Advertisement

Career learning and development: a social constructivist model for the twenty-first century

  • Barbara Bassot
Article
First Online:

Abstract

In the UK there have been several calls for new models ‘fit for purpose’ for careers work in the twenty-first century and in response, this article presents a model for career learning and development. This brings together recent theory regarding the ways in which people make career decisions throughout their lives in rapidly changing, turbulent labour markets and globalised economies. The model is articulated through the metaphor of a suspension bridge, which is used to explore and explain the ongoing dilemmas experienced by career practitioners and their clients as they seek to balance the opposing tensions that enable the bridge to fulfil its vital functions.

Keywords

Career development Social constructivism Zone of proximal development 

Résumé

L’apprentissage et le développement de la carrière: un modèle socio-constructiviste pour le 21e siècle. Au Royaume-Uni, il y a eu plusieurs appels à la création de nouveaux modèles « prêt à l’emploi » sur la carrière professionnelle au 21e siècle. En guise de réponse, cet article présente un modèle sur l’apprentissage et le développement de la carrière. Il réunit les théories récentes sur les façons dont les gens prennent des décisions d’orientation tout au long de leur vie, sur un marché du travail changeant, turbulent et dans des économies mondialisées. Le modèle est articulé au travers la métaphore d’un pont suspendu, qui est utilisée pour explorer et expliquer les dilemmes rencontrés par les praticiens en cours de carrière et de leurs clients, alors qu’ils cherchent à équilibrer les tensions opposées qui permettent au pont de remplir ses fonctions vitales.

Zusammenfassung

Laufbahn-Lernen und -Entwicklung: Ein sozial-konstruktivistisches Modell für das 21. Jahrhundert. In Großbritannien gibt es eine Reihe von Aufrufen für neue, wirksam einsetzbare Modelle für berufliche Beratungsarbeit im 21. Jahrhundert. In Reaktion darauf stellt dieser Artikel ein Modell für Laufbahn-Lernen und -Entwicklung vor. Dieses bringt neue Theorien über die Art und Weise zusammen, in der Menschen Laufbahnentscheidungen im Verlauf ihres Lebens in sich schnell verändernden, turbulenten Arbeitsmärkten und der globalisierten Wirtschaft treffen. Das Modell wird durch die Metapher einer Hängebrücke beschrieben, die verwendet wird, um die anhaltenden Dilemmata zu erkunden und zu erklären, die Beratungspersonen und ihre Kunden erfahren, wenn sie versuchen, die entgegengesetzten Spannungen auszubalancieren, welche es der Brücke ermöglichen, ihre zentralen Funktionen zu erfüllen.

