Integrating storytelling and quantitative career assessment

Abstract

Combining quantitative career assessment with narrative career counselling is a career counselling challenge. The Integrative Structured Interview (ISI) facilitates this integration through the narration of career stories based on quantitative scores, such as those of the Self-Directed Search. The aims of this single case research were to: (a) examine the process of an Integrative Structured Interview with a participant, and (b) explore it from the participant and interviewer perspectives using an interpersonal process recall interview. The results suggest the benefits of the ISI process and a need for further research with a range of client groups.

New Frontiers in Computer-Assisted Career Guidance Systems (CACGS): Implications From Career Construction Theory

“…For instance, the career assessment and dashboard function of Infinity should contribute to students' readiness as well as their self- and career-knowledge. The qualitative functions (e.g., career curriculum) facilitated the integration and alignment of diverse information instrumental to decision clarity (McMahon et al, 2020 ). The need analysis that preceded the development of Infinity (Ho and Leung, 2016 ; Leung, 2020a ) showed that tools and resources were greatly needed for career guidance in Hong Kong.…”

“…Career assessment is used as ingredients for meaning and self-identity construction. Infinity offers users with multiple tools to deepen their explorations and understanding (McMahon et al, 2020 ), and to integrate their insights from assessment and other sources of observations into life stories and action plans (see examples in Table 3 ). A CACGS with only the assessment and information components would not be able to achieve these objectives.…”

“…Career construction involves a much broader process of building self-identity and test scores are treated as references. McMahon et al ( 2020 ) illustrated how career stories could be integrated with career assessment. The authors used a story-telling career interview strategy to deepen exploration of interest scores.…”

“…The narrative propositions of CCT offers an array of implications for the development of CACGS. For instance, career assessment and career stories are not mutually exclusive interventions but rather complementary processes that could enhance the cumulative effects of the respective approaches (e.g., McMahon et al, 2020 ). A digital system should include tools that can help individuals to construct and generate insights from their career stories.…”

Narrative potential and career counseling under quantity, quality, and mixed interventions: An emphasis on university students

“…As expected, scores increased for all career adaptability dimensions. A method for integrating storytelling and quantitative career assessment has recently been coined (McMahon et al, 2020), the ISI, which is a qualitative practical application of the story telling approach to career counseling (McMahon & Watson, 2012). It can be described as a systemic interview that provides a structured process within which clients can reflect on the meaning and relatedness of themes in their lives.…”