The Power of Quiet - RSA Animate Short

I came across this video by RSA Animate that features Susan Cain, the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. 

How does this video relate to career counseling?

Every WU Student Should Be Utilizing This

For Waynesburg University students: Waynesburg has a phenomenally valuable resource that no one seems to know about.  It's called FOCUS CAREER 2.  It is a career counseling website that the college has paid money for so that students can utilize it.

Go to:
https://www.FocusCareer2.com/Portal/Register.cfm?SID=1076

Your student self-registration Access Code is: yellowjackets

To log back in to the portal the address is:
https://www.FocusCareer2.com/Portal/Login.cfm?SID=1076

Systems Theory Framework

I came across an exciting article in regards career development theory, the subject of much of our current text book reading to date.  The article profiles an approach called Systems Theory Framework (McMahon, 2011).  This approach represents the convergence or integration of different schools of career development theory (McMahon, 2011).  Its strength – providing a map for the process of career counseling by combing the best of past traditional approaches with more recent constructivist ones (McMahon, 2011).  Give it a read, and see how you could envision your own integration with your primary orientation of career development theory.

References

McMahon, M. (2011). The systems theory framework of career development. Journal of Employment Counseling, 48(4), 170-172.

Holland's Theory of Vocational Choice

             I identify with Holland’s Theory of Vocational Choice for several reasons. In high school and college, I used O*Net to help me form ideas about what type of a career I wanted to pursue. My experience of career exploration using Self-Directed Search was positive and made sense to me as a 17- or 18-year-old. Now, as a graduate counseling student, I also find myself think this theory makes a lot of sense. I value the underlying assumptions that Holland’s theory holds to be true. Perhaps the assumption that is most important to me is that personality and vocation are interconnected when examining the best career matches (Brown, 2012, p. 30). 

              Holland’s theory asserts that personality is the most important factor when considering career paths. Therefore, this theory utilizes personality types as a means of categorizing and matching personalities to career choice options (Brown, 2012, p. 31). Simply put, Holland would assert that when the environment of vocational choice is well matched to characteristics of an individual’s personality, then the greatest outcomes of satisfaction and achievement will occur. 

             I work with college students who are in a stage of life that involves a lot of identity exploration. From my perspective, Holland’s theory is helpful for this population because it frames vocation and identity in a way that might allow me to better engage my students in why thoughtfulness in career choice matters. After all, being a doctor who makes a lot of money might not be congruent with your personality, no matter how much your parents want you to be a doctor. I can imagine myself using this theory in session to help increase a client’s desire to have congruency with who they are as a person and the vocation they are pursuing. This generation of college students is familiar with inventories as a means of self-exploration, and I believe that would make using something like The Self-Directed Search a way to open the conversation.

Duane, B. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). Upper 

          

          Saddle Ridge, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. 

Self-Concept and Vocational Choice

Regarding the textbook reading, I have been especially interested with the relationship between self-concept and vocational choice (Brown, 2012).  Inherent amongst the theories of career choice and development is how vocation and career choice mirror one another.  This is why the talk “A kinder, gentler philosophy of success” given by writer and philosopher Alain de Botton was of interest to me.  De Botton notes that inflated ideas of success for projecting and preserving our self-image based on our vocation can lead to what he calls “job snobbery.”  I think the inverse is also true – that a debasing or self-rejecting identification with our work can lead to self-rejection.  As I see it, this social construct of self-concept relative to  occupational or vocational choices can led to the emergence and maintenance of a false self – arguably the most significant foundation of a host of mental disorders.
            Of more practical interest, de Botton encourages us to find authentic satisfaction and enjoyment in our work by examining the true nature of what success and failure is, and to rise above our culture of “job snobbery.” As I see it, many fall within a spectrum of either rejecting themselves, or being ashamed of what their work says about them, to becoming the “job snob” de Botton seeks to examine.  The video of de Bottons talk can be accessed at youtube:  "Alain de Botton:  A Kinder Gentler Philosophy of Success."

Career Counseling and Eating Disorders

Hello Everyone.  I apologize if the "Ron Burgundy" test blog actually posted.  In addition, I'm having trouble exporting a file so I copied this link in hope that you are able to read the article.

This particular article details how eating disorder clients, in particular those who suffer from anorexia and bulimia, can benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and career counseling.  It also explains how eating disorders can be perceived as maladaptive careers which can transition into a productive career as part of the healing process.  I found it interesting and hope you do as well.

Sonnenberg, S., & Chen, C. (2003). Using career development theories in the treatment of clients with eating disorders. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 16(2), 173-185.

The link above will redirect you to Waynesburg University access to EBSCO Host. You may have to login and then click on the link again.

Career Assessment

I know the majority of the class is not as into working with kids as I am... but I found this career assessment that is kinda convenient for high schoolers.  It's simple and easily sums up the basics. http://www.yourfreecareertest.com/