putting action back into action planning: experiences of career clients

Abstract

This study used the critical incident technique to investigate what helped and hindered unemployed and career-changing people in implementing the action plans they developed while participating in career or employment counseling. Information from interviews with 23 women and 16 men generated 9 categories of helping incidents and 9 categories of hindering incidents. These categories increase understanding of the nature of action planning and reveal implications for preparing clients to engage in action planning activities.The purpose of this study was to determine what helped and hindered unemployed people and those changing careers in implementing the action plans that they had developed while participating in career or employment counseling . We focused on the latter part of the employment transition process, which is linked to action plans reflecting attempts to reconnect with changing labor market opportunities . MakINg CaReeR DeCIsIoNsCareer and employment decision-making interventions are used to help people make decisions about occupations or appropriate career paths . Client action planning represents the outcome of most of these career interventions . The ways in which action plans are developed depend on the theoretical frameworks underlying the selected approaches .Traditional career decision-making theories focus on individuals and their possible matches with the labor market . These theories present a particular perspective of what is required of individuals seeking satisfying employment . One of the earliest theories was trait and factor (Herr, Cramer, & Niles, 2004;Parsons, 1909), which posited that vocational choice is a static, systematic, and rational activity that reveals the single correct employment choice for the given individual .A second theoretical orientation uses a developmental approach or one that emphasizes the growth and change of values, attitudes, interests, and personality . Developmental theories suggest that occupational choice reflects the particular life

Career Counseling With Black Men: Applying Principles of Existential Psychotherapy

“…Individuals struggling existentially may experience difficulty in certain facets of the career decision‐making process. For example, Borgen and Maglio (2007) found that discouragement, anxiety about how to proceed, depression, and suicidal thoughts were some of the negative factors affecting clients who were trying to implement action plans they worked on in career and employment counseling. It seems reasonable to suggest that these same factors could also affect career exploration, in which case career issues may seem unimportant relative to overarching existential concerns.…”

Career Counseling Interventions for Video Game Players

“…Career counseling interventions usually end with the elaboration of a career action plan. However, Borgen and Maglio (2007) highlight that career clients frequently face challenges that may hinder the implementation of such plans. Therefore, effective career counseling interventions should also intend to provide clients with effective strategies to cope with the obstacles that they are likely to encounter after the termination of the counseling sessions.…”

L’entretien motivationnel en appui aux prestations d’orientation scolaire et professionnelle

“…For example, it may serve to help counsellees not to procrastinate in regard to performing careerrelated tasks such as job search activities. In fact, lack of motivation, lack of goals, negative emotions, and perceived contextual or personal obstacles can possibly hinder the implementation of the plans that have been made during career counselling interventions (Borgen & Maglio, 2007). Finally, insights provided by MST on the aims and underlying mechanisms of the MI processes and methods could possibly also have an impact on MI training.…”