The influence of opportunity structures in shaping individual career development

A hallmark of career development and counseling is exploring various career options throughout life. With the rapid changes in the work world, from globalization of the workforce to technological developments the process of career exploration has evolved and continues to change. The first chapter in this book reviews the theories and research regarding career development and barriers to career exploration, including personal variables and relationships, challenges to exploring careers as well as resources available to aid in the career exploration process. Chapter two focuses upon the influence of opportunity structures in shaping individual career development. Chapter three provides valuable new knowledge and insights relevant to career development theory that could potentially inform human resource practices aimed at promoting change-supportive and adaptive behaviours in a knowledge-driven economy and society. Chapter four studies career counseling for people in psychosocial situations of vulnerability and flexicurity. Chapter five analyzes the different kinds of fears that may arise during job search, and provides mini-tasks focusing on changing limiting thought patterns and beliefs and on assisting in the management of fears and other obstacles or negative emotions. Chapter six applies concepts of emotional intelligence, emotional labour (EL) and career adaptability (CA) to explore how these variables may relate to kindergarten teachers’ avoidance of professional burnout and their ability to cope with career challenges. The last chapter reviews the historical background and theoretical development of the feedback construct in the broader social sciences, proposes a definition of career-related feedback applicable to young adults, critically reviews the literature on the construct of career-related feedback in the context of goal-oriented theories, and, finally, explores the practical implications for career practitioners who work with young adults