Competencies for the Contemporary Career: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Career Competencies Questionnaire

an article by Jos Akkermans, Veerle Brenninkmeijer and Marthe Huibers (Utrecht University, The Netherlands) and Roland W. B. Blonk (Utrecht University, The Netherlands and TNO, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands) published in Journal of Career Development Volume 40 Number 3 (June 2013)

Abstract

A new and promising area of research has recently emerged in the field of career development: career competencies.

The present article provides a framework of career competencies that integrates several perspectives from the literature. The framework distinguishes between reflective, communicative, and behavioral career competencies.

Six career competencies are discerned:

• reflection on motivation,
• reflection on qualities,
• networking,
• self-profiling,
• work exploration, and
• career control.

Based on this framework, we developed the Career Competencies Questionnaire (CCQ) and preliminarily validated it in two samples of young employees between 16 and 30 years of age. The results provided initial support for the content, factorial, discriminant, and incremental validity of the CCQ.

We hope to stimulate further discussion, research, and development of interventions in the area of career development. Implications for theory and practice are also discussed.

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