Career Counseling

The Employee Career Counseling Program is committed to protecting our clients’ right to privacy. Confidentiality means that, with few exceptions, information shared with your counselor will not be disclosed to anyone outside our office’s professional staff without your written permission. Your information will have no connection to your UW–Madison employee record. Your counselor may seek consultation and supervision from other professionals within the institution. Our staff may include a graduate student intern, who is supervised by a counselor and by a member of their university department’s faculty. The intern may also seek supervision from their university supervisor.

We are legally and ethically bound to break confidentiality when not doing so might result in physical harm to you or another person. We are required by law to break confidentiality if we suspect abuse or neglect of a child or of an incapacitated adult. Also, in the extremely unlikely circumstance that a court orders us to release information, Wisconsin State Law requires we do so.

To ensure confidentiality, career counseling appointments include the client and the counselor. Because this is your career and educational planning time, we do not usually include other family members or friends in our sessions. If you have reason to have another person in session, please discuss this with your counselor prior to your appointment.

If you have questions about confidentiality, other policies or procedures, or the types of services we offer, please ask us during your initial appointment.

When setting up an appointment with a career counselor, you can expect a welcoming and supportive experience. During your initial consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your career goals, concerns, and needs. Your counselor will work with you to create a personalized plan, outlining the services and strategies that will help you achieve professional success and satisfaction. Be prepared to share your background, aspirations, and any specific questions or challenges you want to address. Together, you’ll embark on a journey toward a more fulfilling career path.

• Complete the online intake at least one day before your appointment.
• Locate any career or other assessment that you may want to share with your counselor. (optional)
• Bring a current resume for reference. (optional)
• Prepare a list of questions or topics you would like to discuss.

Yes. The intake provides basic information to your counselor so they can prepare for your appointment. You can find the intake link in your appointment confirmation email.

Yes. There is an option to complete the intake as a returning client and it is a shortened version of the full intake you completed before your initial appointment. If it has been 3 or more years since your last appointment, you will be directed to complete the full version of the intake.

No. Information discussed in appointments and shared via the intake or other correspondence with your counselor will not appear in your employee record. Please see our Confidentiality Statement for additional details.

Due to limited staff availability, we are unable to provide resume and cover letter review as a stand-alone service. If this is all you need at this time, we recommend utilizing the excellent staff with Madison Writing Assistance. They offer free one-on-one assistance with many forms of writing, including job search materials.

Please fill out our presentation request form and a counselor will get back to you.

Career counseling focuses on your career development, management, and any other work-related needs. Career counseling also offers a supportive space to help navigate the complex and ever-changing world of work, enabling people to find their own solutions to a variety of job challenges.

Employee assistance office (EAO) provides “assistance with life’s challenges and offers solutions for life transitions, physical or emotional health issues, and relationship challenges.”  Services include personal counseling, workplace consultation, and well-being coaching and training.

UW–Madison Ombuds “provide faculty and staff with a confidential place to collaboratively explore complaints, clarify issues, and consider options and resources to address their concerns. They are impartial and nonaligned, working to promote fairness in the workplace.”