Career Counselling New and Professional Immigrants: Theories into Practice

Abstract

New and professional immigrants encounter extreme hardships and difficulties in their career experience after arriving in Canada. In addition to underemployment or unemployment concerns, new and professional immigrants endure many cross-cultural barriers. This article attempts to examine the application of career development theories in the context of career development and counselling for new and professional immigrants. It begins with a discussion of some of the barriers that affect new and professional immigrants' career development. Subsequently, it reviews some of the key facets of social cognitive career theory, as well a narrative career counselling approach, and how they specifically relate to new and professional immigrants' career development. The article concludes with intervention strategies, implications and support strategies aimed at dealing with the career development and career counselling needs of new and professional immigrants in Canada. The problems, concepts and solutions will also apply in other settings.