Four ‘dirty words’ in career guidance: from common sense to good sense

Abstract

This paper focuses on commonly used terms in career guidance in order to examine the impact they can have on the way problems are conceptualised and consequently on the solutions that are envisaged. Four such terms are considered, namely ‘vulnerability’, ‘resilience’, ‘employability’, and ‘activation’. Drawing on critical social theory, this paper explores the relationship between language, thought, and action. It demonstrates the intimate relationship of the four terms to the neoliberal agenda in general and to responsibilisation in particular. The paper concludes by arguing that the career development field has a role to play in the struggle over the meaning of concepts in the public sphere, as the outcome has a bearing on the opportunities for people to flourish.

Living with liminality: Reconceptualising music careers education and research

“…Both concepts have neoliberal, capitalist foundations (e.g., Boden & Nedeva, 2010; Wadhwani, 2012). Sultana (2022) observes that in career guidance especially, the concept of employability must be critiqued and reclaimed, because at present “the employability discursive regime serves to lower the expectations and aspirations of young people, inuring them to the fact that, for many of them, the best they can expect are non-standard forms of employment, short- to no-contract jobs, and gig work” (n.p.). Bennett (2019) observes that employability for musicians is poorly understood and defined, noting that “musicians do not always seek to resolve [the] incompatible multiple identities or psychological stress” (p. 36) that accompanies their work.…”

“…I am guided by Sultana (2022) in framing the possible vulnerability of our current and future students not as individuals with weaknesses who are deficient in some way, but as young people who have potentially been wounded by pandemic experiences. New ways of offering support will be needed, including more nuanced understanding of mental health for everyone working across music and music education.…”

“…Choice of language and theoretical frameworks are central to the ways in which people conceptualize solutions to their work-related problems (Sultana, 2022). Were we to consider different language choices and frameworks, then deeper critical engagement with some of the most dominant themes in the music careers discourse—employability and entrepreneurship—would be a good starting point.…”

Critical perspectives on agency and social justice in transitions and career development

“…The dominance of an individualistic perspective has shaped the possibilities and practices of career guidance and risks perpetuating inequalities and injustices, tacitly privileging certain voices and worldviews, and thereby normalising and legitimising social injustice. As Sultana points out, for career guidance to be able to counter the risk of responsibilisation, this dominance needs to be explored in the intimate relationship between language, thought and action both in the professional practice as well as the public sphere (Sultana, 2022). Sultana concludes by highlighting the responsibility of the wider career guidance profession including scholars and professionals:…”

Employability in health professional education: a scoping review

“…To organise the various dynamics and influences, Tomlinson describes three levels through which employability can be viewed, including the macro of economies and labour markets, the meso of university and workplace, and the micro of an individual's psycho-social and biographical development [7]. Critical perspectives on the concept of employability demonstrate that employability discourses are not neutral or benign representations of individuals' self-management in the labour market [8,9].…”