An introduction to contemporary career thinking

The concept of a career has evolved significantly since Frank Parsons began exploring it in the early 1900s (when a career was often referred to as a vocation). Contemporary career thinking supports the view that the work we do is all-encompassing, and greatly influences all our life roles. 

A person’s career is seen as a combination of roles at work, in the home, in the community and during leisure time. Career development is recognised as moving into more challenging areas of increasing a person’s specific skills and talents, and involving them in a path of lifelong learning, both professionally and personally, to maintain employment.

The term career has different meanings to different people. Due to vast changes in technology and the structure of society, we now have the new concept of the career with no boundaries, where people need to be self-managing. 

Career counselling is no longer simply about helping people to find jobs, so it is important that career professionals not only acquire knowledge of career counselling techniques, but also utilise many different strategies and interventions. Contemporary definitions of career, after 1980, have evolved to include the following eight themes: