Colorado Career Development Association Conference April 4 th 2014 Denver, Colorado

1. Addressing Mid-Life Career Changes and Loss of Identity by Exploring and Co-Constructing New Vocational Narratives Colorado Career Development Association Conference April 4th 2014 Denver, Colorado Kevin Glavin, PhD., Ben Wurzel MSc., Rachel Killam, MA University of Colorado Boulder

2. The New World of Work • “The future is not what it used to be” • Multiple occupational transitions • Mid-Life Career Changes • Loss of story – Loss of Identity • Work is the implementation of your self-concept (Savickas) • Work allows us to be who we want to be • Exploring and Co-Constructing New Vocational Narratives • Authoring your own story • Integrating Career Construction Theory and Technology to Author Your Story

4. The New World of Work • Statistics associated with work transitions • Between the age of 18 and 46, people have had 11.6 jobs (1978-2010) • People are much more likely to experience unemployment early in their career (18-29), than later in life (bls.gov). • 20 year tenure in a single occupation is gone, more likely to see multiple occupational transitions • Significant time unemployed later in life (30-46 and beyond) might be more stressful, confusing, disorienting

5. Exploring Interests: Why do we do what we do? Many factors drive career decisions • Family, location, $$ • Interests and values define who we are “Work is the implementation of the self-concept” (Super/Savickas) • As practitioners, we help clients implement their interests and values via work roles. We’ve traditionally done this through exploring interests and values…

6. Exploring Interests & Values • Vocational Choice and Personality Types (Holland) • Self-Directed Search (SDS) • Strong Interest Inventory • Chaos Theory of Careers (Pryor & Bright) • Collage; Mind-mapping • Career Construction Theory (Savickas) • Career Construction Interview

7. Measuring Interests: Objective Approach • Holland’s (1997) theory of Vocational Choice and Personality Types. Holland suggested: • Most people can be categorized as resembling one of 6 types (RIASEC) • Most work environments can be categorized using the same typology (RIASEC) • Match personality type to work environment • Self-Directed Search; Strong Interest Inventory

8. Holland’s RIASEC Types

9. Self-Directed Search & SII • SDS helps match individuals to congruent work environments • Provides scores for each RIASEC Type • Cheap, easy to understand, can be self-administered, self-scored and self-interpreted. • Limitations • Recall rates for Holland codes are low (Toman & Savickas, 1997) • (Swanson et al., 2006), 6 week recall rates for SII Holland Codes: • 28.2% recalled highest Holland code (n=142) • 56% recalled nothing (n=142) • Individuals in low SES environments cannot afford the SDS or SII • Addresses the content of a career decision but not the process

10. Content vs Process • Content explains what an individual is interested in but not how or why they became interested in that choice. • Savickas’ (2005) theory of Career Construction addresses the content, process, and meaning of a career decision • i.e. The What, How and Why • What: The psychology of individual differences (Holland) • How: The psychology of development (Super) • Why: Narrative psychology (Savickas)

11. Exploring Interests: Subjective Approach • Career Construction Theory (Savickas) • Integrates separate theories • Replaces scores with stories • Addresses the meaning and mattering of a career decision • Stories reveal patterns • Patterns reveal themes • Themes reveal purpose • Career Construction Interview

12. Career Construction Interview (CCI) • Qualitative career instrument containing 5 questions • Role Models, Favorite TV shows/magazines, Favorite Books/movies, Favorite Saying, Earliest memories… • CCI: Available for free at: http://www.vocopher.com • Recall rates for SDS scores improve when you combine objective and subjective interventions. (Del Corso, Rehfuss, Glavin & Wykes, 2011; Savickas, 2005) • Stories cross cultures

13. Using Digital Media to Explore Stories & Extract SDS Codes • From: Exploring Vocational Narratives Using SDS & CCI • To: Exploring Vocational Narratives Using Digital Storytelling • Why?

14. Harnessing the Power & Reach of Technology • Meet clients where they are at… • What is currently: • Popular • Engaging • Simple to use • Cost effective • > 1 Billion Views

15. Digital Storytelling Using:YouTube Video-Sharing Website: http://www.youtube.com

16. Digital Storytelling Exercise Digital Stories take the form of short narratives told in the first person via multimedia such as video, pictures, audio. • Go to http://www.youtube.com and select 3 ‘favorite’ videos that inspire you or have personal meaning for you • My Vocational Narrative Paper • List the title and link for each video and explain why you chose each one. • Use adjectives/verbs to explain how these videos describe your personality. • What themes do you see across your videos? • Show and share presentation

17. Digital Storytelling: Case Study 1 • Ani DiFranco - In or Out

18. Case Study 1: The Story • I first heard Ani when I was 17 and struggling to find my foothold somewhere between an adolescent and an adult. Ani is about fierceness, pride, being unapologetic in your beliefs and values that differ from the norm, and staying true to yourself. She was my role model when I was a teenager and her lyrics gave me the courage to follow my own path. In many ways, she is still one of my role models, because she broke down so many barriers. She has always stayed true to her values and fought tirelessly for women’s and civil rights worldwide.

