Career Paths Research Articles

What is the role of cognitive-behavioral career coaching in mitigating work anxiety and depression among public employees?

This editorial explores the study by Mkpoikanke Sunday Otu and Maximus Monaheng Sefotho on the use of cognitive-behavioral career coaching (CBCC) to reduce work anxiety and depression among public employees. Public sector workers often face significant psychological stressors, leading to mental health issues that impair well-being and job performance. The study employed a group-randomized trial design, involving 120 public employees diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. Participants were divided into a treatment group, receiving CBCC, and a control group with no intervention. Results showed a significant reduction in anxiety and depression levels in the treatment group, sustained through follow-up assessments. The findings underscore the clinical relevance of CBCC as an effective intervention for improving mental health among public employees. Future research should explore the scalability of CBCC across different sectors and cultural contexts, as well as its integration with other mental health interventions. This editorial advocates for the broader implementation of CBCC practices in public service to enhance employee productivity and psychological well-being. By addressing cognitive distortions and fostering adaptive coping mechanisms, CBCC can help public employees navigate complex professional environments, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more efficient workforce.

Shaping individual educational and career paths in nursing - perspectives in practice

Shaping individual educational and career paths in nursing - perspectives in practice Abstract: Background: Continuing vocational training not only serves to expand professional competences and thus to ensure professional action but is also an element of lifelong learning as a means of shaping one's own employment biography. Aim: Educational and career paths in the field of nursing are characterised by heterogeneity and a variety of options. This raises the question of how nurses organise their individual educational pathways. Methods: Narrative interviews were conducted with nursing professionals, which were analysed using the documentary method as a hermeneutic procedure. By reconstructing practices, it was possible to find central frameworks for organising the educational pathways, which were transferred into a typology. Results: The three types (1) goal-oriented design of the educational pathway, (2) flexible design of the educational pathway and (3) market-oriented design of the educational pathway show that a self-determined design of educational and career paths can be promoted but also restricted by organisational practices. Conclusions: Further training is not just an individual career decision. Healthcare organisations can also be seen as shapers of individual educational and career paths. Facing the shortage of skilled nursing staff, it is important to consider the limits of self-determined organisation, which can have an influence on continuing on working as nurses.

Parents, friends, and classmates: reference groups and dropout from vocational education and training in Germany

This study examines the influence of social contexts on the decision to either complete or leave the first vocational education and training (VET) position among young German apprentices—an aspect that has received little attention in dropout research. In particular, the role of three reference groups—parents, friends and classmates at vocational school—in shaping this decision is examined. Using longitudinal data from the German National Educational Panel Study, the analysis addresses two key research questions: (1) Which reference groups are associated with the dropout decision? (2) And how do they influence the decision-making process? For this purpose, the study primarily investigates apprentices’ perceptions of the normative expectations and career ambitions of these groups, and compares the occupational achievements of apprentices and their parents. Two main results are found: (a) Parents and friends have a normative function; apprentices are more likely to complete their VET successfully if they believe that their parents and friends expect them to do so. (b) Both classmates and parents serve a comparative function; if apprentices perceive high career ambitions among their classmates, this may be intimidating and increase the risk of dropping out—in favor of switching to another training occupation. In addition, having parents with a higher occupational status seems to encourage apprentices to pursue a more demanding career path in the case of a change in training occupation. This study supports the notion that a multitude of actors contribute to the success of VET. Therefore, it could be beneficial for career guidance and counseling efforts to extend beyond individual counseling and consider actors who, although indirectly involved in VET, act as important reference groups for apprentices.

Navigating Career Paths in a Remote World: The Influence of Work from Home on Employee Advancement and Organizational Support

Navigating Career Paths in a Remote World: The Influence of Work from Home on Employee Advancement and Organizational Support

Career services at HEI’s: what are they offering?

