MCS: Lecture II

Employability v Careers

E: A set of achievements, that make individuals likely to gain employment and be successful.

C: a unique and lifelong process for each individual

Theories of Career Development

Trait and Factor: There is an ideal job out there for everyone, which they can be matched to

Developmental Approach: Self-concept changes over time and develops due to experience. Career development is lifelong.

Opportunity Structure: People are constrained in their choice of occupations by variables outside of their control

Planned Happenstance: Unplanned events are crucial in career development

Social Cognitive Theory: Self-efficacy & self-belief are key to career development. People move towards jobs or careers they believe they can do, and away from those they don’t

“assumes that humans learn behaviour through observational learning—in other words, people can learn by watching models and imitating their behaviour.”