19. Case Study 1: The Story • SDS Code: SEA • CCI Responses/Themes: • “One of the main themes that emerged was my strong interest in people’s stories and struggles.” • “My favorite motto is the Latin saying: Luctor et emergo (I struggle and emerge). This quote reminds me that not only am I not alone in the struggle, but that I will always emerge stronger for it” • Currently working on a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision

20. Digital Storytelling: Case Study 2 • Sweet Brown - Original Report and Autotune Remix

21. Case Study 2: The Story • I picked the "aint nobody got time for that." because I felt it showed how people often see themselves as second best, not important enough to be considered.  We often martyr ourselves, leaving ourselves vulnerable to the World.  In this situation the lady has run from a burning building and is sorry she had a bronchitis  attack due to the smoke because she caused people who were "busy" to have to spend time just for her. • The crux of the story is we are all important and should feel we are "worthy" of asking for help in our journeys. Many people send us messages telling us we are not worthy.

22. Case Study 2: The Story • In my case I was told at school I would not graduate High School and then at university the Dean questioned me as to why I had bothered to sign up. When I said, "because I want my Degree" he responded with "and I want a Mercedes." In other words both situations were impossible. • Don't let  people tell you what you can't do. Never feel you are not important enough to ask for someone's time to help you, especially when you need it the most. • Works for Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE) as a careers advisor

23. Digital Storytelling Using:Music The power of music to tell your story

24. Why Music? • Universal appeal • Transcends time/space • Bypasses the conscious mind • Taps into our human spirit and potential • Helps us to tell our stories • Offers another avenue of expression • Fun!!!!

26. Directions • Have client choose 2-3 songs/depending on time • Pull up lyrics (google) & look at them together (if lyrics are important to the client) • Pause after each song and ask the client to tell you about it • Ask the client if they notice themes • Ask questions to clarify and co-create musical narrative

27. Things to consider • Do most of the songs seem upbeat, instrumental, of the same or different genre? • Examples of questions to explore with a client: • I noticed most of the songs you chose were pretty mellow. Do you consider yourself a mellow person? • All the songs you chose were from different genres: punk, rap and country. That’s pretty eclectic taste; could you tell me more about that? • A few of the songs you chose seemed to promote a strong sense of individuality. What does that mean for you?

28. Case Study • Client’s Spotify Playlist • Ocean Avenue by Yellow Card • Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind • Here’s to the Past by A Day to Remember • BIO: • This client is looking to obtain his first professional internship

29. Case Study • QUOTES from the student: • Song 1 --”This song is about youth, being carefree, the world is open to you.” • Song 2-- “This song is about upbeat, optimism for what is to come.” • Song 3 -- “This song is about making the best of the time you have, living with no regrets.” • THEME: • Balance of responsibility and Freedom • Hope and Excitement for the future • Leaving behind an old version of me and moving on in life

30. Client Feedback • I’m caught in between wanting to be free and have a minimum of responsibility and move into a more professional role • I went through a period where I couldn’t wait for the future, then it got here, and now I have to re-imagine my future again • Adversity changes who we are. The challenges I have faced are what make me who I am today. I am ready to take on new challenges, yet still hesitant because I know they will be hard

31. Case Study: The Greatest LOVE of All Was Here • Whitney Houston: Greatest Love of All • “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be.” • “I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows. If I fail, if I succeed, at least I'll live as I believe. No matter what they take from me they can't take away my dignity…”

32. Case Study: The Greatest LOVE of All Was Here • Since I was a little girl I was the person standing up for those that were bullied or caring for those hurt. Since I can remember I wanted to be a pediatrician to care sick children. When I got to college I realized that being a doctor only makes them physically healthy what about the other issues children encounter, such as poverty, family violence and emotional neglect. • It took me learning about myself and the reasons for such a serious career change. And not that many people thought the change was a smart one but I had to believe in my choice and myself. • It took a great amount of events that elaborately brought me here today, doing what I love and confirming that I am always going to stay true to myself.

33. Case Study: The Greatest LOVE of All Was Here • Beyonce: I Was Here • “I want to say I lived each day, until I diedAnd know that I meant something in, somebody's life. The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave. That I made a difference, and this world will see… I was here”

34. Case Study: The Greatest LOVE of All Was Here • The songs constantly remind me of the purpose that I find in myself. It reminds me that everything that I do will have an impact on the lives of others. • SDS Code: SIC • Currently I’m in the Couples and Family track and couldn’t be happier.

35. Discussion & Questions

36. References • Bright, J., & Pryor, R. (2005). The chaos theory of careers: A user's guide. The Career Development Quarterly , 291-305. • Glavin, K., Smal, P, & Vandermeeren, N. (2009). Integrating career counseling and technology. Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, 25(1), 160-176. • Holland, John. L. (1997). Making Vocational Choices: A Theory of Vocational Personalities and Work Environments. Psychological Assessment Resources Inc. • Rehfuss, M.C., DelCorso, J., Glavin, K., & Wykes, S. (2011). Impact of the Career Style Interview on individuals with career concerns. Journal of Career Assessment, 19 (4), 405-419. • Savickas, M. L. (2005). The theory and practice of career construction. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (pp. 42-70). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.