Higher education career centers should tailor their services toward empowering students to make them employable after graduation to meet the demands of the 21st century world of work. This paper aims to reflect on career counseling services provided by Higher Education Institutions. We start by presenting a brief history of their development around the world, with particular emphasis on Portugal. Next, a study about the current situation of these services in the country is presented, starting with an analysis of their organization, the type of actions/activities/services provided, as well as their accessibility. Results indicate that the Career Services in some Portuguese Higher Education Institutions appear not to be fully developed, and where they exist, they often focus mostly (and sometimes solely) upon job placement or internship provision. More investment is needed to meet the new employability needs and demands of both students (and their families) and the labor market.

Unequal pathways to digital self-entrepreneurship: Class-inflected orientations regarding vlogging as a career

Digital self-entrepreneurship has become one of the most popular career options among younger generations. However, limited attention has been paid to the relationships between socioeconomic differences and digital self-entrepreneurship among youths. Using an extended Bourdieusian framework, this article critically reassesses vloggers’ digital creative labour, conditions and decisions by conceptualising them as various outcomes of position-taking in the emerging field of digital cultural production, tied to socioeconomic differences. Based on interviews with YouTubers in Hong Kong, this study examines how class background shapes young vloggers’ career paths and future aspirations. The findings reveal their divergent class-inflected orientations towards the common tensions between (1) platform productivity and creative autonomy, (2) elite evaluation and mass rating and (3) career planning and an uncertain vlogging future. Shifting the focus to the nexus between class inequality and the platform creative economy, this article provides a nuanced account of digital creative work amid platform precarity and uncertainty.

Using deep learning and word embeddings for predicting human agreeableness behavior

The latest advancements of deep learning have resulted in a new era of natural language processing. The machines now possess an unparallel ability to interpret and engage with various tasks such as text classification, content generation and natural language understanding. This development extended to the analysis of human behavior, where deep learning models are used to decode human personality. Due to the rise of social media, generating huge amounts of textual data that reshaped communication patterns. Understanding personality traits is a challenging topic which helps us to explore the patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors which are helpful for recruitment, career counselling and consumers’ behavior for marketing, etc. In this research study, the main aim is to predict the human personality trait of agreeableness showing whether a person is emotional who feels a lot or thinker who is logical and has rational thinking. This behavior leads to analyzing them as cooperative, friendly and respecting difference of views. For comprehensive empirical analysis, shallow machine learning models, ensemble models, and deep learning technique including state of the art transformer-based models are applied on real-world dataset of MBTI. For feature engineering, textual features of TF-IDF and POS tagging and word embeddings such as word2vec, glove and sentence embeddings are explored. The results analysis shows the highest performance 91.57% with sentence embeddings utilizing Bi-LSTM algorithm that highlights the power of this study as compared to existing studies in the relevant literature.

How the Employee Engagement and Organizational Resilience affects Career Flexibility based on the Job Satisfaction of Henan Province：A Bibliometric Analysis Using the SPAR-4-SLR Approach

The growing demand for career path uncertainty in Henan Province, China, prompted by the post-COVID-19 "new normal," advancement in technology, and continuous economic growth, has brought about a significant disparity between theory and practice which further requires the attention of various scholars. This study seeks to determine how employee engagement and organizational resilience affect career flexibility, with job satisfaction as the mediating role. Furthermore, the study proposes the utilization of human capital theory to improve this intricacy and achieve a better effective career flexibility outcome. To achieve these objectives, the study sourced its data from the Scopus, utilizing Bibliometric Analysis, the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, and Microsoft Excel statistical tools for result analysis. The findings underline the significance of multidisciplinary methods in comprehending the intricate intersection between employee engagement, organizational resilience, job satisfaction, and career flexibility. The paper acknowledges the significant of the mammoth studies originated from China, where rapid economic and social transformations have brought to the fore new challenges and opportunities for the labor market. The study achieved that by utilizing the capability of human capital theory to determine the extent investments in employee development, skills, and knowledge can improve organizational performance and resilience. The mediating role of job satisfaction is critical, as it fosters an environment in which engaged and resilient employees can effectively manage changes in their career path. This method offers a meticulous plan for improving workforce flexibility in China and the world at large, by realigning with the changing goals of the modern workplaces. The study further recommends future research interest to broaden the study by incorporating emerging themes such as technology management and other variables such as leadership styles that can also be instrumental in the study.

