Effects of Career Counseling on French Adults: An Experimental Study

Abstract

This research project is focused on theoretical and empirical works analyzing the effects of career counseling. This experimental and longitudinal study has been carried out in France; it compares a sample of individuals having undertaken competence assessment with a control group and deals with self-esteem, self-analysis, self-concept, and the participants' situations. The results correspond to the authors' main hypotheses: The effect size calculated for all the variables (+0.62) is similar to the one observed in the meta-analyses concerning the same topic. The stability of effects has also been demonstrated for 2 out of 3 categories of variables (effect size +0.44) in spite of a slight decrease in the production of self-concept. Finally, treatment intensity seems to have a lesser effect than the one expected, but it strengthens its role in the development of self-analysis. The discussion focuses on the prospects for counseling practice assessment, as well as theoretical directions meriting future development.

Evidence-Based Practice in Career and Workforce Development Interventions

“…for career decidedness, .18 for both career planning and vocational identity, and .39 for career exploration. With French clients, Bernaud, Gaudron, and Lemoine (2006) found the overall effect size decreased from .62 at post-test to .44 at the 6-month follow-up. Verbruggen and Sels (2008) found at the 6-month follow-up to career counseling in Belgium that scores on selfawareness and career self-directedness remained consistent with post-counseling scores but career adaptability decreased.…”

Strategies for Strengthening the Technical Workforce

“…Despite variations in geographic location and industry, the studies included in this synthesis all reported that protégé and mentor experiences positively influence job satisfaction (Bernaud et al, 2006;Collins, 1994 15 ; Seibert, 1999;Pan, Sun, & Chow, 2011;Gong, Chen, & Yang, 2014). For example, based on the written responses from individuals in the technical training, administration, trade, and communication industries in France, Bernaud et al (2006) found that for individuals who received career guidance, fulfillment at work seemed to be the most 15 Professionals who had been both a protégé and a mentor had the highest level of career satisfaction, followed by those who had been a protégé but not a mentor, those who had not been a protégé but had been a mentor, and those who had been neither a protégé nor a mentor.…”

“…In addition, the relevance and applicability of these studies is also tenuous as only a handful of studies focus on the student population, and of those only a few focus specifically on STEM (2004;Fouad, 1995;Kerr & Robinson Kurpius;Stoeger et al, 2013). Based upon the available evidence, however, career counseling and employment services do seem to be effective in increasing subjective outcomes such as career initiative, career self-efficacy, and career satisfaction (Bernaud et al, 2006;Brennan, 2009;Chang & Feng, 2014;Collins, 1994;Fouad, 1995;Gong et al, 2014;Kerr & Robinson Kurpius, 2004;Pan et al, 20011;Perdix et al, 2013;Siebert, 1999;Stoeger et al, 2013;Wu et al, 2013). However, the results of studies evaluating the impact of career counseling and employment services on increasing objective outcomes such as earnings, career advancement, or employment are mixed (Chang & Feng, 2014;Collins, 1994;Dar & Tzannatos, 1999;Dorsett, 2006;Gong et al, 2014;Reenen, 2004;Rodriguez-Planas, 2007;Watts, 2009).…”

Counseling Psychology in France: A Paradoxical Situation

“…The effects of the “Competencies Elicitation Career Counseling” were largely investigated in studies using applied research methodology. They reveal positive results in terms of self‐concept development, building an occupational project, and developing the ability to shape one's own career (Ferrieux, 1995; Bernaud, Gaudron, & Lemoine, 2006; Vonthron & Lagabrielle, 2003; Saint‐Jean, Mias, & Bataille, 2003).…”