Career Counselling in Poland

Agnieszka Madej

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

My work experience in multinational environment

• over 10 years in Contract Adminstration ( HR and payroll outsourcing company)
• over 10 years in British - Polish Chamber of Commerce
• 3 years in hospitality industry (Best Western and Holiday Inn)
• 5 years in Erasmus+ Program (student and staff mobilities)
• 3 years – Career Advisor

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

Since September 1, 2019, all educational institutions (excluding art schools) are statutorily required to conduct career guidance activities at all stages of school education. 

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Legal Regulation of the Minister of National Education of February 12, 2019 on career counselling (ROZPORZĄDZENIE MEN z dnia 12 lutego 2019 r. w sprawie doradztwa zawodowego)

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

Who Receives Career Guidance

Career guidance is mandatory at all stages of education, from preschool to adult education:

• Preschool & kindergarten – pre-orientation - basic awareness of jobs and self-discovery.
• Primary schools (grades I–VI) – learning about interests, strengths, and simple professions.
• Primary schools (grades VII–VIII) – deeper self-analysis, understanding career choices, and learning about the labor market.
• Secondary schools (general, vocational, technical, and post-secondary) – detailed career planning, job market preparation, and lifelong learning.

Each level has its own program content (listed in annexes to the regulation).

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

How Career Guidance Is Delivered

Career guidance can take place through:

• Regular compulsory lessons (e.g., general education or vocational subjects).
• Special career guidance lessons (for grades VII–VIII and secondary schools).
• Homeroom teacher sessions.
• Workshops, projects, and meetings with parents.
• Study visits to workplaces, vocational schools, or training centers.

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

How Career Guidance Is Delivered

Each school must:

• Create a career guidance program every school year (by September 30).
• The program should describe topics, methods, responsible staff, timetable, and external partners.
• The program is developed by the career counselor (or designated teacher) and approved by the school director after consulting teachers

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

Tasks of a School Career Counselor

The career counselor is responsible for:

• Assessing students’ needs for career guidance.
• Conducting career guidance classes.
• Preparing and coordinating the school’s career guidance program.
• Supporting teachers, psychologists, and parents in career guidance activities.
• Collecting and sharing up-to-date career and education information.
• Helping students with self-assessment, decision-making, and career planning.

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

Cooperation with External Partners

Schools may cooperate with:

• Employers, employer organizations, chambers of commerce.
• Trade associations and professional bodies.
• Vocational schools, labor market institutions, and training centers.
• Career counseling centers and psychological support services.
• This cooperation can include study visits, workshops, or joint projects.

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

Students’ Records

Participation in career guidance classes is not recorded on school certificates or diplomas but is obligatory.

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How to become a school counselor� in Poland?�

To become a career counselor in Poland, you must complete higher education (a master’s or bachelor’s degree) in career counseling, pedagogy, or psychology, or postgraduate studies in the field of career counseling along with teacher training.

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Associations for school counselor �in Poland

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1. The main association dealing with career counseling is the Association of School and Vocational Counselors of the Republic of Poland (SDSiZ), link - https://sdsiz.com.pl/o-nas/

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• National Career Guidance Forum (NCGF), link - https://www.nfdk.pl/

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• New initiative - Association of Timeless Career Counselors, link - https://ponadczasowi.org/

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Career Counselling in schools in Poland

New regulations:

Starting from the 2025/2026 school year the career counselor will be recognized as a specialist alongside the pedagogue, special pedagogue, psychologist, speech therapist, and educational therapist. As a result, the classes conducted by the career counselor will be included in the number of specialist positions that a school is required to provide, depending on the number of students.

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Competencies of the school counselor

• Soft Skills:�A school counselor should develop qualities such as empathy, patience, the ability to listen attentively, communication, and responsibility, which are essential for working with people.
• Knowledge of the Labor Market:�He/She must continuously follow changes in the labor market, understand different industries and job profiles, in order to provide effective guidance.
• Practical Skills:�Learn how to conduct career competency tests, interpret their results, and understand the process of choosing a career path.
• Counselor`s mindset:

Continuous and effective learning – the power of adaptation, creativity –

thinking outside the box, entrepreneurship – your inner leader.

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

Career guidance takes place through:

• Regular compulsory lessons (10 hours per class in grade 2 secondary school and grade 3 technical secondary school)
• CEL PRACA. JAK JĄ ZNALEŹĆ. PORADNIK, Joanna Sawionek
• Study visits to WSB MERITO UNIVERSITY and other training centers, eg. Career Counselling Centre at Voivodeship Labor Office in Wrocław
• EU project “Development of Vocational Education at TEB Education Technical Secondary School in Wrocław” No. FEDS.08.01-IZ.00-0023/23
• ERASMUS+ project 2024-1-PL01-KA121-VET-000215134
• ROBOKLOCKI - LABgeneral project
• Promotional activities during Pol`and`Rock Festival

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

What do we do during 10 hours of compulsary lessons?