Pengembangan Karir Karyawan pada Industri Garmen dan Variabel yang Mempengaruhinya

This research aims to find out the influence of work motivation, work training and work experience on employee career development. Challenges in career development in this company include the lack of clear, well-defined career paths. The importance of work motivation, work training and work experience to improve employee career development. This sample collection used quantitative methods. The research sample consisted of 108 employees taken based on a dense sampling technique or census. The data collection instrument used a five-level Likert scale questionnaire. Data analysis uses multiple analysis with the help of SPSS 25.00 software. Research findings show that work motivation has a positive and significant effect on employee career development, work experience has a positive and significant effect on employee career development, job training has no effect on employee career development. The company should pay attention to the motivation aspect in order to improve career development, as well as provide an understanding of the tasks given so that employees better understand and can carry out the obligations given.

The education and training of career coaches: A psychological model

The educational and professional development needs of career coaches are changing. These changes are discussed within a psychologically and contextually informed model. The model identifies a spectrum of career activities in which coaches work. The skills which career coaches need to support them in these range of roles is also presented. An argument is made that the changing nature of careers and career provision demands a broader and deeper range of career coaching skills. This view is supported by a psychological and contextual approach to career coach education.

Navigating the Storm: Career Strategies for Today's Tumultuous Work Environment

This article provides a strategic framework to help professionals navigate their careers amid today's disruptive workplace dynamics. After outlining three primary challenges—technological disruption, economic uncertainty, and rapid organizational change—that are contributing to a more tumultuous work environment, the article introduces a career navigation model centered around developing advanced and transferable skills, cultivating a diverse professional network, establishing a strong personal brand, and prioritizing personal well-being. Examples from different industries illustrate how individuals can apply the recommended skills, networking, branding, and self-care strategies to proactively guide their career journeys through periods of turbulence. The goal is to equip professionals with research-backed guidance for strategically steering their own career paths during an era defined by disruptions, unpredictability and constant change in the world of work.

Mentor-Mentee relationship in Medicine: How to develop trust?

A mentor-mentee relationship, also known as a mentoring relationship, is a professional or personal partnership in which a more experienced or knowledgeable individual (the mentor) provides guidance, support, and advice to a less experienced or knowledgeable individual (the mentee). The primary purpose of this relationship is to facilitate the mentee's personal and professional growth. Mentors typically share their expertise, wisdom, and experiences to help mentees navigate their career or personal development paths. In this qualitative exploratory study 10 mentees were interviewed and analysis was done based on their answers to find out the strengthening factors of a mentor-mentee relationship particularly focusing on the qualities and traits required to build trust. The results of this research indicate that trust among mentors and mentees could be developed by respect, confidentiality, empathy, humbleness, hard work and good communication from both sides.

Girls Who Love Girls and Boys Who Love Girlish Dresses

Joana Estrela, born in Penafiel in 1990, is a Portuguese illustrator and comics artist whose short but rich career path intersects significantly with the concerns of girlhood and the dynamics of the transnational creation and circulation of graphic narratives. In 2013, she self-published the zine, Os vestidos do Tiago, which was later re-published by the independent Luso-Brazilian publisher Sapata Press in 2018 and is now available in English with the title James's Dresses (2019). The zine is a short immersion into the fictional, though quite realistic, world of Tiago, a boy who loves wearing feminine dresses and is not scared of experimenting with them. Despite having a boy as protagonist, Os vestidos do Tiago can be looked at as Estrela's first attempt at representing girlhood, given the presence, in the publication, of crucial aesthetic references to the realm of childhood and femininity.

