Theories of Career Development: Educational and Counseling Implications

Career Development is a continuous lifelong process of developmental experiences that focuses on seeking, obtaining and processing information about self, occupational and educational alternatives, life styles and role options. Put another way, career development is the process through which people come to understand them as they relate to the world of work and their role in it. This career development process is where an individual fashions a work identity. In educational development, career development provides a person, often a student, and focus for selecting a career or subject to undertake in the future. Educational institutions provide career counsellors to assist students with their educational development.

It is imperative when educating the young people that the current school systems assist and consider the significance of this responsibility for the youth and their future. The influences on and outcomes of career development are one aspect of socialization as part of a broader process of human development. Theories and research describing career behavior provide the “conceptual glue” for as well as describe where, when and for what purpose career counseling, career education, career guidance and other career interventions should be implemented.  In educational development, career development provides a person, often a student, and focus for selecting a career or subject to undertake in the future. Educational institutions provide career counsellors to assist students with their educational development. The current paper will focus on the various theories related to career development and their educational implications.