Career Construction Counseling Research Articles

Online career construction for a trauma survivor with career choice ambivalence

This article reports on the online administration of career construction counselling for a trauma survivor who sought help in resolving her career-choice ambivalence (uncertainty). The participant was purposively selected from a group of people attending a workshop on career construction counselling. An intrinsic, descriptive, exploratory intervention case study based on career construction counselling (involving administering the Career Construction Interview (CCI) to elicit the participant’s micro-narratives qualitatively) was used to generate data and adapted thematic data analysis incorporating the analytic style proposed by Savickas was used to analyse the data reflexively. The intervention shed light on the participant’s conscious knowledge about herself and on her subconsciously regulated views on her preferred future career choices. The findings confirmed the value of career construction counselling in promoting the participant’s psychological self as an autobiographical author especially. They also underlined the importance of timely intervention for trauma survivors in pre-empting the occurrence of unmastered developmental tasks and repetition of trauma. Future research should involve diverse participants in individual as well as group contexts. Equally important is contextualising the intervention discussed here to meet the distinctive diversity needs of participants in individual and group contexts.

Career counselors’ experiential reflections on early recollections in career construction counseling

AbstractMany studies validate career construction counseling (CCC); however, counselors’ experiences of using early recollections (ERs) in CCC have garnered little research attention. Preliminary research among career counselors in Norway has revealed skepticism about using ERs, owing to aspects such as associations with therapy. Therefore, this study examines career counselors’ experiential reflections on using ERs in CCC. Through thematic analysis of multistage focus group interviews from action research with 16 career counselors, their experiential reflections on using ERs in CCC were identified. Necessary awareness for using ERs in CCC is discussed, and the study indicates career counselors’ raised awareness regarding role understanding and a need for promoting career counselors’ emotional and narrative competences. A dual training process is suggested, combining being counseled using CCC with both theoretical and practical training along with a professional community for reflections. Practical implications and limitations are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.

고학력 경력단절 여성들을 대상으로 한 진로구성상담의 질적사례연구

Objectives The purposes of this study were to confirm through what process highly educated women with career interruption construct their careers in Career Construction Counseling using Career Construction Interview(CCI), and whether Career Construction Counseling is longitudinally effective.
 Methods To do this, two sessions of Career Construction Counseling were conducted for three highly educated career-interrupted women. In the first session, which was conducted after writing the Pre-Future Career Autobiography(FCA), exploration was conducted through CCI, and in the second session, a life portrait was constructed with the researcher. After about six months, a follow-up session was provided for a post-FCA, and the effects of Career Construction Counseling were analyzed through comparative analysis, and the career construction process and effects of the counseling were carried out according to the qualitative case study method.
 Results Participants went through eight stages of life portrait work, discovering career theme of each life and career constructing together. The changes in occupational narratives in the participants represented ‘change from hindered to hopeful’, ‘change from general fields and desires to specification and exploration’, ‘change from disregard to direction’, and ‘change from vagueness to focus’, and continued six months after Career Construction Counseling.
 Conclusions This study examined the career construction process through eight stages of a life portrait work in Career Construction Counseling using CCI and confirmed the longitudinal effectiveness of 2 sessions of Career Construction Counseling. Based on these research results, discussions and implications for Career Construction Counseling are included.

The influence of group career construction counselling on Tanzanian high school students’ career decision-making difficulties

ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of a group career construction counselling intervention on the career decision-making difficulties of Tanzanian students. Convenience and purposive sampling were used to select 35 high school participants from a single public school in Tanzania. A qualitative approach was employed and an intrinsic single-case, descriptive, intervention career design was implemented. An eight-week career construction counselling intervention was executed. The data were generated using different qualitative data sources. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the intervention enhanced most of the participants’ career decision-making capacity, bolstered participants’ psychological selves, improved their career adaptability, and bolstered their ability to make informed career decisions. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies in various contexts with different participants. Career construction counselling interventions for students of different ages and strategies to establish the long-term impact of these interventions should be devised.

Eliciting reconceptualization innovative moments to foster change in Career Construction Counseling

AbstractThis study tests an add‐on procedure to foster change in Career Construction Counseling by eliciting reconceptualization innovative moments. After the career counseling intervention with 42 participants, 21 participants were allocated to the add‐on procedure, consisting of two additional sessions focused on eliciting reconceptualization innovative moments In turn, participants in the comparison group attended two extra intervention sessions in which the lifetime task was used. Outcome measures assessing vocational behavior and psychological distress were applied at the onset, at the end of counseling and after the two additional sessions. The findings show that Career Construction Counseling was effective, allowing a significant increase in vocational certainty, vocational identity, career decision‐making, and a decrease in psychological distress. After counseling, participants in the add‐on intervention fostering reconceptualization innovative moments revealed greater gains in vocational identity and psychological distress than those in the comparison group. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Enhancing group self- and career construction counselling: A review of outcome research

This article reviews the outcomes of five purposely selected group career construction research projects conducted in a developing country context. Thematic data analysis was done on the results of these projects to identify qualitatively the strengths and areas for development (weaknesses) of the approach followed in these projects. The findings demonstrated the value of career constructing in contexts that differed substantially from the context in which the career construction counselling was originally developed. Overall, the quantitative findings in regard to career adaptability revealed that the women benefited more from the intervention than the men. The findings in regard to career decision-making difficulties also uncovered gender differences. The qualitative outcomes revealed that the participants’ psychological self as an autobiographical author benefited more from the intervention than either the social actor or the motivated agent. Future research should focus on the application of group career construction counselling with larger groups, using instruments based on career construction counselling theory developed locally. Moreover, given current developments (including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on employment), special emphasis should be placed on research among the unemployed.
 Keywords: psychological self, integrative group career construction, Global South, unemployment

Enhancing group self- and career construction counselling: A review of outcome research

This article reviews the outcomes of five purposely selected group career construction research projects conducted in a developing country context. Thematic data analysis was done on the results of these projects to identify qualitatively the strengths and areas for development (weaknesses) of the approach followed in these projects. The findings demonstrated the value of career constructing in contexts that differed substantially from the context in which the career construction counselling was originally developed. Overall, the quantitative findings in regard to career adaptability revealed that the women benefited more from the intervention than the men. The findings in regard to career decision-making difficulties also uncovered gender differences. The qualitative outcomes revealed that the participants’ psychological self as an autobiographical author benefited more from the intervention than either the social actor or the motivated agent. Future research should focus on the application of group career construction counselling with larger groups, using instruments based on career construction counselling theory developed locally. Moreover, given current developments (including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on employment), special emphasis should be placed on research among the unemployed.
 Keywords: psychological self, integrative group career construction, Global South, unemployment

Editorial: Special Issue: Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences 2022

Editorial: Special Issue: Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences 2022

Editorial message from Guest Editor

Editorial message from Guest Editor

Using my career story to foster reflective capacity, hope, and narrative change

My Career Story (MCS) comprises a self-guided autobiographical workbook designed to assist individuals across life’s diverse spectrum to narrate and shape their career stories. We describe the development and use of the MCS and its relevance for all people, including individuals who may be at risk for. Results of a study using the MCS with 20 emerging adults in Northern Italy supported the validity of its use. Specifically, results indicated that individuals shift to more positive, clear, action-oriented language in the stories they tell at the end of the MCS workbook, after constructing their life portraits, as compared with the stories they tell at the opening of the workbook. Also, scores on measures of reflective capacity and hope increased following the MCS intervention. Results of the study further support use of the MCS in career intervention contexts. Keywords: Career construction counseling, My Career Story workbook, Narrative career counseling, Career construction interview, Career intervention

Using my career story to foster reflective capacity, hope, and narrative change

My Career Story (MCS) comprises a self-guided autobiographical workbook designed to assist individuals across life’s diverse spectrum to narrate and shape their career stories. We describe the development and use of the MCS and its relevance for all people, including individuals who may be at risk for. Results of a study using the MCS with 20 emerging adults in Northern Italy supported the validity of its use. Specifically, results indicated that individuals shift to more positive, clear, action-oriented language in the stories they tell at the end of the MCS workbook, after constructing their life portraits, as compared with the stories they tell at the opening of the workbook. Also, scores on measures of reflective capacity and hope increased following the MCS intervention. Results of the study further support use of the MCS in career intervention contexts. Keywords: Career construction counseling, My Career Story workbook, Narrative career counseling, Career construction interview, Career intervention

Effectiveness of Career Construction Counselling in fostering career adaptation strategies

This study aims to analyse the Effectiveness of Career Construction Counselling in fostering career adaptability, adaptation of responses, and vocational identity in a sample of 41 participants, of whom 21 were assigned to the intervention group and 20 to the control group. Measurements of outcomes, with regard to adaptability, adaptation of responses, and vocational identity were applied at the start of counselling, the end of counselling, and 3 months after intervention. Findings revealed both the effectiveness of this approach to facilitate career adaptation strategies and the stability of the gains achieved throughout the intervention. Finally, the limitations of the study and its implications for research and practice are discussed.

Group career construction counseling with disadvantaged prospective university students

AbstractWe investigated the value of a three‐phase, six‐step group‐based career construction counselling intervention for prospective university students from disadvantaged backgrounds using an integrative, QUALITATIVE‐quantitative design. The participants completed measures of career adaptability and career decision‐making difficulties before and after the intervention. Results indicated that the girls’ career adaptability scores increased more than those of the boys. Notable pretest and posttest score differences were also found for both the boys and the girls in all three main career decision‐making difficulties categories including Lack of Readiness, Lack of Information, and Inconsistent Information. While encouraging, longitudinal research with larger samples and more diverse participants in diverse contexts is necessary to more fully determine the value of the approach used here.

The comparison of the effect of video conference and face-to-face in group career construction counseling for university students

목적 본 연구는 4차 산업혁명과 코로나바이러스의 대유행으로 온라인 상담이 점차 확대되는 상황에서 온라인 화상회의방식을 활용한 구성주의 진로집단상담의 효과를 대면방식과 비교해 보고자 하였다. 방법 경북 소재 대학교 진로 교양수업에서 구성주의 진로집단상담을 대면과 온라인 화상방식으로 9회기 총 15시간 진행하고 참여 대학생 82명에 대해 성과변인으로서 진로결정자기효능감과 진로탄력성의 사전사후검사 점수를 수집하여 분석하였다. 본 연구에서 활용한 진로집단상담은 구성주의진로이론의 커리어스토리 인터뷰를 기반으로 하였고, 대면방식 집단은 42명, 온라인 화상 집단은 40명의 대학생이 참여하였다. 결과 분석 결과 먼저 구성주의 진로집단상담이 진로결정자기효능감과 진로탄력성 향상에 미치는 효과는 온라인 화상집단과 대면집단 모두에 공히 통계적으로 유의한 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 하위요인별 분석 결과 대면집단의 ‘변화대처’를 제외한 모든 하위요인에서 유의한 효과가 나타났다. 셋째, 진로탄력성과 진로결정자기효능감 전체 및 하위요인의 사전사후 점수의 변화는 온라인 화상 집단과 대면 집단 간에 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 결론 본 연구에서 활용한 구성주의 진로집단상담 프로그램은 대면과 온라인 화상회의 집단 모두 대학생이 환경 변화에 대처하면서 자신의 진로의미를 발견하는 데 효과가 있었다. 특히 온라인 화상 집단의 경우는 팬더믹 상황에서 갑작스러운 환경변화에 적응하는 과정이 반영되었다. 온라인 화상 방식의 진로집단상담이 대면방식과 동일한 효과를 대학생들을 대상으로 확인한 본 연구의 결과는 대학이나 청소년 상담 현장에서 온라인 화상 구성주의 진로집단상담 추진의 실증적 근거를 제시한 의의를 지닌다.

Promoting access to decent work: career counselors’ experiences with career construction counseling

This article is based on career counselors’ experiences with how career construction counseling (CCC) can benefit clients, and the results are discussed according to the psychological perspective of decent work in the psychology of working theory (PWT). The article argues that CCC can promote access to decent work by creating inward and outward meaning making, which refer to internal anchoring promoting the will to change. Hence, CCC’s focus on the individual, together with contextualization, is considered a strength regardless of culture. Additionally, the article suggests that career counselors may affect whether CCC ultimately promotes access to decent work.

Therapeutic Collaboration in Career Construction Counseling: Case Studies of an Integrative Model.

The mapping of therapeutic collaboration throughout counseling deepens our understanding of how the helping relationship fosters client change. To better understand the process of career construction counseling (CCC), we analyzed the therapeutic collaboration on six successful face-to-face cases. The participants were six Portuguese adults, five women and one man, real clients of a career counseling service, and four psychologists, three female and one male trained in the career intervention model. The participants completed demographic questions and measures of career certainty, vocational identity, career indecision, and psychological functioning. The Therapeutic Collaboration Coding System was used to track collaboration throughout all interactive episodes. The clinical significance of the intervention was calculated by analyzing pre-post-test statistical differences for each case, with the Reliable Change Index and Z score. The findings evidenced a pattern of therapeutic collaboration evolution for good outcome cases. Based on this pattern, we propose a model of process-outcome evolution for the three phases of CCC.

Using Integrative Career Construction Counselling to Promote Autobiographicity and Transform Tension into Intention and Action

This article reports on the use of integrative career counselling to promote autobiographical reasoning in a purposively sampled gifted 16-year-old female learner with moratorium career identity status. I implemented an explanatory, mixed-methods (QUALITATIVE-quantitative; uppercase denoting the bigger weighting given to the qualitative aspect) research design and used qualitative and quantitative career construction counselling techniques and methods and quantitative career construction counselling techniques and methods and strategies to construct data. The Maree Career Matrix (MCM) was used to gather the participant’s career interests (“scores”) quantitatively, and the Career Interest Profile (CIP) was used to elicit her micro-narratives (“stories”) qualitatively. An adapted version of thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. The intervention promoted the participant’s (self-)reflection and reflexivity, transformed her tension into intention, led to an increase in her career options, and helped her revitalise her sense of meaning, purpose, and positivity. While the findings are encouraging, future (longitudinal) research is needed to establish the long-term influence of the intervention espoused here.

Enhancing the sense of self of a mid-career woman through career construction counselling.

This article reports on career construction counselling with a purposefully selected, mid-career, midlife woman. A single-case study research design was implemented. Data were gathered using an integrative qualitative and quantitative approach. After the intervention, the participant exhibited an enhanced sense of self-awareness. Career construction counselling can be used to help a mid-career, midlife woman become more aware of the meaning she assigned to life and her view of herself. Future research with diverse mid-career, midlife women (individually or in group-based settings) is needed to establish the effectiveness and long-term effects of the kind of intervention espoused here.

Kariyer Yapılandırma Görüşmesi ile Anlam Oluşturma: Bir Vaka Çalışması

This study examined (a) what changes career construction counseling used the Career Construction Interview (CCI), integrated with Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) brought about on the client (b) how the IPR uncovered insights and unspoken inner experiences during career counseling, and (c) how the CCI prompted the solutions for client’s career problem. The study based on a case study with 24 years-old, the fourth-year student in a private university. Findings revealed that (a) examining role models, early recollections and motto during the CCI uncovered self-awareness and insights about the self, career indecision and motivation needed for the vocational future, (b) the IPR revealed values, the role of significant people on career decision process of the client and the need for approval from them, and (c) the CCI contributed the client’s career decision making process, motivation and taking an action. The study verified the use of the CCI and the IPR in career counseling process, theoretically and brought new, dynamic and meaning making methods to career counseling practices in higher education.

Client factors and working alliance: a preliminary study in Career Construction Counselling

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify the client factors that predict working alliance in career construction counselling. The sample included 49 Portuguese participants (34 females). A demographic questionnaire collected information about clients’ gender, age and educational level. Distress was assessed using the Outcome Questionnaire-45. The strength of working alliance was measured by the Work Alliance Inventory-Short and Revised at the end of both the first and the last career counselling sessions. Multiple regression analyses were computed to test whether client characteristics (gender, age, educational level and distress) predicted the strength of the working alliance. Client distress and low educational level were found to be significant predictors of working alliance strength in both the first and last counselling sessions.