Cultivating Job Flexibility and Security to Promote Employee Well-Being

The evolving nature of work in the 21st century has brought about significant changes in the relationship between employers and employees, with globalization, technological advancements, and economic uncertainties disrupting traditional career paths and placing new demands on organizations and their workforce. Lacking adequate job flexibility or security can have detrimental effects on employee well-being, leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout, as well as physical and social strains that spill over into non-work domains. However, research has demonstrated that by adopting flexible work policies, such as flexitime, compressed workweeks, remote work, and paid leave, and ensuring job and financial security through measures like living wages, retirement plans, and just-cause termination policies, organizations can foster greater employee well-being and engagement, which in turn benefits business performance and the ability to attract and retain top talent. Underpinning these efforts is the crucial role of a culture of trust between managers and workers, characterized by open communication, collaborative problem-solving, and fair, individualized consideration of employee needs and contributions. By championing these research-backed strategies at the leadership level, organizations can create a work environment that supports the evolving demands and whole-person well-being of the modern workforce.

자립준비청년의 자립 경험에 대한 국내 연구동향

This study aims to examine trends in the Korean literature on the experiences of young adults who aged out of the child welfare system. We analyzed 86 studies including 56 peer-reviewed journal articles and 30 master's theses and dissertations published up to August 2024. The first related study appeared in 2002, and about 55% of the studies were published in the past five years. The term referring to the young adults varied in the literature, but the official term “youth preparing for independence” has been used since the policy announcement in 2021. Most studies focused on leaving out of foster care facilities, followed by foster care homes and group homes. In terms of research methods, more qualitative studies were published than quantitative studies.. In-depth interviews were the most commonly used method of data collection in qualitative research, and other methods such as focus group interviews and qualitative meta-analysis were also used. In quantitative research, both primary and secondary data were commonly used. We classified the topics of research into seven themes: independent living, emotions, relationships, support services, career paths, employment, and health. We suggest that future research focus on specific topics in more depth, converge research across academic disciplines, and attempt to diversify research methods.

Empowering Futures: STEM Aspirations among Bangladeshi Girls in Secondary Education

This research examines the desire of the class nine and ten girls towards STEM education in Khulna and Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Despite growing awareness of gender parity, girls’ STEM participation is little. This study surveys various socio-cultural, economic, and educational aspects to determine whether female students choose STEM streams in secondary school. This study has explored the unexplored aspirations of high school girls in these two areas of Bangladesh. A mixed-methods approach was used to meet the objectives of this study. For this, researchers used a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data. Eight girls’ high schools in Khulna and Rajshahi, Bangladesh, were studied using questionnaires in which 410 girls participated. The students were selected from ninth and tenth grades. In addition, 44 respondents shared their ideas, experiences, and observations in four focus group discussions (FGD) conducted at various schools. The data was collected from July 2021 to June 2023. STEM female students have been studied using descriptive statistics and qualitative methods. Some critical issues have been explored through this study. These include motivations for studying STEM, completion, desired degree, and chosen STEM higher education institutions. The present global STEM education scenario and STEM occupations largely influence female STEM students. The results reveal that every respondent has well-defined STEM aspirations; nonetheless, the majority target the biological sciences. It also found that they have less interest in engineering, technology, and applied sciences. The earth, space, and physical science occupy a smaller subset in their chosen row. The girls also know local and global STEM education trends and actively seek knowledge to guide their academic and career paths. It is important to note that the students are ambitious and aware of STEM career opportunities despite their knowledge deficits. The research suggested the need to provide additional assistance in a few areas, like providing high-quality teaching methods and materials for STEM girls, mentorship, organizing workshops for guardians, and offering scholarships and financial aid. If these suggestions are implemented, the girls' desires may be fulfilled.

