Monday, November 11, 2013

Weekly Blog - Brown (13,18) & Granello

After reading chapter thirteen and eighteen of Brown’s (2012) text and Granello’s (2001) article, I was able to make connections between the content of these readings and class on November 6th. In chapter eighteen, Brown (2012) shares many trends and predictions regarding the future of career development. In summary, Brown (2012) expects to see an increase in the quantity, quality, and accessibility of occupational information. However, this information will likely be promoted to the independent seeker, as graduate school educators and researchers will likely reduce priority in exploring career information through formal courses, studies, and/ or counseling. This was puzzling to me as it was also predicted that the complexity of job searches in the future will increase. It seems that the demand for career counseling will increase. Thus, availability of these resources should also increase, but Brown (2012) predicts a possible decrease in specific career programs, due to educational reforms and outsourcing. We have discussed in class how important these services are to individuals of all ages. Decreasing these career development programs may also lead to a decrease in occupational awareness and career satisfaction.
Brown (2012) notes populations in great need of career services are the graduates of postsecondary institutions, seeking assistance in linking their educational attainment with their career goals. Granello (2001) mentions how students may utilize their knowledge and educational background in the most effective manner to transform basic knowledge into comprehensive evaluations. In class we discussed that the evaluation level of Bloom’s taxonomy will help individuals reach the most comprehensive stage of understanding so that they may make intellectual evaluations of research through their education and during job searches. Brown (2012, p. 294) highlights the need for career development programs within the student population, "Sixty-four percent of college graduates would try to get more career information if they were starting over." From personal experience, I believe career development would have been extremely beneficial in high school and early college years to clearly define a career path and a plan for attaining career goals.
In chapter thirteen, Brown (2012) explains that career counseling in the postsecondary educational setting is often facilitated through individual, group, and/ or computerized services. Depending on the intensity of the search and the motivational style of the individual, the individual can appropriately select one of these services based on his or her personal needs. Individuals who are extrinsically motivated or have an intense occupational need may benefit most from individual career counseling, or possibly group sessions. Individuals who are intrinsically motivated, casually seek occupational services, or seek a job change may have a low intensity and benefit most from self-directed computerized services. It continues to be increasingly important for counselors to promote career theories and research to keep career development services alive in order to assist the populations of career seekers in need of assistance.

Brown, D. (2012).  Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

Granello, D. (2001). Promoting cognitive complexity in graduate written work: Using Bloom's taxonomy as a pedagogical tool to improve literature reviews. Counselor Education & Supervision, 40(4), 292.

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