The Systems Theory Framework (STF) of career development represents a metatheoretical account of career development that is consistent with the constructivist worldview. Presented as a framework of influences, the STF clearly illustrates the content and process of career development. The STF has provided the stimulus for the development of a…

This paper highlights five challenges to the accepted wisdom in career development theory and practice. It presents the chaos theory of careers and argues that the chaos theory provides a more complete and authentic account of human behaviour. The paper argues that positivism, reductionism and assumptions of linearity are inappropriate for…

The phenomenon of migration makes many careers international, and globalisation has accelerated the process. This paper reports on a program of studies, now labelled "talent flow," conducted in New Zealand with a view to increasing understanding of migration and its relationship to careers. Initial studies considered the phenomenon of "overseas…

Collectively, globalisation and flexibility strategies have changed the nature and structure of employment, and as such careers academics, careers practitioners and governments have argued that individuals need to manage their careers in fundamentally new ways to ensure continued employment. We have become concerned that the promise of shared…

This paper draws on subjective quality of life theory to explain findings from three studies of quality of work life. The studies were conducted with 346 regional process workers, metropolitan employment officers and nurses. The results support the adoption of the theory of homeostasis as an explanation for findings on subjective wellbeing at work…

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a judgement-based framework for adult job and career choices. This approach is set out as a perceptual-judgemental-reinforcement approach. Job choice is viewed as cognitive acquisition over time and is epitomised by a learning process. Seven testable assumptions are derived from the model. (Contains 1…

With little or no effort to test underlying assumptions in the South African context, South African career counsellors have traditionally depended on "proven" assessment methods. Career counselling needs to move away from the almost sole use of psychometric tests to an approach that recognises an individual's social and historical background. Our…

In Australia, 42 per cent of full-time students work in part-time jobs, and recent research indicates that a substantial majority of these students want to increase their hours of employment. Although research has identified a range of positive and negative outcomes for students, almost all of the studies have been cross-sectional, thereby…

Change, ambiguity and shifting relationships are recurrent themes in contemporary career development. In turn, personal success in the unfolding knowledge economy calls for self-awareness, adaptability and the ability to work with others. A challenge in career coaching is to help people better develop these kinds of skills, and in turn to help…

Describes an ecological model of the vocational behavior of people with disabilities that includes context, the individual, mediating factors (individual, cultural, societal), environmental constructs, and outcomes. Discusses employment challenges for people with disabilities (job insecurity, technology, policies, stress) and makes suggestions for…

A survey of 168 employed people who suffered spinal cord injuries found that 50% were employed after injury; 61% thought they could have benefitted from additional services such as discussion of options and follow-up on vocational issues. Dissatisfaction with employment status was related to perceived need for more services. (Contains 20…

Work adjustment of 81 people with traumatic brain injury was assessed at hospital discharge and 2 and 8 months later. The most significant predictor of short- and long-term adjustment was work attitudes at discharge. Nature and severity of injury were not associated with adjustment. Social support influenced short-term adjustment but diminished…

Traditional short-term vocational rehabilitation approaches should be replaced by a career development model based on systems theory. In the model, initial counselor interventions for career exploration, decision making, enhancement, and job realization yield to client independence in career self-management, which better supports long-term…

Recommends a research-based process for rehabilitation agencies assisting clients with self-employment. Steps include counselor-client dialog about self-employment, use of assessment tools and resources, education/training, development of a business plan, start-up funding from the agency and other sources, business start-up, and evaluation of…

A research review of 9 Australian-New Zealand (n=1,010) and 23 international (n=2,182) studies found the overall return-to-work rates after head injury were 44% and 45% respectively. Methodological issues might have inflated these numbers. Only an estimated 7-10% of persons with acquired brain injury returned to the same job. (Contains 46…