Career Guidance Theories
Career Guidance Theories
Existing career theories do not adequately account for the uncertain and rapidly changing occupational structure, nor do they address the needs of peripheral and external workers. Even for core workers, there is a decline in identifiable and predictable career routes. Established paths and traditional scripts are dissolving. Rather than developing a stable life based on secure employment, most workers today must maintain flexible employability through lifelong learning or, as some say, “learn for a living”. (Savickas, 2011:10)
Ref: Savickas, M.L. (2011) Career Counselling, Washington DC: APA
Drawing on the formative assessment, critique the Savickas’ quote. What are the strengths and limitations of established theoretical models in the 21st Century. What other career theories can practitioners integrate into their approach in a post-modern world? How do career construction theories fit with the need to be flexible, resilient and ‘realistic’ in a recession? Are there cultural questions that need exploring with regard to career construction theories? Develop your response further by offering a critical evaluation of one ‘constructivist’ approach and present this as an illustrative case study: in order to indicate how the approach might be used in practice.
The continual relevance of the key career theories developed during the twentieth century is the subject of much debate within the career guidance profession. The ongoing value of these theories is often questioned by careers professionals as they seek to provide a beneficial service to their clients. Law (1996) highlights the fact that these theories were developed within highly specific cultural settings, at specific times, and as a direct response to specific client needs. While these theories may have been relevant at the time at which they were developed, life in the twenty-first century is riddled with new challenges such as an uncertain economic climate and
Existing career theories do not adequately account for the uncertain and rapidly changing occupational structure, nor do they address the needs of peripheral and external workers. Even for core workers, there is a decline in identifiable and predictable career routes. Established paths and traditional scripts are dissolving. Rather than developing a stable life based on secure employment, most workers today must maintain flexible employability through lifelong learning or, as some say, “learn for a living”. (Savickas, 2011:10)
Ref: Savickas, M.L. (2011) Career Counselling, Washington DC: APA
Drawing on the formative assessment, critique the Savickas’ quote. What are the strengths and limitations of established theoretical models in the 21st Century. What other career theories can practitioners integrate into their approach in a post-modern world? How do career construction theories fit with the need to be flexible, resilient and ‘realistic’ in a recession? Are there cultural questions that need exploring with regard to career construction theories? Develop your response further by offering a critical evaluation of one ‘constructivist’ approach and present this as an illustrative case study: in order to indicate how the approach might be used in practice.
The continual relevance of the key career theories developed during the twentieth century is the subject of much debate within the career guidance profession. The ongoing value of these theories is often questioned by careers professionals as they seek to provide a beneficial service to their clients. Law (1996) highlights the fact that these theories were developed within highly specific cultural settings, at specific times, and as a direct response to specific client needs. While these theories may have been relevant at the time at which they were developed, life in the twenty-first century is riddled with new challenges such as an uncertain economic climate and
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