Strategic Career Design Module 3 Lecture Slides_2025_RR

Module Overview

• Strategic Career Design

• Module Three: Careers in Context: Historical Perspectives

• Presented by Curtin University

Assessment Details

• Assessment 2: Career Passport

  • Module 1: Employability Survey completed

  • Group work for Team Assessment and completion of Team Contracts in this week

Weekly Lecture Summaries

• Week 1: Introduction to Life Design and Gravity Problems

• Week 2: Review of at least 5 Career Theories and understanding the Kaleidoscope Model

• Requirement: Read 2-3 peer-reviewed journal articles from the Reading List

• Career Plan: 40% assessment due in 3 weeks

Module Objectives

• Understand various historical perspectives on career development

• Differentiate between distinct perspectives

• Analyze the impact of these perspectives on current career theory

Contextual Framework of Careers

• Quote: "Careers do not exist in a vacuum; they exist in a context of external structures and events that create opportunities and difficulties."

• Case Study on Fleur:

  • Contextual factor: Labour market impact on career choice

  • Fleur's wish to be a painter is hindered due to no market demand for painters.

Case Study Discussion Questions

• Should Fleur have pursued her passion?

• What would her career compass look like?

• Evaluation of advice given by her mother.

• Analysis of where Fleur's choices may have deviated.

Sociological Perspectives on Careers

Introduction

• Late 19th Century Sociological Contributions:

  • Workers need precise skill sets for efficiency

  • Specialization led to specific trades and guilds, akin to trade unions.

  • Concept of 'career' adopted by the Chicago School of Sociology in the 1960s: an individual's life history within formal societal roles.

Contributions

• Acknowledgment of social class, gender, ethnicity, and education in shaping careers

• Limited individual impact on career paths due to overwhelming contextual and structural factors

• Interpretation of careers influenced by:

  • Family background

  • Ethnicity

  • Gender

  • Social status/class

• Upcoming discussion on caste-based cultural differences.

Role of Family in Career Decisions

• Family influence is crucial in career decision-making processes.

• Connection between family support and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy (CDSE).

• Negative impact of coercive advice versus supportive guidance from parents.

Impact of Sociological Factors

• Research indicated that home libraries significantly enhance children's education, regardless of parental education levels.

• Conclusion: Context is crucial for understanding career pathways; pessimism is unnecessary if one is aware of these contextual influences.

Psychological Perspectives on Career Development

Introduction

• Emphasis on adaptation of individuals to job roles, termed as 'vocation'.

• Focus on person-job fit and personality traits relevant to career choices.

• Ongoing use of outdated psychological tests for job suitability despite evidence of their flaws.

Key Flaws in Psychological Assessments

• Tests often rely on binary classifications that do not accurately reflect the human experience.

Organisational Perspectives

• Emphasis on the linkage between person and organisation fit, and evolved HRM systems.

• Growth of 'boundaryless' and Kaleidoscope careers impacting organisational loyalty and skill shortages.

Understanding Factors Impacting Career Paths

Factors Overview

• Demographic Factors: Age, gender, cultural background, education, skills

• Economic Factors: Economic growth/decline, international trade, COVID's impact on employment

• Labour Market Factors: Changes in industry growth and workforce trends

• Social Factors: Lifestyle choices, work-life balance

• Organisational Factors: Company culture, structure, size

• Technological Factors: Impact of technological advancements

• Chance Factors: Unpredictable events (e.g., natural disasters).

Integrating Perspectives

• Recognition of the interplay between sociological, psychological, and organisational factors in career development.

• Career View: Not a ladder but a journey with milestones and potential life-changing events.

Contemporary Perspectives and Approaches

Introduction

• Modern views redefining careers as journeys influenced by various macro-level trends.

• Key Changes: Transition to full-time work has extended for youth.

  • Increasing time spent in education for job qualification access.

  • Young people's uncertainty about secure employment paths.

New Approaches

• A focus on diversity and the intersection of work, career, and well-being.

• Concept of ‘calling’ is gaining traction: career as a source of purpose that aligns with personal values.

Future Proofing Career Plans

Assessment Details

• Assessment 1: Q&A online session on career planning.

• Engagement with the Curtin Library for referencing guidelines.

• Reflection on both current and future skill gaps.

Resources for Future Proofing Careers

• Diverse reports examining future job markets, the role of young people, and the influence of technology on career structures.

  • Reports from FYA, Ford Motor Company, World Economic Forum, etc.

• Scholarly articles discussing the gig economy, employability concepts, and employment evolution in Australia.

Conclusion

• Importance of the Career Passport to enhance employability skills.

• Encouragement to engage in co-curricular activities to build a robust resume for post-graduate employment.

Thank You

• Presented by Faculty of Business and Law, Curtin University.