Unpacking Career Development Theory

1. UnpackingCareer Development Theory Mary McMahon The University of Queensland Mark Watson Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University CEAV Professional Development Webinar 21 March 2012

2. Unpacking Career Development Theory Introductory Comments Theories in General Applying Theory

3. Unpacking Career Development Theory Introductory Comments

4. Unpacking Career Development Theory “The field is over-abundant with theories that analyse career development from a particular perspective or generic counselling approaches that are applied to careers” (Athanasou & Van Esbroeck, 2008, p. 707)

5. Unpacking Career Development Theory The biggest concern voiced by practitioners is that career development theories explain some pieces of vocational behavior, but no client ever walks into an office with just the exact piece explained by the theory. (Swanson & Fouad, 1999, p. 8)

6. Unpacking Career Development Theory Theories in General

7. Unpacking Career Development Theory Where it all began: Choosing a vocation Self-knowledge World of work knowledge “true reasoning on the relations of these two groups of facts” (Parsons, 1909, p. 5)

8. Unpacking Career Development Theory Categories of theories Theories of content e.g., theory of vocational personalities and work environments (Holland, 1997) ; values based approach (Brown, 2002) Theories of process e.g., Super’s (1990) lifespan life-space approach; Gottfredson’s (1984) theory of circumscription and compromise Theories of content and process e.g., social learning theory of career development (Mitchell & Krumboltz, 1996); Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent, 2005) Wider Explanations e.g., theories that account for the career development of neglected groups (Astin, 1984); ecological, systems, and constructivist theories (Conyne & Cook, 2004; Patton & McMahon, 2006; Savickas, 2005)

9. Unpacking Career Development Theory Questions?

10. Unpacking Career Development Theory “Girls can be cowboys” “No they can’t” “Yes they can” “Well … they can be cowgirls then” (2 preschool boys) McMahon, M. (2007). What will I be? EQ Australia, Winter, 8-9.

11. Unpacking Career Development Theory “A bit about radio stations and stuff” “An exploding cake” (Neil, aged 9) McMahon, Watson, & Bimrose, (2010). Stories of careers, learning and identity across the lifespan: Considering the future narrative of career theory. Available: http://www.icg-uk.org/c2/uploads/ier%20paper_july%202010%20_2_.pdf

12. Unpacking Career Development Theory “The occasional lizard” (Sally, aged 10) McMahon, Watson, & Bimrose, (2010). Stories of careers, learning and identity across the lifespan: Considering the future narrative of career theory. Available: http://www.icg-uk.org/c2/uploads/ier%20paper_july%202010%20_2_.pdf

13. Unpacking Career Development Theory “I really wanted to be on stage” (Justin, aged 16) McMahon, Watson, & Bimrose, (2010). Stories of careers, learning and identity across the lifespan: Considering the future narrative of career theory. Available: http://www.icg-uk.org/c2/uploads/ier%20paper_july%202010%20_2_.pdf

14. Unpacking Career Development Theory Career development involves one’s whole life, not just occupation. As such, it concerns the whole person …More than that, it concerns him or her in the ever changing contexts of his or her life… the bonds that tie him or her to significant others … the total structure of one’s circumstances ... Self and circumstances – evolving, changing, unfolding in mutual interaction – constitute the focus and drama of career development (Wolfe & Kolb, 1980)

15. Unpacking Career Development Theory Career development is: Lifelong Individual Developmental Contextually located A learning process Career transition is NOT a moment in time

16. Unpacking Career Development Theory Questions?

17. Unpacking Career Development Theory Applying Theory

18. Unpacking Career Development Theory “So many factors affect vocational development, these factors are so interdependent and interactive, and our means of assessment are still so limited in nature, that to confine appraisal to the use of a few tests, or to an interview, or to a brief combination of these two, is to risk getting an incomplete and unbalanced picture of the person and of his prospects” (Super, 1957, p. 305)

19. Unpacking Career Development Theory A single-school approach to career counselling is becoming less common, and is likely to be undesirable (Kidd, 1996)

20. Unpacking Career Development Theory Criteria for Choosing a Theoretical Framework The Practitioner: how a theory is in line with their own views about human nature The Client: how far the theory seems to meet their clients’ needs The Situation: the practical constraints of the context within which they practice

21. Unpacking Career Development Theory Exploring Career Theory The limited choice approach Stay with one or two models, which raises the questions of which models and why The common factors approach Identify the common features from different models that seem to produce client gains

22. Unpacking Career Development Theory Exploring Career Theory Technical eclecticism Tease out the specific methods and techniques from the various models that produce client gains Theoretical integration Try to come up with your own, unique, integrative model

23. Unpacking Career Development Theory Two Basic Rules of Career Counselling Matching will be part of the process “It has been argued that we need to accept that this is soand to look more closely at these processes” (Kidd, 1996) Your client is at a certain developmental stage “Counselling techniques and methods are more effective when adapted to the client level of development” (Jepsen, 1990, p. 136)

24. Unpacking Career Development Theory Career development learning may be intentional and unintentional

25. Unpacking Career Development Theory “Just find out what happens” (Abbey, aged 16) McMahon, Watson, & Bimrose, (2010). Stories of careers, learning and identity across the lifespan: Considering the future narrative of career theory. Available: http://www.icg-uk.org/c2/uploads/ier%20paper_july%202010%20_2_.pdf

26. Unpacking Career Development Theory Intentional Career Development Learning Career education Career counselling Career information Student education and training plans

27. Unpacking Career Development Theory Intentional career development learning must be: Lifelong Individual Developmental Contextually located To achieve successful outcomes it may require: Individual intervention Systemic intervention (e.g., with family, employers)

28. Unpacking Career Development Theory Questions?

29. Unpacking Career Development Theory Resources (easy reading) McMahon, M., & Tatham, P. (2008). Career: More than just a job: Career development understandings informing myfuture (2nd ed.). Dulwich, Australia: education.au. Available: http://www.myfuture.edu.au/en/Events/Feature%20Articles/The%20booklet%20Career%20more%20than%20just%20a%20job.aspx McMahon, M., Watson, M., & Bimrose, J. (2010). Stories of careers, learning and identity across the lifespan: Considering the future narrative of career theory. Available: http://www.icg-uk.org/c2/uploads/ier%20paper_july%202010%20_2_.pdf

30. Unpacking Career Development Theory Thank you EnkosiBaie dankie marylmcmahon@uq.edu.au mark.watson@nmmu.ac.za