Parental influence on career choice in Jos North Islamic Secondary Schools, Nigeria

This study sought to analyzed parental influences on career choice in Jos North Islamic secondary schools. A sample of ten schools was selected using simple random sampling technique and total of 323 student participated in the research. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result shows that there is positive but non-significant relationship between parental religiosity and career choice of their children. The result also reveals that there is positive and significant relationship between parental socio-cultural and economic influences and their children career choices at 5% and 10% significant level respectively. The study recommends the need to uplift career counseling unit in Islamic secondary schools. It also recommends the development of good relationship between parent and school counsellors towards guiding the students to Islamic career choice preference.

Choosing new careers: patterns of occupational change within vocational education and training and fulfillment of career aspirations in Germany

This study investigates occupational changes in the German vocational education and training system among “stopouts,” i.e., individuals who terminate their training prematurely and switch to another occupation. We examine whether occupational changes are related to the fulfillment of career aspirations and changes in key occupational characteristics such as gender typing, social status, and task profiles. Utilizing longitudinal data from the German National Educational Panel Study and employing latent class analyses, we scrutinize patterns of change in occupational characteristics across different social categories. Results indicate that the majority of stopouts switch to occupations more aligned with their career aspirations, reflecting individual agency in career development. We identify two types of latent classes of occupational change: one in which characteristics remain more or less consistent with the previous position, reflecting practices of fine-tuning, and another showing notable task profile differences compared to the previous position. The latter primarily concerns medium-educated individuals who face a wider array of career opportunities compared to their lower-educated counterparts. Our findings emphasize the dynamic nature of career decision-making and stress the need for support for individuals undergoing career transitions. Career counselors and practitioners can use these insights to encourage alignment with individual occupational aspirations, address career compromises, and promote exploration based on interests, particularly among individuals with a medium-level education and diverse career options.

Explore the Relationship between Personality (e.g. Big Five Personality Traits) and Job Performance, Leadership or Career Success

This study deals with how personality traits, including conscientiousness, extraversion, and emotional stability, play a role in job performance, leadership effectiveness, and career success. The methodology has been the carefully designed survey of employees from various sectors in Punjab, Pakistan, including professionals at different stages of their careers and leaders. All types of professionals were well represented through drawing the population from education, healthcare business, and government sectors. The stratified random sampling method was employed to generate a sample size that would ensure enough representation from each of the subgroups, which are divided by the job role, industry, and experience. The gathered data were subjected to an analysis using various statistical tools, such as regression analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA. Conscientiousness in relation to job performance was examined via regression analysis. Leadership efficacy between extraverts and non-extraverts was measured using the t-tests. ANOVA was employed to examine the differences in career success among individuals exhibiting varying levels of emotional stability. Ethical considerations were meticulously adhered to, guaranteeing participant consent, privacy, and the right to withdraw at any stage of the study. The findings indicated that conscientiousness served as a positive predictor of job performance, while extraversion was correlated with enhanced leadership effectiveness, and emotional stability was significantly related to career success. These findings stress the relevance of personality traits in shaping professional results. The results indicate that personality assessments should be integrated into recruitment, leadership development, and career counseling practices.

A Study Evaluating Ways to Enhance Work Engagement in the Indian Telecom Industry

Work Engagement is a crucial component of organizational success that signifies the dedication, zeal, and active participation of employees in their job. In the current competitive scenario, companies looking to improve productivity, lower attrition, and create a happy workplace must prioritize worker engagement. Employee engagement is critical to innovation, customer happiness, and, eventually, the expansion and success of the company. The purpose of conducting this study is to evaluate ways to enhance work engagement of the Indian telecom industry. One Sample t-test was used for the current study. The outcome of the study indicated that flexible work hours, Providing skill development and training programs, Offering career path, Encouraging teamwork, Providing access of modern technology, Offering competitive packages, Creating a positive work environment, Promoting healthy work-life balance, Encouraging continuous learning, Giving opportunities to attend an industry conference and events, Conducting regular Employee engagement survey, Supporting employee wellness initiatives are significant ways to enhance work engagement of Indian telecom industry.