Blossom Into You

What is career development?

The world of work changed tremendously over the past few decades and as time goes by the pace of change will just speed up.  The definition of work has evolved and now covers a wide range of productive activity, both paid and unpaid, full-time, part-time, casual and contracted employment, family responsibilities, voluntary and community service, school study, further education and training as well as cultural activities and includes a bigger focus on work-life balance.  Because of longer life expectancy we have to work more years and this has opened up the opportunity for people to change jobs in their later years to start doing something more fulfilling, more in line with their values, passion and purpose, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.  As the world of work is constantly changing, it is more important to focus on the individual and the development of their skills for a variety of jobs, rather than just focusing on preparing for one specific job with a limited skill set.  The onus is also on the individual to take personal responsibility and self-manage their own career proactively and continuously, to become self-educators and self-motivators.

Why do I need a career counsellor?

In the past it was only young people who went to career counsellors for advice but because people don’t work for the same employer their whole life anymore, and have to change jobs more often, more mature people are also seeking out career advice.  Multiple work transitions requires the individual to know more about how to find new job opportunities, write resumes and cover letters, prepare for interviews and how to identify and apply their transferable skills.  There is a wealth of information available on the internet regarding the labour market, jobs and the job search process, education and further training, and a career counsellor can break the process down and help the client find and focus on what is applicable to him/her.  One of the biggest obstacles today is the fear of change.  People don’t like change and most would prefer things to stay the same.  The person who wants to survive in today’s job market is the one who will be able to learn how to handle, live with and creatively embrace change.  A career counsellor can help clients work constructively through any career transition.