Background, Personal, and Environmental Influences on the Career Planning of Adolescent Girls

an article by Alexandra Novakovic (DePaul University, Chicago, USA) and Nadya A. Fouad (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, USA) published in Journal of Career Development Volume 40 Number 3 (June 2013)

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of background variables (age, race/ethnicity, mother’s work status outside of the home, and socioeconomic status), personal variables (anticipatory role conflict and academic self-efficacy), and environmental variables (parental attachment and parental support) on aspects of adolescent girls’ career planning.

Four hierarchical regression analyses were performed with a sample of 217 adolescent females in an urban high school. The dependent variables representing aspects of future career planning were

1. plans for the integration of work and family;
2. gender-traditionality of career choice;
3. career commitment; and
4. aspired education level.

Personal variables made the greatest contribution to adolescent girls’ plans for the integration of work and family and career commitment.

Background variables contributed most to gender-traditionality of career choice and aspired education level. Environmental variables did not make significant contributions to any of the dependent variables.

Results and implications for counsellors and educators are discussed.

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Five steps to a recession proof career

an article by Jan Reuter (Based at Adaptable Careers, Ladysmith, Canada) published in Industrial and Commercial Training Volume 45 Issue 1 (2013)

Abstract

Purpose
Would you like to take control of your career so that you are not at the whim of the employer or the economy? The aim of this paper is to learn how to apply successful small business strategies to your career so that you are in charge.

Design/methodology/approach
Learn how to apply successful small business strategies to your career so that you are in charge. This article will help you to look at your career through the lens of an entrepreneur taking a product to market – in this case the product is you! The five steps include:

• assessing the strengths, capabilities and skills of your product;
• reviewing what the market wants;
• analysing the gaps between your product and what the market wants;
• planning the further development of your product; and
• marketing your product.

Findings
As of July 9 the author is launching a survey to gather success stories of how people have recession proofed their careers. However at the time of this writing the findings from that survey are not available.

Practical implications
These practical steps are easy to apply and can give your career the boost it needs in these uncertain economic times.

Originality/value
While many authors have given the advice to either treat your career as a business or to be the Chief Executive Officer of your career, “Five steps to a recession proof career” provides practical advice on how to actually achieve that goal.

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Do You Have a Career Plan? That's Nice. Now It's Time to Improvise.

Daniel Honan, writing in Big Think, uses the example of Ann Veneman to show that a direct trajectory to a fixed goal is not always the best way of achieving success.

Ms Veneman has broken so many glass ceilings that she is understandably asked about her career strategy quite often. One would assume that the former Secretary of Agriculture had a very clear career plan right from the start. And yet, Veneman tells Big Think her approach was very unorthodox, as she rose to a cabinet post in the White House and a top leadership position at the UN.

According to Veneman, career success for her was a matter of taking advantage of opportunities, not having a set plan.

The short piece in Big Think contains a video clip [the sound and vision tracks are way out of sync!]

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Can your favorite color determine your perfect job?

via bizSugar / Hot Topics by suzyQ on 19 September

Do you ever wish finding the perfect job could be as easy as one, two, three? According to new research, it might be as easy as red, yellow or blue.

Hazel's comment:

“Impossible” do I hear you say? Think again!

Read the full article and then link through to take the test for yourself. You will need to provide a name and a valid email address and a bit of information about yourself (which could be completely false!)

It's free to get some ideas but the full report (if you want it) will set you back $19.95

I went for the freebie (of course) and was told that firstly I'm a CREATOR

• Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

and secondly that I'm a PERSUADER

• Witty, Competitive, Sociable, Talkative, Ambitious, Argumentative, and Aggressive

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Many UK workers think they made the wrong choice in study and career

via Onrec.com - United Kingdom headlines on 1 September

Almost half of all workers in the United Kingdom say that if given the chance, they would have studied something totally different after leaving school, while one in five say they chose the wrong career, according to a new international workplace survey.

Read the full article

No comment.

