Abstract
M.A.
Career counselling is an activity that influences a wide
range of people, from primary school age, to adults in
their fifties and sixties. Current writers on the
subject, for example Hansen (1997), and Gysbers (1998)
are increasingly bringing out the view that career
development is a life span issue, and that it affects
other life roles. This view should also be seen in
conjunction with post-modern approaches to careers and
work. These approaches emphasise the rapid technological
changes of the 1990's, and the increasing
unpredictability and uncertainty in careers. These
factors create new and demanding roles for career
counsellors, who will have to increase their range of
skills.
The above factors illustrate the importance of career
counselling, and the purpose of this study is to attempt
to fill a perceived gap in the literature, and provide
more information on the status and standing of career
counselling in South Africa as practised by registered
psychologists. Questionnaires were issued by mail to a
sample of registered psychologists, and their responses
form the data for this study. Aspects to be investigated
include the training of career counsellors, how long they
have been in practice, what tests they use, which
counselling methods they follow, and what their opinions
are concerning the practice of career counselling in
South Africa.
A theoretical overview of career counselling models is
presented, and an examination of recent trends in career
counselling is set forth. A quantitative analysis will
provide a more detailed breakdown of the responses of the
members of the sample, while a qualitative analysis will
list the main themes detailed by the respondents.
Projections are undertaken to illustrate possible scenarios concerning the amount of time available for
psychologists to provide career counselling for students.
The recommendations arising from the study may be
summarised as follows.
Ensure that career guidance programs be installed in as
many schools as possible.
Increase the amount of training that career counsellors
receive, and examine the possibility of specialisation
in career counselling.
Attempt to increase the role that businesses play in
the career counselling process at schools.
Ensure that the needs of minority and disadvantaged
groups are met.
Implement further research to examine which other
groups besides registered psychologists are performing
career counselling.