Our world is ever changing. What may be the normal behavior one year may change the next. Knowing this, businesses owners and teachers often reexamine one career development theory out of many theories and fit it into modern times.
Individuals go through the process of career development to learn more about themselves and their career paths knowing a combination of the two leads them to self identity in American society. Those who take courses and seminars, join internships and apprenticeships, and continue research tend to succeed in their careers better than those who stop, or slow down the learning process after they begin a career. Businesses know and rely on this to stay ahead of other companies.
One early career development theory focused on stages concerning the adolescent phase, the preteen through teen phase, and young adulthood. The adolescent phase details that the world is open to the child. "What do I want to be when I grow up" is thought of, but isn't important. For instance, one adolescent may pretend to be a dancer, while at the same time she wants to be a doctor, a scientist, a veterinarian, and an artist. She is too young yet to know if she will want to follow these career choices later in life.
In the preteen to teen phase of this career development theory, the individual starts to lean towards what she likes to do. What areas she excels at and finds useful. The female in the earlier example has only a passing interest in dancing and art. Her activities and knowledge begins to lean towards science and health while preferring to study the ins and outs of domestic animals. This is when she considers research and classes she will need to continue in these fields. Through the career development theory we see she is starting to think more about what she wants to be when she grows up.
The final step in this career development theory is the individual's preferences, likes and dislikes that lead her to the career she eventually chooses. In this example, the female decides she would rather work more with animals than people and chooses to become a veterinarian. She now needs to go beyond high school, take required courses, and train with professionals in order to take on her career goal.
This is only one of many career development theories and among some of those that omitted the poor, women, and people of minority at the time. Newer theories encompass everyone of wealth, genre, and race with a better understanding of how career development continues through each individual.
Career development planning for the individual is focused on present skills, future training and personal growth. Today more and more individuals take it upon his or herself to get the education needed and the work done in order to succeed in a chosen profession.
The more employees' work on career development planning the better prepared they will be to enter the workplace, or continue higher up the ladder. Career development planning works in various stages. Some people deliberately work towards each stage, while others skip around to only those that are needed at the present and near future.
Short term career development planning forces the person to think realistically about what he or she can accomplish within a three to five year timeframe. Schooling, location, costs and skills all come into play during this phase.
Long term career development planning stages keeps the individual motivated. It is an ongoing process of assessing present day skills and a desire to expand and use them in advancement.
Career development planning counselors can help individuals break out of repeated behavior or the guilty feeling that comes with changing the career path. In order to succeed the person is required to ignore the inner and outside voices that try to (intentionally or unintentionally) block their progress. Family pressures are one of the biggest barriers, such as a family member who expected the person to join the family business, or believing the person's career choice is beneath them. Lack of motivation and procrastination are other barriers. A person may put off dropping a job they dislike for one they will feel fulfilled by because the security of having a current job and the uncertainty involved in starting a new career. This is especially true when the full time worker is supporting children.
Some people feel paralyzed when they wish to take their career into a new direction. Fear of failure, of taking their family down the wrong path and losing everything can force the most talented among us to change their mind. A career development planning counselor can help an individual through short term and long term planning stages while helping remove some of the worries and pressures that come with a career change.
Career development sites and conferences provide interested individuals with information that covers what types of classes and courses they offer, available instructors, and class and environment requirements. Articles on career development planning stages and worksheets are available online for free through various institutions. Worksheets include checklists and goals for specific careers, or general questions for anyone to use.
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