Introduction
An individual should constantly be making new decisions due to the changing nature of challenges, including a new attitude developed towards a specific work. It is essential for this individual to constantly seek guidance on approaching significant concerns regarding a particular career. Therefore, career counseling aims at assisting an individual in deciding on career goals for the long run. A 2017 report indicates that only 52.3% of American citizens are self-satisfied with their jobs (Whiston et al., 2019, p. 827). The report provides an insight into how most citizens strive to deal with the depression associated with the kind of tasks they perform. This unsatisfied setting scenario can be linked to decisions that might have been made at a tender age. Thus, to avoid such misguided decisions, an individual should seek career counseling at any point in life.
Special Needs and Resources for Adults in Career Transition
Career transition has equally proved to be necessary when a person is not satisfied with the current job. Study shows that 22% of people who shift careers at the midlife stage do so because of an abrupt change in the business environment, external or internal business environment (Whiston et al., 2019, p. 831). Therefore, change in technology that may attribute to the change in the organization’s daily activities may force a person to develop a unique work attitude.
A career shift for adults requires special attention since it may be accompanied by depression and other psychological feelings. Palacios and Stoltz (2017) claim that the standard counseling approaches, cyclical patterns, and linear career development models are invalid and cannot work in the actual setting of counseling an adult on a career change. Due to the psychological problem related to a career shift, there rises a need to, therefore, adjust how career transition counseling for adults is conducted (Eliason et al., 2019).
One of the factors that spike the need for a career change is relationships. A counselor should relate how family, partner, work, and self-relationship coincide with the cyclic approach, which questions the life stage a person is at, whether initiation reconciliation, adaptation, or reassessment stage. To fit an occupational type of career into a general life career may require a considerable amount of time and hard work. However, with proper counseling, a person may opt to pose a career strategy that is biased toward the personal life career.
Purpose and Benefits of Career Guidance Programs
Purpose
Career guidance programs help create self-awareness for a person or scholar who seeks to understand the personal career life and work towards educational or career goals. The program also equips a scholar with relevant knowledge, skills, and experience to analyze and identify options in the current setting effectively and explore available alternatives. The purpose of the program is to enhance personal satisfaction concerning occupational careers that promotes life careers (Whiston et al., 2019). Therefore, scholars are prepared to work towards career goals while keeping in mind the dynamic state of the business environment. With this mindset promoted by career guidance programs, participants can avoid future mistakes related to career choices.
Benefits
Career guidance programs try to prepare higher education institution scholars from a younger age to determine what career goal an individual is supposed to focus on. Therefore, the programs test the strengths and the weaknesses of the student (Lipshits-Braziler, 2018). A professional counselor may help students determine their natural abilities and match their resilience to a specific career (Crisp et al., 2017). Consequently, the counselor can advise on the barriers likely to be encountered with a particular career.
Career guidance programs help in the identification of suitable career choices and allow for setting goals. A professional counselor may use logical reasoning to support a scholar in making goal-oriented careers (Palacios & Stoltz, 2017). Additionally, a counselor can help a scholar with educational support and guidance. The supporting career counselor can brainstorm on the necessary training and academic requirements associated with a specific career. Therefore, a scholar needs to seek guidance before making any bold decision on career choice.
References
Crisp, G., Baker, V. L., Griffin, K. A., Lunsford, L. G., & Pifer, M. J. (2017). Mentoring undergraduate students. ASHE Higher Education Report, 43(1). Web.
Eliason, G. T., Lepore, M., Samide, J. L., & Patrick, J. (Eds.). (2019). Career development across the lifespan: Counseling for community, schools, higher education, and beyond (2nd ed.). IAP.
Lipshits-Braziler, Y. (2018). Coping with career indecision among young adults: Implications for career counseling. In New perspectives on career counseling and guidance in Europe (pp. 71-85). Springer.
Palacios, A. F., & Stoltz, K. B. (2017). An existential foundation to career counseling across the lifespan. Career Planning & Adult Development Journal, 33(2). Web.
Whiston, S. C., Mitts, N. G., & Li, Y. (2019). Evaluation of career guidance programs. In International handbook of career guidance (pp. 815-834). Springer.