Chapter 17 blog

I really enjoyed the Middle School group’s presentation last week. They integrated career lessons and interventions thoughtfully and creatively with many different school subjects. The math class exercise was particularly helpful because it highlighted the relationship between level of education and salary in a clear, easy to understand way. As I tried thinking through the lens of a middle schooler, I was challenged to think about possible bills and other expenses. I was given the job of a grocery store cashier making $18,000. While this not exactly a lot of money, one must also consider that it could potentially be supplemented with another income. It would also be worth considering the individual’s quality of life. We are assuming that a person working as a cashier making $18,000 would lead a terrible life, when in reality, that person may be happy living a simple life. It’s also important to note that although the individual works a low-paying job now, they may have opportunities for advancement to manger and supervisor positions after gaining more experience. People often think of jobs as a cashier, clerk, waitress, etc. as a dead-end job, which it certainly could be, but it’s also important to mention to career counseling clients that there are opportunities for advancement.

It is important to examine trends in the labor force and the factors that influence them. In order for any career counselor to be effective, they must have accurate knowledge about the world of work at both the global or international level, as well as the national and local level. As I was reading Brown’s (2012) chapter this week, I couldn’t help but wonder if (and how many) career counseling or school counseling majors/professionals are required to take business and economics courses as part of their training. I know that coming from a Clinical Psychology background, I was never required to take any of those courses, although I do think they would be interesting and beneficial.

As career counselors are considering future trends in the workforce, it is important for them to understand what industries are projected to grow and decline the most. Brown (2012) mentioned that service-oriented fields will be growing the most, particularly in healthcare. This makes sense as medical and pharmaceutical advances have helped individuals live longer, healthier lives. Because people are living so much longer, we are experiencing some diseases at rates we have never seen before, in particular, the prevalence of dementia, which increases with age. As the aging population grows, there will be an increasing number of older adults in personal care homes, skilled-nursing facilities, and nursing homes. Career counselors can emphasize to students concerned with job security that the healthcare field is projected to grow in the future. Then the career counselor and student can work collaboratively to decide what career path is best for them given their skills, interests, and goals. This could include anything from a Personal Care Assistant or Licensed Practical Nurse, to a Social Services Director in a Dementia Unit or a Neuropsychologist. 

Reference:

Brown, D. (2012). Trends in the labor market and the factors that shape them. In Career Information, Career Counseling, and Career Development (10th ed., pp. 362-371). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.