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Career Planning
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The Career Development Services and Supports Survey asked respondents to provide a working definition of career development. Definitions varied along a continuum that started from a more traditional vocational approach focusing on immediate educational and occupational/ employment choices towards a broader approach that also included the development of long-term career management skills that could be applied over a lifetime.
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The traditional definition of career development is focussed on the goal of preparing for the world of work. It is seen as encompassing the development of the whole person, but places a critical emphasis on gaining the skills and experience for work in order to find one's vocation in life. The primary goal of this approach is directed to improving one's employability for obtaining meaningful work.
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The second view of career development defines it as a lifelong process of becoming aware of, exploring and experiencing factors that influence various aspects of a person's life. The knowledge, skills and attitudes that evolve through this path of discovery enable planning and decision making not only about work exploration and related employment and vocational choices but also about personal management and life/work skills. Career development is part of lifelong learning, in that personal and vocational skills constantly change and expand during a lifetime in response to career changes and emerging opportunities.
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Reaching consensus on a common definition of career development will be a challenge that needs to be addressed in any proposed career development strategy. This definition will need to be flexible enough to gain the support of all stakeholders.
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