Career Professionals of Canada News Feed
By Charmaine Johnson. Career Development is the process by which a person’s career identity is formed from childhood through a lifetime. There are a number of Career Development theories, but no one theory is comprehensive. As such, career practitioners need to be aware of each theory’s strengths, limitations, and biases. For instance, most theories are limited in that minorities, women, and socio-economic diversity are underrepresented in the research (most studies are based on middle class white males). Also, some theories may not translate across all cultures since the studies are…
In my research, I have come across an interesting theory, which reflects a client-centered approach: The Chaos Theory of Careers. At Vanderbilt University, Dr. Jim Bright, the co-author of Chaos Theory of Careers, sheds light on a perspective that seems to resonate today. In fact, you may have touched on this theory at some point in your career coaching without even realizing it. How Does the Chaos Theory of Careers Work? While seen as an offshoot of planned happenstance, the Chaos Theory of Careers allows for greater flexibility, allowing us to…
By Lori Jazvac. It’s not uncommon for clients to express their experiences of frustration with their careers. They may say that they need a better salary, security, or fringe benefits, or that their careers lack meaning. Often, the need to secure a stable income and avoid potential employment gaps leads to staying in the same role and avoiding change. However, taking this approach without conducting solid career exploration and decision-making may perpetuate a vicious cycle of frustration and job-hopping, which, in turn, leads to an unfocused career path. Are your clients working in their…
By Lori Jazvac. Our labour market is dynamic: it goes through continuous change. Local concerns often can be directly attributed to regional, national, and global activities. Ebbs and flows in our labour market are interconnected. For example, in the first quarter of this year, HRDC reported that employment in the construction and manufacturing industries declined, while considerable gains ensued in accommodation, food services, and trade. Oil prices continue to plummet in western Canada, affecting the bottom line of businesses in all provinces. Ontario has seen restructuring in manufacturing, grocery chains, and a host of other companies that…
The Regroupement québécois des organismes pour le développement de l’employabilité (RQuODE) just published Pinasuutitsaq – ᐱᓇᓲᑎᑦᓴᖅ, a new reference guide which aims to improve career development interventions with Inuit clients, in urban and northern settings. The goal of this guide is to equip counsellors working in Inuit communities or with Inuit clients so that they might better be able to identify cultural specific features in their interventions with this clientele, while improving their understanding of the major issues encountered by Inuit seeking employment. Click here to view or download the…
By Lysa Appleton. Creative play is an effective tool for career exploration or refinement. For several years now, I have used “vision boarding” as a way to support my clients in gaining clarity on their career path. This year, I began incorporating storytelling as a method for career consulting. Over the last few years, I have become increasingly interested in how storytelling can work as an informal assessment, or alongside standardized assessments, to enhance and expedite the career change and job transition processes, or clarify career goals as part of a…