will work with universities, employers and educators to create practical pathways and provide employability preparation, CV/resume support, and interview coaching. Strong communication and group facilitation skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work or a closely related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience in careers guidance, counselling or student advising.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to run workshops for groups.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one and group careers guidance to students considering university, training, or employment.
• Identify educational requirements and create tailored academic plans.
• Lead career planning workshops and labour market information sessions.
• Engage with universities, employers and education providers to broaden pathway options.
• Support inclusivity by assisting learners with disabilities, language or cultural barriers.

Skills

Careers guidance

Student counselling

Career planning

Career development

University guidance

Higher education pathways

Career assessments

Student aptitude assessment

Career decision-making

Labour market information

University admissions support

Employability development

CV & résumé prep

Interview preparation

Career portfolio development

Job search strategies

Work experience placements

Employer engagement

University partnerships

Career workshops

Group facilitation

Individual student guidance

Special needs career support

Student referral

Career programme planning

Presentation skills

Student records management

Education pathway planning

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related discipline

Career development certification/qualification (desirable)

Job description

Careers Guidance Counsellor - Student Pathways Job Snapshot Role: Careers Guidance Counsellor - Student Pathways Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Education Function: Academic Admissions Advising Experience: Relevant careers guidance, counselling or student advisory experience Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview Careers Guidance Counsellor - Student Pathways in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a January 2027 Education opportunity for an experienced student guidance professional who can help young people make informed decisions about university, employment, training, and long-term career development. GEMS Education is seeking a counsellor who can combine individual guidance, career assessment, labour market awareness, university engagement, employability preparation, and external partnerships to help students build realistic pathways from school into higher education and future careers.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Education Function: Academic Admissions Advising Salary: 10000-16000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context The Careers Guidance Counsellor will help students understand how their interests, strengths, values, academic choices, and personal ambitions connect with university programmes and employment opportunities. The role requires thoughtful guidance rather than simply providing information, helping each student develop a practical and achievable pathway based on individual circumstances. Working closely with universities, employers, educational providers, community organisations, and school colleagues, the counsellor will broaden students ' exposure to study and career options. Particular attention will also be given to learners whose disability, language background, cultural circumstances, or other needs may influence access to further education or employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group careers guidance to students considering university, vocational training, employment, and other post-school pathways.
• Help students identify educational requirements associated with preferred occupations and develop appropriate academic or training plans.
• Conduct career planning and career decision-making workshops that build confidence and informed choice.
• Guide students in recognising personal interests, values, abilities, aptitudes, lifestyle preferences, and strengths and relating these characteristics to possible careers.
• Use appropriate career assessment tools to support structured exploration of occupations, university programmes, and professional pathways.
• Explain tertiary education options and help students understand how school subject choices can influence future study and employment opportunities.
• Maintain current knowledge of labour market trends and provide students with realistic information about occupations, skills demand, and employment prospects.
• Deliver workshops on CV and résumé preparation, career portfolios, interview techniques, job-search strategies, and professional presentation.
• Support students in developing employability skills and preparing appropriately for work experience opportunities.
• Build relationships with local and international universities and educational institutions to increase access to admissions information, programmes, events, and student support.
• Coordinate with employers, businesses, agencies, and community organisations involved in career development and workplace learning.
• Identify work experience and placement opportunities and assist students in preparing for engagement with potential employers.
• Plan and deliver careers fairs, university engagement activities, employer presentations, career workshops, and related school programmes.
• Support students with disabilities, additional needs, cultural differences, or language barriers that may affect education or employment planning.
• Refer students to appropriate internal or external specialists when their needs require additional academic, personal, or professional support.
• Maintain accurate and confidential student guidance records, career plans, placement information, and programme documentation.
• Monitor student participation and outcomes to help evaluate and improve careers and employment-related programmes.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, counsellors, leadership teams, universities, employers, and external agencies to strengthen student pathways.
• Ensure guidance remains objective, current, inclusive, and focused on the individual student 's aspirations and circumstances.

Ideal Profile

Candidates should hold at least a bachelor 's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or another closely related discipline. A certificate, diploma, or degree in career development is highly desirable. Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant education and practical careers guidance experience may also be suitable. The successful professional will demonstrate a genuine interest in working with students from diverse backgrounds and the patience to listen carefully without imposing personal preferences on career decisions. Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills are required, together with the ability to facilitate workshops for groups of approximately eight to 20 participants. Strong organisation and planning skills will be essential for managing student appointments, careers programmes, university engagement, employer partnerships, events, assessments, and administrative records. Candidates should also be comfortable compiling information, interpreting career and education resources, consulting with different stakeholders, and developing practical solutions tailored to individual student needs.

Skills Set

• Careers guidance
• Student counselling
• Career planning
• Career development
• University guidance
• Higher education pathways
• Career assessments
• Student aptitude assessment
• Career decision-making
• Labour market information
• University admissions support
• Employability development
• CV and résumé preparation
• Interview preparation
• Career portfolio development
• Job search strategies
• Work experience placements
• Employer engagement
• University partnerships
• Career workshops
• Group facilitation
• Individual student guidance
• Special needs career support
• Student referral
• Career programme planning
• Presentation skills
• Student records management
• Education pathway planning
• Stakeholder coordination

Why Join Us

This position offers the opportunity to shape how students connect academic learning with university choices, emerging occupations, and real-world career opportunities. At GEMS School of Research and Innovation, careers guidance can draw on a learning environment already focused on technology, research, future skills, university engagement, and industry relevance. The role provides considerable scope to build meaningful partnerships with universities, employers, and professional organisations while helping students develop realistic pathways suited to rapidly evolving education and employment markets. For a careers professional interested in combining counselling, higher education guidance, employability development, labour market knowledge, and programme design, the position offers a strong platform for professional growth within Dubai 's established Education sector and the wider GEMS network.

About the Company

GEMS Education is a long-established international education provider with a substantial presence in Dubai and across the United Arab Emirates. GEMS School of Research and Innovation reflects the group 's future-focused approach by combining academic learning with technology, research, innovation, university engagement, and industry-connected experiences. The school aims to prepare students not only for academic success but also for informed decisions about higher education, employment, and the changing world of work.