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Women and science / engineering

Comment first -- link afterwards
Why don't more women go into science and engineering? "Shocking" new research suggests that they actually aren't interested in a career in either of these areas.
Actually the article in by Elaine McArdle in The Boston Globe (18 May) uses "controversial" and "startling" rather than "shocking" but you get the picture. I found this via Arts & Letters Daily -- a source that is very close to the top of my favourites list for interest reading rather than the more serious side of life.
Interesting, which didn't actually shock me, was the idea that although there are many women qualified to take up careers in physics and high-level engineering they actually prefer to go into more "people-facing" work.

Read the full article

Not Going to Uni!

Text from the site, which is still under contruction but looks very interesting, says:

Are you leaving college and want to know the alternatives to higher education?
Are you currently unhappy at university?
You may even be a parent worried about your children's options or an employer wishing to seek a dynamic and fresh new employee.
At Not Going To Uni we understand your needs.

Did you know?
Recent research shows that 3 years after graduation, 60% of graduates are in jobs which do not require a degree.
The average student is lumbered with a £15,000 debt, some rising to over £30,000 with the average "debt sentence" being 11 years!
The pressure of going to university is set to grow with the government's plans to have 40% of the British workforce to be qualified to degree level by 2020.
Despite an £800m attempt to prevent it, almost 1 in 4 students leave university before completing their studies.

This site which is promoting the idea that university is not the answer for all is an antidote, perhaps, to all those places where "university is good for you" is all you can read.

Career Planning from Learning Matters (Updated)

I am a fan of Learning Matters' online self-help learning materials for business-related subjects. This is "bite-sized" learning taken to the extreme. Most of the topics are covered by a four- or five-page checklist with FAQs and an action plan, cost £2 (worth paying if you only want one topic NOW because you need to answer that question NOW) and take about 20 minutes to work through.

OK, why am I telling you this? Because I recently came across the range of career planning materials that Learning Matters produces -- found it as a result of a friend asking for help, as they do!

Brilliant!

My friend doesn't need a full career planning course just a nudge in the right direction so we sat down and found three of the subjects which would be perfect for her.

You may find that your clients will benefit similarly.

Full list as at 06/02/2008
Apply for an Internal Vacancy
Are You in the Right Job?
Assessing Your Entrepreneurial Profile: Do You Have What It Takes?
Choosing the Right First Job
Consider Taking a Career Break
Cope with a Nightmare Boss
Create a Career Plan
Creating and Balancing the Portfolio Career
Developing an International Career
Downshifting: Working Less and Enjoying It More
Do You Have the Skills to Be Your Own Boss?
Enter an Entirely New Field
Finding and Working with Search Organisations
Finding a New Challenge
Finding Your Calling and Living Your Passion: The Dream Job
Get the Pay Rise You Deserve
Getting Paid What You’re Worth: How to Assess Your Value in the Marketplace
Getting Promoted: Forget Your Boss, Serve Your Customers
Getting the Most from Your Professional Career Adviser (I like it - a professional career adviser I ain't but it looks as though this will allow clients to work out if they're paying the right person for the right service!)
Go Freelance
Identifying Your Marketable Skills
Know When it’s Time to Move On
Leaving with Style: How to Exit with Dignity
Looking for Work When You Go Freelance
Make the Decision to Take a Risky Career Move
Make Yourself PromotableManage Dual-Career Dilemmas
Managing a Portfolio Career
Managing Upwards: Making Your Boss Your Strongest Ally
Move Sideways: Reap the Benefits of a Lateral Move
Preparing for Retirement with Dignity and Grace
Reinvent Yourself
Researching the Job Market
Return to Work after a Career Break
Revitalise Your CV
Staying Marketable: Identifying Your Transferable Skills
Survive Redundancy
Test the Waters: Learn How to Network
Understand Your Values
Using the Web As a Career Resource (I might even buy this one for myself just so I work out the best way to help you use the Internet for your clients)
(UPDATE: but not when it syas it's about writing CVs in Word and using Netscape as browser)
Virtual Jobs: Staying Connected and Visible While Teleworking
Weigh Up the Pros and Cons of Looking for a New Job
Winning CVs: Creating a Marketing Tool that Gets You the Interview
Working in Interim Management