Ch. 8

Our class discussion on narratives was interesting because it was so easily applicable. Many of our group members identified with the pendulum, as we feel we have oscillated between two majors or two prospective career pathways. I can certainly relate to this, as I was between nursing and psychology for a period of my undergraduate career. Currently, I would say I am  a point attractor. Even if I find myself wary or uncertain of my career development choices, I still gravitate toward psychology. I can’t see myself doing anything else. Psychology is my magnet, if you will.

In chapter 8, Brown (2012) highlighted how large the job market is, and how many of these jobs are not tapped into. As there are more than 1,000 occupations in the U.S., I truly cannot even imagine how many opportunities I have never even considered.

I really identified with Brown (2012) on page 186, as he described the criticisms of career fairs. I recall attending a career fair in my undergraduate education at West Chester University, and I would agree that the fair did not represent a variety of occupational choices. I remember representatives from insurance agencies, sales companies, and the American Red Cross. Perhaps some students were interested in these agencies, and the others like them, but I do not feel there wasn’t much diversity among the occupational representatives. Also, it seemed as though most students simply walked through the array of tri-poster boards simply as a way to kill time between classes, and to stock up on giveaway pens and candy. I’m not sure I walked away from the career fair feeling any more informed about my options or what direction I wished to proceed. I enjoyed Brown’s suggestion – that we should survey students about the occupations they would like to see present at the career fair. I believe this would certainly improve student attendance and participation, as well as be more helpful to the student body.

When I read about job shadowing, I reflected on my past as well and I don’t recall this opportunity ever being offered to me. Perhaps it was and I was simply unable to participate. I know both my mother and father’s careers would not allow shadowing, as my mother was an ICU nurse, and my father was a boiler plant technician. My personal experience made me consider how many jobs are unobservable for younger age groups. Naturally, it would have been risky for me as a child or young adolescent to be present in a hospital setting for obvious reasons, as well as due to confidentiality laws and whatnot. My father’s job was simply dangerous, as there were many boilers and valves. Job shadowing certainly seems useful if it is possible, but clearly there are some limitations.

Brown, D. (2007). Career information, career counseling, and career development (9h ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc