Career Counseling: A Holistic Approach Vernon G. Zunker Chapter 14

Adult Career Development Concerns Biological, psychological, socio-cultural and life cycle forces influence human development Early establishment stage transitions Mid career and maintenance stage transitions Late career to retirement transitions Worker, homemaker, leisure and citizen life roles Stress at work

Globalization and Job Security Highly valued job security and pay increases are no longer tied completely to longevity Many workplaces endorse pay for performance Counselors are to emphasize that learning to adapt and become flexible to the work role is an important key to success in the job market Market forces driven by a global economy have changed the job market

Biopsychosocial Framework and Life Events Biological forces include all genetic and health related factors that affect development Psychological forces include all internal, perceptual, cognitive, emotional and personality factors that affect development Socio-cultural forces include interpersonal, social, cultural and ethnic factors Life-cycle forces reflect differences in how the same events affect people of different ages

Early Career Establishment Career establishment years 25-44 A critical time when one struggles to form a unique identity in the work world An individual is balancing intimacy and isolation while also attempting to maintain a unique identity in the process of developing relationships Current work environments stress teamwork During early career, individuals demonstrate their ability to function effectively on the job

Career Anchors Career anchors are formed during early career experiences and situations encountered in the workplace Career anchors develop over time and are not easily changed Career anchors are considered to be core values, interests and abilities that are developed during early career

Mid-Career and Maintenance Stage Transitions The middle phase of an individual’s work life Has its own set of tasks and socio-emotional needs Conflicting demands within the work environment and personal life Developing a perspective of positive growth orientation in work environments and encouraging individuals to adapt to change is a healthy attitude to promote

Late Career and Transition to Retirement Studies on aging suggest that the median age of the U.S. workforce reflects an increasing number of older workers This has many implications Career issues for older workers include age-related changes in abilities and job performance, changing relationships, age discrimination, health concerns, family factors and when (or if) to retire

Interacting Influences In the adult world of career transitions, the totality of interacting influences of personal and career concerns has significant relevance to career development Career transitions are influenced by both internal and external factors Mental health issues may become a factor Counselors must help people determine if their reasoning and decision making is rational and realistic

Life Roles and Potential Conflicts The impact of decisions on lifestyle, including relationships, is a major part of a more comprehensive view of development Life roles increase and decrease in importance according to an individual’s current status Student Role Worker Role Homemaker Role Leisure Role Citizen Role

Stress at Work Stress can be induced by work and the work environment Stress is defined as a psychophysical response to various stimuli Conditions of work Work itself Supervision Shift work Wage and promotion Role ambiguity Career development stressors Group stressors Workplace climate Workplace structure