A good study overseas consultant is one of the most sought-after professionals in the world. And the case is especially so when it comes to higher education. Many students opting to pursue their education abroad tend to refer to an education consultant. They do so to get the best advice and make the student visa process hassle-free.
Simply putting a notice outside the office claiming to be a qualified study overseas consultant is not going to be enough. Value addition is necessary! An essential thing to remember about advising students is that they are capable of doing their own research. They can apply to the universities themselves. So why would they need the help of a professional education consultant? This where you add value and stand out. Well, there is more to it than just filling out an application form and posting it!
Here are five important attributes that can make an education consultant successful:
Be honest
A study overseas consultant who is honest with the client is much more likely to succeed than one who is not. A good education consultant always gives the client options to choose from. You may even have to encourage the client to talk to another competing education consultant to find the right one.
When people know they are free from the lack of options, their confidence grows naturally. Honesty brings loyalty and trust along with it. If in your professional opinion you feel that a student visa application may not be successful, let them know. Do not keep them waiting and lead them astray. Any education consultant who does that ends up ruining their own reputation. It becomes almost impossible to regain the clients’ trust thereafter.
Worship Efficiency
The rate at which you answer the students’ queries and resolve their issues will determine your success too. Time is a crucial factor in every business and this is no different for an education consultant. Make sure the clients receive information about the courses and updates about their application process on time. This market is highly competitive and speed can make or break the deal.
One of the reasons why a client will approach a study overseas consultant is to be more efficient with all the paperwork. This is where the training programs can help counselors navigate the priorities and manage client expectations.
Be Realistic
It is important for applicants to get the student visa but it does not just end there. Therefore, education consultant should be realistic as well as empathetic while advising them. We know some clients and their parents are quite demanding. Many people still feel that paying money will get the job done.
However, it is the responsibility of the education consultant to enlighten the clients. You should ensure that the client clearly knows the difference between what is possible and what is not. Leaving it vague will only complicate the situation further. It makes it more frustrating for the client, eventually affecting the counselor’s business negatively.
Communicate Effectively
You should have the right partner institutions onboard and maintain good relations with them. It is one of the keys to successful education counseling. Moreover, a good education consultant must sustain a positive education agency reputation with the authorities. The authorities oversee and implement immigration laws and policies.
Clarity in communication is the key to any business. It resolves issues with minimal conflict and builds trust in the individual or company. The same level of effective communication is essential while working with institutional partners. It is of no use merely having contacts on paper, if the education consultant does not communicate with them effectively.
Stay Relevant
A study overseas consultant should make it a point to stay updated with the latest changes in immigration policies. As such, they need to know about things like education portal too. If they advise the client accordingly will surely be successful. For instance, in Australia, the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act protects the rights of international students. Also, the Tuition Protection Service is a refund and placement service for international students. There are many more such policies,
Immigration laws and regulations can change over time with the economic conditions and policies of the host country. This is more frequent in countries like Australia and New Zealand due to the smaller population size. A successful study overseas consultant will ensure that they learn everything there is to know about these laws. They should be able to offer timely advice and handle adversity with ease.