Career professionals utilise various channels, methods and tools in communication and interaction.

The career professional has knowledge and understanding of

• the differences between professional interaction and informal communication
• the possibilities and limits of professional interaction in guidance
• that their orientation (see also section B3.2 Reflecting and setting goals) to the interaction and communication situation lays the foundation for a goal-oriented guidance process
• factors that either promote or limit active message reception
• the potential impact of different backgrounds of career professionals and clients (e.g. language, language register, values, culture, life experiences) on mutual communication and interpretation of the meanings of messages
• the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication
• the importance of using different types of questions throughout the guidance process

The career professional is able to

• create a multichannel, accessible, functional, and efficient guidance situation, process and environment according to the client's needs (see also section A1.4 Guidance relationship)
• act in an interactive situation where the goals of the guidance process are at the core
• creates a confidential guidance relationship and maintains it through interaction
• actively receive messages from another person or group members
• clarify spoken and written language where necessary
• form an understanding of the communication of the client or group members
• reflect on what the client or group wishes to communicate
• avoid making interpretations based on assumptions
• ensure that their verbal and non-verbal communication remains consistent
• conveys sensitivity, interest and attentiveness in individual guidance and group situations
• enhance interaction and joint knowledge formation
• promote the formation of shared understanding, as well as mutual trust and acceptance
• take into account the non-verbal communication of the client or the group and react to it accordingly
• respect the personal physical space of others and maintain the necessary distance in the interaction