In response to the complexities of social change that have become evident in the 21st century, there is a need for innovation in career theory that takes into account new perspectives and the fluctuating contexts of people’s lives. Contemporary Theories of Career Development: International Perspectives brings together the contributions of theorists from around the globe whose work represents current, cutting-edge international approaches to career development theory. Emphasizing the new perspectives that are needed for this field to be relevant in a contemporary era, this book considers the cultural applications of theory in a diverse range of populations. Structured in three parts with chapters written by internationally renowned leaders in the field, this collection features a critical examination of the current history of the field; thirteen theory chapters, each enhanced by a case study; and a final chapter that draws the previous chapters together through key themes, broadening the reader’s knowledge of theoretical perspectives and their interrelations. Each theory chapter author comments on and critiques his or her own theory, inviting readers to engage with these theories at both a practical and theoretical level through the case studies. Detailed, with reader-friendly descriptions and supplemented by international research, case examples, and discussion questions, Contemporary Theories of Career Development: International Perspectives is the ideal reference work for students studying the topic as well as a stimulus for researchers and practitioners looking to implement the theories in their work.

Despite examples of vocational guidance practice being evident in Australia since the mid-1800s, there remains a spasmodic and patchwork approach to practice across the country. For decades it is a field which has been paradoxically boosted and challenged by changing economic and political agendas. Repeated international, national and State reviews emphasise the vital nature of a systemic national approach to career development, however authors repeatedly lament the lack of a sustained focus on career activity as a major national priority. There is no broad comprehensive historical reckoning of the history of career development theory and practice in Australia since this early period. Career development theory and practice in Australia has been forged in partnership with developments in an international context. In documenting the shared history with other countries, the author significantly adds to the body of knowledge on career development as a field in Australia and internationally. The book provides new understandings about the historical development of this field of knowledge, and in particular the challenging and cyclical nature of its policy history.

This fourth edition of the book attests to the Systems Theory Framework’s contemporary relevance. It introduces systems theory and the STF, overviews extant career theory, describes the STF’s applications, and highlights the STF’s contributions and future directions.

The Living Systems Theory of Vocational Behavior and Development (LSVD) explains and illustrates the processes by which individuals construct their work experiences, vocational pathways and career patterns through episodes of interaction with affordances they recognize within their contexts, and how counseling can facilitate those processes. The LSVD was created by combining the scientifically based systems theory that explicates the dynamics of all aspects of human functioning and development, called Humans as Self-Constructing Living Systems, with important ideas about vocational behavior and development. The resulting integrative theory represents the individual person as a dynamic, self-directing and self-constructing entity, i.e., a living system. Behavior Episodes (BEs) are the fundamental, person-in-context, dynamic units of analysis that serve as the “building blocks” by which individuals construct and retain their experiences in patterns that can be reactivated to facilitate future BEs. The book describes how individuals’ history of satisfying BEs and their current activities provide the means by which vocational and career counselors can assist them to create satisfying vocational pathways. It also describes for researchers how new, non-linear, person-centered, quantitative and qualitative research methods can be used to analyze BE patterns to advance understanding of person-level processes that play key roles in individuals’ vocational behavior and development. The LSVD was designed to be not just an integrative framework for the field of career development, but also to reconnect the field to related areas such as human resources and industrial-organizational psychology and to the range of human sciences that have already embraced a living systems theoretical model.

"Abstract: The handbook seeks to provide a state-of-the-art reference point for the field of career development. It engages in a trans-disciplinary and international dialogue that explores current ideas and debates from a variety of viewpoints including socio-economic, political, educational, and social justice perspectives. Career development is broadly defined to encompass both individuals' experience of their own careers, and the full range of support services for career planning and transitions. The handbook is divided into three sections. The first section explores the economic, educational, and public policy contexts within which careers are enacted. The second section explores the rich conceptual landscape of career theory. The third section addresses the broad spectrum of helping practices to support both individuals and groups including career guidance, career counseling, and career learning interventions. Keywords: Career; career development, career counseling, career guidance, career learning, career theory, public policy, social justice"--

Designed for a broad range of social science scholars, this cross disciplinary anthology presents new ways of viewing careers or how working lives unfold over time.

Career Development: A Human Resource Development Perspective second edition offers an integrated framework for career development within the Human Resource function. It goes beyond conventional interventions, providing an interdisciplinary perspective. The authors explore challenges associated with contemporary careers and how a complication of contextual factors, individual attributes, and support mechanisms have and will influence career development. As with the previous edition, McDonald and Hite bring together the strengths of both theory and practical application, offering an integrated framework for career development. New to this edition are: Cases to support further reflection and problem-solving. Supplementary material for each chapter that includes discussion questions and further resources. An enhanced chapter on ethics and social justice. A concluding chapter which explores ongoing trends to expand the career development conversation. This book will help prepare human resource development students, scholars, and practitioners to develop and maintain successful career development programs, and to foster more innovative research that advances the discourse, as well as address their own professional interests.

Discover comprehensive coverage of leading research and theory in career psychology with the newest edition of a canonical work The newly revised and thoroughly updated third edition of Career Development and Counseling retains many features of the celebrated second edition, including in-depth coverage of major theories of career development, interventions and assessment systems across the life span, and the roles of diversity, individual differences, and social factors in career development. This new edition also covers essential new material on emerging topics like: The future of work and preparing people for work in the new economy The psychology of working theory Working with older adults and retirees Working with the unemployed and underemployed Calling, work meaning, career adaptability, and volition This book illuminates scientifically informed career practices from an interdisciplinary perspective, engaging readers with concrete strategies and practical tips for working with clients of all kinds. Drawing on vocational, industrial, organizational, and personality psychology, Career Development and Counseling is ideal for graduate students at the masters and doctoral levels in counseling, counseling psychology, counselor education, and educational psychology.

This volume will examine the historical emergence of the concept of career including early ideas about the meaning and role of work and how it fits with life. The concept of career development is of relatively recent origin. It was not until the early 20th Century that serious attention was given to the role of work and career as it applied to the common man. While the concept of “vocation” has historical roots that date back centuries, vocation (or calling) was typically only applied to the professions of the clergy, law and medicine. These individuals had careers, while the common man had a job. Perhaps the most significant event that changed both the labor market and the associated socio-cultural values about work was the 2nd World War. The technological advances that were brought about by the war were profound in terms of changing the nature of work, and the war brought about a significant change in the gender makeup of our labor force as millions of women entered the labor market to support the war effort. The combined effects of technology, a radical new value system, and a burgeoning economy changed everything.

With more than 400 articles, the Encyclopedia of Career Development is the premier reference tool for research on career-related topics. Covering a broad range of themes, the contributions represent original material written by internationally-renowned scholars that view career development from a number of different dimensions. This multidisciplinary resource examines career-related issues from psychological, sociological, educational, counseling, organizational behavior, and human resource management perspectives. Key Features Offers introductory materials prepared by the editors and supplementary appendices on select topics Incorporates global, cultural, and international dimensions of careers and examines the social context of careers such as the contemporary work environment, emerging values in society, gender and ethnicity, social class, and work-family interface Explores the evolution of careers, including career stages, patterns, and transitions, as well as variations in the meaning of career success Discusses career decision-making strategies, and looks at legislative, regulatory, and labor relations decrees that influence career development and decision making Analyzes initiatives used by employers, counselors, and society to promote the effective development of careers The Encyclopedia of Career Development is a leading edge reference tool that is recognized as a "must have" for libraries in the United States and around the world. In addition, corporations and career centers will also want to add this valuable set to their collections.