Resumen

Aprendizaje y desarrollo de carrera: Un Modelo socio-constructivista para el Siglo XXI. En el Reino Unido, ha habido varios llamados para la creación de nuevos modelos “listos para su empleo” sobre la carrera profesional en el siglo XXI. En respuesta a este llamado, el presente artículo presenta un modelo para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo de carrera. Este reúne teorías recientes con respecto a las diferentes formas en las cuales las personas toman decisiones en orientación de carrera durante sus vidas en mercados de trabajo turbulentos con cambios acelerados y economías mundializadas. El modelo está articulado a través de la metáfora de un puente suspendido, la cual es utilizada para explorar y explicar los dilemas encontrados por los practicantes en orientación profesional y por sus clientes en la búsqueda de un equilibrio de tensiones opuestas que permiten al puente llenar sus funciones vitales.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Barnes, A. (2008). The role of values. www.cegnet.co.uk/files/CEGNET0001/briefings/Teaching%20about%20career%20values.pdf. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  2. Barnes, A., Bassot, B., & Chant, A. (2011). An introduction to career learning and development 11–19: Perspectives, practice and possibilities. London: Taylor and Francis.Google Scholar
  3. Bassot, B. (2006). Constructing new understandings of career guidance: Joining the dots. In H. L. Reid & J. Bimrose (Eds.), Constructing the future IV: Transforming career guidance (pp. 49–60). Stourbridge: Institute of Career Guidance.Google Scholar
  4. Bloch, D. P. (2005). Complexity, chaos and nonlinear dynamics: A new perspective on career development theory. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 194–207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Blustein, D. L., McWhirter, E. H., & Perry, J. C. (2005). An emancipatory communitarian approach to vocational development theory, research, and practice. The Counseling Psychologist, 33, 141–179. doi: 10.1177/0011000004272268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Bruner, J. (1996). The culture of education. London: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
  7. Canadian Career Development Foundation. (2007). Applying the construct of resilience to career development. Montreal, QC: Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation.Google Scholar
  8. Cochran, L. (1997). Career counseling: A narrative approach. London: Sage.Google Scholar
  9. Colley, H. (2007). Review of the book Career counselling: Constructivist approaches, by McMahon, M. & Patton, W. (Eds.). British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 35, 480–482. doi: 10.1080/03069880701602010.Google Scholar
  10. Collin, A., & Watts, A. G. (1996). The death and transfiguration of career—and career guidance? British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 24, 385–398. doi: 10.1080/03069889600760361.Google Scholar
  11. Fourie, C., & Van Vuuren, L. J. (1998). Defining and measuring career resilience. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 24(3), 52–59.Google Scholar
  12. Henderson, S. (2000). “Follow your bliss”: A process for career happiness. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78, 305–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Kuselias, C. J. (2010). The career guarantee. North Haven, CT: Career Team.Google Scholar
  14. Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
  15. LiveCareer. (2011). Learn more. http://www.livecareer.com/job-satisfaction-factors. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  16. London, M. (1983). Toward a theory of career motivation. Academy of Management Review, 8, 620–630. doi: 10.2307/258263.Google Scholar
  17. London, M. (1993). Relationships between career motivation, empowerment and support for career development. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 66, 55–69. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8325.1993.tb00516.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. McLeod, J. (1996). Working with narratives. In R. Bayne, I. Horton, & J. Bimrose (Eds.), New directions in counselling (pp. 188–200). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
  19. McMahon, M., & Patton, W. (2002). Using qualitative assessment in career counselling. International Journal of Educational and Vocational Guidance, 2, 51–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. McMahon, M., & Patton, W. (2006). Career counselling: Constructivist approaches. Abingdon: Routledge.Google Scholar
  21. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2010). Learning for jobs. Paris: Author.Google Scholar
  22. Parsons, F. (1909). Choosing a vocation. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.Google Scholar
  23. Patton, W., & McMahon, M. (2006). Constructivism: What does it mean for career counselling? In M. McMahon & W. Patton (Eds.), Career counselling: Constructivist approaches (pp. 3–15). Abingdon: Routledge.Google Scholar
  24. Peronne, K. M. (2000). Balancing life roles to achieve career happiness and life satisfaction. Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, 15, 49–58.Google Scholar
  25. Reid, H. L. (2009). Trying something new—a narrative approach for career guidance: Moving from theory to practice. Career Guidance Today, 17(1), 24–27.Google Scholar
  26. Rogoff, B. (1990). Apprenticeship in thinking: Cognitive development in social context. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
  27. Savickas, M. (1997). Constructivist career counseling: Models and methods. Advances in Personal Construct Psychology, 4, 149–182.Google Scholar
  28. Savickas, M. (2000). Renovating the psychology of careers for the twenty-first century. In A. Collin & R. A. Young (Eds.), The future of career (pp. 53–68). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Savickas, M. L., Nota, L., Rossier, J., Dauwalder, J.-P., Eduarda Duarte, M., Guichard, J., et al. (2009). Life designing: A paradigm for career construction in the 21st century. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75, 239–250. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2009.04.004.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Skills Commission. (2008). Inspiration and aspiration: Realising our potential in the 21st century. London: Author.Google Scholar
  31. Sultana, R. G. (2010). Career guidance re-viewed: Tiger, tiger burning bright? [Review of the book International handbook of career guidance, by J. A. Athanasou & R. Van Esbroeck (Eds.)]. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 38(1), 113–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Sultana, R. G., & Watts, A. G. (2006). Career guidance in public employment services across Europe. International Journal of Educational and Vocational Guidance, 6, 20–46. doi: 10.1007/s10775-006-0001-5.Google Scholar
  33. Tractenberg, L., Streumer, J., & van Zolingen, S. (2002). Career counselling in the emerging post-industrial society. International Journal of Educational and Vocational Guidance, 2, 85–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Van Vuuren, L. J., & Fourie, C. (2000). Career anchors and career resilience: Supplementary constructs? Journal of Industrial Psychology, 26(3), 15–20.Google Scholar
  35. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
  36. Wood, D. (1998). How children think and learn (2nd ed.). Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
  37. Young, R., & Collin, A. (2004). Introduction: Constructivism and social constructionism in the career field. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 64, 373–388. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2003.12.005.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Young, R. A., Valach, V., & Collin, A. (1995). A contextualist explanation of career. In D. Brown, L. Brooks, et al. (Eds.), Career choice and development (pp. 206–254). San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Canterbury Christ Church UniversityCanterburyUK

Personalised recommendations

Cite article

Buy options