Abstract
M.Ed.
We live in a dynamic world characterised by constant change. These changes
occur on a paradigmatic as well as practical level and the result is that the needs
and expectations of individuals are also changing. These changes have an
influence on the world of work as well as on the individual in all his or her
different roles. Changes in the world of work and in the individual's needs and
expectations, challenge career counselling practitioners to adapt their
interventions to satisfy career-related, as well as personal needs and
expectations of clients. One of the intervention strategies that addresses the
needs of post-modern career counselling is the use of a career guidance process
with narratives. This study investigates a career guidance process that makes
use of narratives. The aim is two-fold — firstly investigating the experiences of
clients in a constructivist-based approach to career counselling, using narratives,
and secondly, making recommendations based on the findings, regarding the
process and training.
The researched career guidance process includes three narratives. The first
narrative is written by the client and deals with his or her life story. The second
narrative is also written by the client but is futuristic and includes expectations,
needs and dreams for the future. The third narrative is the end product of the
process. It is written by the career guidance practitioner and serves as a
summary of information gained from the activities and discussions with the
client. Activities, other than the narratives, used in this process include a Myers-
Briggs personality type profile, two collages, incomplete sentences and
checklists.
This study was researched from a constructivist framework. A generic qualitative
research strategy was used. Three participants that have already undergone the
studied career guidance process was selected for case studies. Each of the particpants was interviewed by means of unstructured interviews and the data
was analysed according to categories and themes, using a Constant Comparative
method.
From the findings it was found that the participants experienced the career
guidance process studied in this research as positive and valuable. They
specifically referred to their experiences of the therapist, the specific activities,
the career guidance sessions, the final product narrative, as well as their
changed subject choices. The data also showed that clients have specific needs
regarding careers, career guidance in general, as well as developed needs from
the studied process. These findings also confirm that the career guidance
process as studied in this research is relevant to the changing needs and
expectations of clients. Training of Educational Psychologists in the underlying
theory and the use of constructivist-based career guidance, using narratives, are
recommended.