Career Counseling

by Mark L. Savickas

Author Mark L. Savickas briefly outlines the history of vocational guidance and career education in contemporary culture, then explains career construction theory as the basis for a postmodern model of career counseling. In this narrative approach, practitioners listen closely to clients' stories to identify the occupational plots, career themes, and character arcs that will be used to design the next scenario in their working lives.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Nonfiction

100 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

Reviews

[JP Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Savickas, a thought-leader in the career development field, has developed a narrative approach to career counselling built for the needs of the 21st century world of work. Through five simple questions, his career construction interview helps people better understand who they are, what they want and what they need to do.

Through this method, I’ve been able to help clients share the stories of their past so they can write their next one. Having used to the method several times since reading the book and training with Dr. Savickas, I know that it is a powerful intervention and a catalyst for meaningful action.

This tool is much different than the more "scientific" tools I use in my practice. This book helped open my eyes to the value of qualitative methods in career counselling. I’ve found the questions to be quite useful in detecting patterns and hidden meaning in the stories clients share about themselves.

In the 21st century world work, where we will be faced with thousands of occupational decisions, the ability to design our lives will become more important than ever. In order to design a meaningful life, the creation of a strong sense of self is required. The career construction interview is an excellent tool to drive this process and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to help others make career decisions.

[Kim Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read to help students evaluate what career path they would like to take after graduation.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the purpose of counseling is to help the client understand themselves and how to create for themselves the most fulfilling life, then the purpose of books about counseling must be something similar. This book has fulfilled its purpose. In my Career Development and Counseling course, my professor referenced this book and some Savickas' ideas and they resonated with me enough to look into the book. It has proven an insightful guide to thinking about one's career and one's life. I believe that I understand myself much better now and can see a clear connection between the ideas that resonate for me and my interests, both personal and professional. I think that the 5 basic questions of career construction counseling that Savickas poses hold the potential to provide great personal insight for people who are ready for them, even if they are not looking to reconstruct their career narrative. I am in the process of reconstructing mine and I have learned a lot. Highly recommend.

[Roni White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and instructional

This book is excellent for career counselors and counselors. It provides relevant and useful information. The book is basically a training guide that is poetically well written and engaging.