Careers Guidance Theories and Models

Table of Contents

1. Careers Guidance - Supporting Students in their Career Decision Making
2. Careers Guidance - Theories and Models Underpinning Careers Guidance
3. The Philosophy of Student Support
4. What is Careers Guidance (in the context of the tutor role)?
5. Theories underpinning Careers Guidance
6. Two models for Careers Guidance Interviewing
7. Further Reading
8. Self Test Questions
9. Further Information

Theories underpinning Careers Guidance

There are 4 main areas of careers theory which draw on a range of disciplines from sociology to psychology to counselling.

They are:-

Differentialist - Trait Factor Theory

Concerns itself with:-

• The role of aptitude, ability and personality in career decision making.
• A person "fitting" into particular environments.

Developmental - Self Concept Theory

Concerns itself with:-

• The different roles that we play over a lifetime.
• How we and others see ourselves.

Structural - Opportunity Structure

Concerns itself with:-

• Career opportunities being determined by factors such as social class, gender, family background, ethnicity.

Behavioural - Community Interaction, Career Learning & Planned Happenstance

Concerns itself with:-

• The many external influences on career decision making.
• Developing transferable skills.
• Transforming unplanned events into opportunities for learning.

University of Leeds, School of Medicine