Analyze students` personal resources (interests, talents, abilities, skills, professional predispositions) in the context of career planning - https://test.wybierz-zawod.eu/

Develop soft skills (e.g. workshops on communications skills, time management, working in a team)

Analyze information about the local, regional, national, and European labor markets and the rules governing them in the context of career choices

https://mapakarier.org/

Prepare their CV and roleplay job interviews in English ( EUROPASS CV - https://europa.eu/europass/eportfolio/screen/cv-editor?lang=pl and conversational cards Lets talk – Job Interview by EIRU

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

CEL PRACA. JAK JĄ ZNALEŹĆ. PORADNIK, Joanna Sawionek

E-book on how to find a job in TEB School Digital Library

file:///C:/Users/a.madej/OneDrive%20-%20Wy%C5%BCsza%20Szko%C5%82a%20Prawa/Pulpit/Doradztwo%20zawodowe/Technikum%20_lekcje/Cel-praca_wyd_II_TEB.pdf

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

Study visits to WSB MERITO UNIVERSITY – school offer and workshops, eg in VR room https://youtu.be/d_ay8PGSrSc

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Cooperation with Career Counselling Centre at Voivodeship Labor Office in Wrocław - game Chłopska Szkoła Biznesu, https://csb.mik.krakow.pl/pl/

• The main task of the participants in the game is to accumulate as much capital as possible. A player’s success depends not only on the ability to manage available resources but also on cooperation with other participants.
• Players take on the roles of weavers, blacksmiths, and bakers, and engage in a simulation of real market mechanisms – they produce goods, trade with other players at the fair, and gather resources necessary to carry out trade expeditions to selected European cities.

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

EU project “Development of Vocational Education at TEB Education Technical Secondary School in Wrocław” No. FEDS.08.01-IZ.00-0023/23 untill 30 Septemeber 2026 for 90 students and 12 teachers

1. vocational trainings on AI, 3D printing, Microtiks, app programming on IPhones
2. paid interships for students in Lower Silesia companies
3. individual career counselling – students set personal goals, tasks, and actions in the context of career planning and prepare an individual action plan
4. New equipment for school labs, eg. MacBooks, 3D printers and career counselling office

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

ERASMUS+ project 2024-1-PL01-KA121-VET-000215134

• Cultural and language workshops before mobilities
• One-month interships with foreign companies (Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Spain, Ireland, Italy)

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

Cooperation with ROBOKLOCKI - LABgeneral project

Workshops and investment in the personal and professional development of young people. What does the labor market look like, how to prepare for entering it, and which competencies should be strengthened or developed?

Partners –KGHM Cuprum, NOKIA, Wrocławski Park Technologiczny, SPJ MEDIA, and others

• SEASON 1 (consists of 3 parts):�Introduction to teamwork communication, learning about innovative technologies, and a visit to a television studio.
• SEASON 2 (consists of 3 parts):�Competencies and responsibilities
• SEASON 3 (consists of 3 parts):�Leader / leadership role, learning how to give and receive feedback.
• SEASON 4 (consists of 3 parts):�Own micro-project.

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Career Counselling in TEB Edukacja

Promotional activities during Pol`and`Rock Festival

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https://tebedukacja-my.sharepoint.com/personal/jskarbecka_teb-edukacja_pl/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fjskarbecka%5Fteb%2Dedukacja%5Fpl%2FDocuments%2FFESTIWALE%202025%2FZdj%C4%99cia%2FWszystkie%2FDoradcy%2FTEB%20Polandrock%202025%20Full%20Interview%2016%5F9%20v1%2Emp4&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJPbmVEcml2ZUZvckJ1c2luZXNzIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXciLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJNeUZpbGVzTGlua0NvcHkifX0&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E11a858f8%2Dc3b6%2D48b5%2D8da8%2D936d60278ea4&ct=1756367306130&or=OWA%2DNT%2DMail&cid=35810ed1%2Dcda5%2De700%2Daaae%2Ddb2a79c9400f&ga=1

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The most important challenges for school counselors in technical schools in Poland�

• Adapting to labor market changes
• The Polish and European labor markets are evolving very quickly (automation, digitalization, green jobs). Counselors must constantly update their knowledge about new professions, competencies in demand, and future job trends. Examples of new jobs in IT - AI Prompt Engineer, UX/UI designer
• Matching students’ skills with employer needs
• Technical schools prepare students for specific professions, but sometimes the curriculum does not fully align with what companies actually require. Counselors need to help bridge this gap by advising on extra courses, certifications, or practical training.
• Limited resources and time
• In many schools, career counseling is often only a part-time function or shared with other responsibilities (like teaching). This limits the time a counselor can devote to each student.
• Motivation and awareness of students
• Many teenagers in technical schools may not yet have a clear vision of their career path. Counselors face the challenge of motivating them, showing practical benefits, and helping them recognize their strengths and weaknesses.

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The most important challenges for school counselors in technical schools in Poland

• Soft skills development
• Employers often report that young people have technical knowledge but lack communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Counselors must emphasize these “21st-century skills” in their guidance.
• Cooperation with employers and institutions
• Effective career counseling requires strong ties with local companies, labor offices, and universities. Building and maintaining such partnerships can be difficult but is crucial for offering internships and real job opportunities.
• Balancing aspirations and reality
• Some students may have unrealistic career expectations. Counselors must help them plan achievable paths without discouraging ambition, combining career dreams with realistic steps.
• Supporting vulnerable students
• Technical schools often have diverse student groups, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Counselors need to provide extra support so that all students have equal chances on the labor market.

In short, the main challenge is connecting students’ education with the fast-changing labor market while also developing their soft skills and motivation.

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Educational Ghettos and Vicious Circles

• "Educational ghettos" are poorly funded schools, usually attended by minority and low-income students. These schools often have strict punishments, too much focus on tests, and not enough resources. This makes it harder for students to succeed and can even push some toward the prison system.
• The term comes from the idea of ghettos as separated areas. In education, it means an ongoing cycle of unfairness where disadvantaged students are not given the good education they need to improve their future.

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Educational Ghettos and Vicious Circles

TEB Edukacja secondary schools and technical schools provide quality education:

1. sufficient resourses – constant equipping school labs and trainings for teachers
2. extra courses for students sponsored by EU founds or partners
3. vocational and secondary school exam results
4. posibility to change classes and vocation (after one year)
5. KKZ – posibility to get another vocation
6. getting to know the practical sides of the job – work placements and interships

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.