Canadian Journal of Career Development

Development of a Digital Self-help Tool for People Seeking Information (LMI) for Educational and Vocational Guidance in the Field of Educational and Vocational Guidance

Annie Gourde, Michel Turcotte, Liette Goyer — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Labour market information (LMI) is an integral part of the professional practice of guidance counsellors, as well as employment and career development advisors. The aim of this partnership-based applied research project was to create a digital platform designed to facilitate the use of LMI for guidance counsellors and their clients. To this end, we will report on the five stages that led to the design and production of this digital platform: ideation and determination of the digital platform's objectives, functionalities, needs and target clienteles, co-design of the platform's design, analysis of user needs, technical development of the platform and assessment by career counsellors. This research revealed that, according to a study conducted by the Conseil de l'information sur le marché du travail (CIMT, 2019), the most important LMI features for advisors are: timeliness, reliability, ease of use, completeness and specificity. This research also determined that L'Accompagnateur numérique en IMT meets the needs of counsellors by being easy to use and listing an appreciable number of websites (75) while categorizing them into different sections to aid the LMI search.

Global Ambitions, Local Support. Understanding Faculty Influence on International Students' Career Development

Christina Page, Candy Ho — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

International students’ education and migration journeys have become more prominent in public discourse, often with stereotypes of students as low-wage workers rather than emerging professionals. When their own narratives are centred, however, international students emphasize their hopes for faculty and institutional support in reaching their career aspirations. These aspirations may also be linked to post-graduate work permits or migration plans. A student-centred faculty intercultural teaching taxonomy developed at a Western Canadian postsecondary institution highlights five faculty practices that support career development: (1) affirming students’ skills, knowledge, and experience; (2) recognizing non-academic factors, including present work, in students’ lives; (3) supporting transition to the labour market; (4) building connections with students; and (5) demonstrating cultural sensitivity. This web of practices highlights the faculty career influencer function. As career influencers, faculty can recognize the systemic barriers students face in their education and immigration journeys, guide students in questioning dominant narratives, provide support and advocacy in pursuing meaningful professional career paths, and serve as advocates. International students identify faculty as key career influencers. Institutional support and faculty development are required help faculty take a holistic view of students’ career journeys and recognize their critical role as influencers, guides, and advocates.

An Axe and a Handshake – A Scoping Review of the Transition from Public Safety Occupations

Marilyn Cox, Heidi Cramm — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Exiting a public safety occupation (e.g., paramedics, police, firefighters) and entering retirement is unique in many ways. There are heightened risks and demands associated with essential emergency services that involve personal sacrifices and commitment and the absence of this intense role is significant requiring an adjustment. Public safety personnel (PSP) leave their professions for various reasons including age-related retirement and forced retirement due to illness or injury and little is known about their experiences during the transition. The objective of this review is to summarize the existing body of research.

The methodology for scoping reviews outlined in the five-stage framework by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) was followed. Abstract screening of 5,801 papers yielded 128 studies for full-text screening. Forty-five papers were accepted by at least two of three reviewers for data extraction and analysis. High level themes emerged including cumulative impacts, separation from identity and culture, and buffers.

The study found that there is a need for planning and support for those exiting public safety professions. Financial planning is the focus of pre-planning when it exists and applied research is needed to further understand psychosocial risk and protective factors to support the development of acceptable transition strategies and resources.

Emotional Intelligence and Career Wellbeing

Charles P. Chen — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the human emotional aptitude that represents an inherent ability for learning or understanding in human interaction and interpersonal relationships. Research suggests that social and emotional competency, as represented by EI, are significant predictors of individuals' success in their lives and careers. To this end, this article addresses the role of EI in the context of vocational and career psychology. Guided and informed by major career theories, it will propose counselling interventions that may help individuals with low EI enhance their capacity to cope with their vocational life more effectively

Career Development Practices: What Theories and Models Have to Offer

Nancy Arthur, Roberta Borgen, Mary McMahon — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Career theory serves as a crucial foundation for practice, yet its relevance is sometimes questioned due to a perceived gap between theory and its practical application. We contend that the practical utility of theory should be a central criterion in evaluating contemporary career theories and models. This study aimed to bridge the gap between theory and practice by analyzing the practical applications of 43 career theories and models featured in Career Theories and Models at Work: Ideas for Practice (Arthur et al., 2019). Through thematic analysis, eight foundational themes emerged that support theory-driven practice. We argue that, regardless of their theoretical orientation, career practitioners can benefit from understanding and applying these themes. The results are discussed with a focus on making career theories and models more accessible for integration into practice. Practice points developed by the contributing chapter authors are provided, illustrating how specific theories and models informed the eight themes. Suggestions are offered for aligning the themes with professional standards and guidelines, and for improving learning and supervision.

Assessing the Fidelity of STEM Professional Identity Statuses using Cut-Off Scores for Small Populations

Michelle Head, Sarah Wilson — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

This study utilized a cross-sectional research study design to compare identity status assignments based on the Professional Identity Status Questionnaire (PISQ-5d) categories scores for affirmation, in-depth exploration, practices, commitment, and reconsideration of commitment via both cluster analysis and cutoff scores with respect to the two-factor, three-factor, or five-factor identity status models proposed by Marcia, Crocetti, and Kelly, respectively. The purpose of this study was to determine if cutoff scores could be utilized in lieu of cluster analysis for smaller populations. It was found that cut-off scores aligned with Marcia’s framework were aligned with more robust statistical cluster analysis.

Career Prospects for Human Resource Management Professionals in Portugal

Vitor Gomes, Maria Santos — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

The research conducted aimed to analyze the attitudes of human resource professionals towards managing their careers. The attitudes of protean and boundaryless careers were investigated, and the extent to which sociodemographic factors, such as salary, gender and academic degree, influence these attitudes. A total of 732 human resources professionals working as employees in private companies in Portugal participated in the study. The methodology involved a non-probabilistic convenience sampling approach, with a detailed survey covering dimensions like self-managed career attitudes, values-driven career attitudes, boundaryless career attitudes and mobility facilitating career attitudes. The results show that most professionals have protean and boundaryless career attitudes. Other research findings show that: (1) those with higher salaries have higher levels of protean and boundaryless career attitudes; (2) male professionals and (3) those with higher education show a higher prevalence of protean and boundaryless attitudes compared to female professionals and those with no higher education. This study sheds light on Portuguese HR professionals' career attitudes. The findings significantly contribute to our understanding of modern career concepts, suggesting avenues for future research.

Greetings from the Editor's Desk

Jennifer Browne — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

As the new year commences, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the dynamic and evolving landscape of career development. The release of a new edition of the Canadian Journal of Career Development, that aligns with the annual Cannexus conference, presents an exciting opportunity to share a diverse array of articles that shed light on critical themes, theories, and practical tools shaping the field today.

The present issue is curated to resonate with both scholars and practitioners, encompassing a range of topics from innovative digital self-help resources to the intersection of emotional intelligence and occupational transitions. A central theme that this issue explores is the application of career theories and models that are both practical and useful for career practitioners in their work. The theories and models reviewed identify key themes that link theory and practice, making it a valuable resource for scholars and practitioners alike.....