Career Guidance and Counselling Provisions at a South African University: Career Advisors’ Reflections

Abstract

The study sought to establish the state of career guidance and counselling provisions at a South African university as reflected by the university's career advisors. A qualitative design was employed. Three career advisors participated in an in-depth interview. Data was thematically analysed. The study revealed t hat the university's career advisors' main activities included coordinating orientation for new students, conducting career advising workshops for students, graduate deployment programmes and sometimes making high schools ca reer guidance visits. The university had some career brouchers and Compact discs (CDs) for graduate careers. The career advisors collaborated with the Department of Education, District coordinators, principals and student counsellors. The university did not have career counselling centres, the career advisors were short staffed and under qualified. The career advisors also believed the services were not taken seriously. Implications and recommenda tions to improve the guidance and counselling provisions were discussed in detail in the study.