It has been estimated that young people entering the labour force will
work in seven to eight different jobs throughout their career, with
two job changes resulting from involuntary layoffs. Therefore, good
career decision making is an essential skill.
Clients need to be aware of the steps of career planning because only
by bringing together information from all areas will they be able to
make decisions best suited to their needs and the needs
of the labour market. One model for career decision making involves
knowledge in the following areas.
Self-awareness. Self-assessment.
Opportunity awareness. Knowing what the labour market needs and
wants.
Learning awareness. Education and training opportunities.
Work search awareness. The skills needed to search out and land
work.
There are some principles that complement the career decision-making
process that can make it easier for those who are immobilized by all
the choices open to them today. At the same time, these same principles
can encourage someone who thinks they have very few choices to set out
anyway because opportunities will present themselves along the way.
Every decision made, for education, leisure, fun, work for pay and
volunteer work will contribute to the direction of a career path.
No decision is final.
Decisions can be changed.
Any path comes with forks in the road, and there is always the chance
to change directions, take detours, choose the scenic route or the
more direct route, and return to a road you wandered off of or passed
by the first time.
