By: Satyendra Kumar Singh, Executive Editor-ICN Group
LUCKNOW: The career guidance includes self-development, career exploration and career management. It also helps the people to identify and use their skills to go ahead with their career of interest. Thus, it can be said that career guidance helps in identifying interests and other traits that helps in selection of a profession. This guidance helps in preparation of resume, searching information for particular job and arranging for developmental workshops.
The internships or apprenticeship training must be promoted as well. The industry and academics has a very important role to play so that the job and skill related deficit may be compensated well enough by raising the standards of the skill and vocational development at the very root level i.e. academic level itself. This needs to target the three main groups i.e. students, their teachers and parents.
The career counselling can be conducted on individual basis as well as for a group (8 to 15 persons). Generally, such sessions take around 45 minutes. If there is a larger group i.e. 15 to 30 persons then such a counselling is done in the form of a seminar. Such seminars are held for a particular topic or certain assessment tests may be conducted as well. Such a seminar usually lasts for around 2 hours. Now-a-days online counselling sessions are also available provided you have a good internet connection. It is recommended that the teachers and parents should take part in such seminars to learn more about the finishing line of any course i.e. job and career. These sessions are very informative as they include the tools like questionnaire, brainstorming, interviews, role-plays, simulation games etc. Such sessions also give necessary know-how for searching as well as applying for the jobs. The personality development module has to be an integral part of such events/sessions.
My personal belief is that career education should be made compulsory so that every student is told about their career path. This would enable to prepare on a very early stage. This would not only reduce the burden on the teachers and parents but would also help grow the economy and human development index.
Generally, the career-related information and guidance are sought from friends and acquaintances. The Internet is another major source for such information. Such information may not be adequate as it may reflect the preferences based on individual personality. Another issue may arise that most of the teachers who are involved in career guidance are actually not trained enough for such a valuable responsibility. Proper care must be taken that such career assistance program does not remain as a time-table activity only. The soul and heart of the teachers need to be devoted towards this noble activity.
The new trend that has seen its presence in recent times is the internet based counselling and tele-counselling. Such moves are appreciable however care must be taken about the authenticity and richness of information provided by such channels. Moreover, such channels lack individual attention and there is time constraint as well. A major chunk of such information is readily there on the internet. However, people find it comfortable with the traditional paper-based information sources on the ground of familiarity and comfort. Therefore, such a valuable traditional source should be able to furnish the necessary information that a student may seek for. Such crucial knowledge is about academic curriculum, courses, and admission procedures etc.
Many psychometrical tools are available now-a-days that tell assess and inform about the career interests of individuals along with their personality traits and preferences etc. Once the results of such tools come into existence then the focus of the counsellor should take into consideration the individual and society needs along with the activities to improve the employability skills of the people. It is the need of the hour that entrepreneurial skills are promoted. The aspirant must be given a chance to meet business professionals who may enrich them with their experiences that they have gained from their business. Such professionals have their own tales of success and they can tell a lot about codes and conducts of business, the legal and other requirements, the nature of expected duties, and the manner in which a transparent business may happen etc.
The aspirant must be told about the occupational profiles along with the required job descriptions, physical and psychological requirements, trends in the job market, etc.
One crucial aspect is the training and exposure of the prospect for multi-discipline skills which always gives an edge over the conventional counselling process.
This also leads to boost your self-esteem which in turn helps to realise your self-worth and value. You will not only find an increase in your confidence level but would also experience improvement in your relations. This will broaden your happiness and achievements. On the other hand, a low self-esteem is a major reason for depression, unhappiness, insecurity and poor confidence. The confidence in turn helps you to avoid negative thoughts and comments. This makes you a better and contended person.
It is better that one understands himself better and Johari Window Theory can assist in this endeavour. Actually, the Johari Window represents information with respect to the feelings, familiarity, views, attitudes, skills, intentions, motivation, etc. This information is the combination of two perspectives i.e. ‘self’ and ‘others’.
The overall purpose of career guidance is to motivate students so that they can differentiate their internal traits with external traits. It should motivate them to work upon their weaknesses.
The basic questions that one needs to ponder and work upon are:
- What is my aim?
- What is the path to achieve my aim?
- What are the areas I need to work upon?
- Who all can help me in my efforts?
- What are the obstacles in between?
- What are my long-term objectives?
- What are my short-term goals?
- What do I need to work on?
- How am I going to make my contribution to the society?
- What qualifications/ skills would help me in achieving my dreams?
- How can I enrich my experience?
- What are the institutions from where I can complete my course?
- What are the eligibility criteria for such a course?
- What are the costs involved?
- Do I need financial assistance? If yes, how can I get it?
- Does my institution provide job assistance?
The above points are much suited for the novice. However those, who are already in job, must understand about the additional qualification required for salary enhancement, promotions, job security etc.
All such questions need to have proper self-identification. The self-identity is the recognition of one’s knowledge and self-understanding. This includes the physical, psychological, social and personal traits like habits, attitudes, ideas and values.
The SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) helps one to get the answers for the above mentioned questions and guides to make a proper career decision.
So, it is important to search for the information and make a note for it. These searches may be from internet or you can visit good libraries if you find the same in your area. This would make you informed regarding career preferences and help you make relevant decisions.
It is a well-known fact that different jobs have different working conditions and hence is the requirement for different skills, strengths and interests. Therefore, one must list their strengths, needs, interests and preferences (SNIP) so that career choice becomes easier. Hence one must look for the following set of questions to gather information for oneself. Make a list of at-least 10 points while you answer the followings. I know it is not easy at all.
- What are your strengths?
- What are the things or activities you like the most?
- What do you want to become?
- Why do you want to become the same?
- What is the plan for the coming one month which helps in your career goal?
- What is the plan for next 3 months?
- What can be your limiting factors?
- How do you intend to overcome these obstacles?
It is crucial to have a follow up mechanism so that you don’t derail from your aspirations. Make a list of achievements made week-wise with the question in the back of the mind ‘how it is going to help me achieving my goals this week?’ What is my action plan if I find any deviation from the schedule?
Such a review mechanism would make your deviations to a minimum level and assist you in achieving your career goals.
It is mandatory to make a list of jobs available. My humble suggestion is that don’t make choice for a conventional job title. You are different so you deserve different. You must have a vision to look for some different job or must have a plan to do it differently.
Select a list of preferred jobs and identify the list of skills required for them. It is vital to know the significance of the skills required.
To Be Continued….
