The goal of this study was to provide insights on the extent to which high school students receive support for college and career planning, the mechanisms through which they receive this information, and how this varies across students and settings using data from a multi-state, multi-study project focused on advising for postsecondary…

Jobs for the Future (JFF) and BigFuture want all students to have the sense of agency and purpose that comes with feeling hopeful, motivated, excited, confident. An essential step in achieving this is to ensure that high school students and their families receive a timely and abundant flow of information, resources, and advising in order to…

In the study reported on here we explored the influence of life-design counselling intervention on high school learners with career indecision who hail from resource-poor contexts in rural South Africa. Purposeful sampling was used to select 17 participants from a resource-constrained area. A mixed-methods group-based intervention embedded in…

This study presents a systematic literature review about career interventions for university students exploring: (1) which theoretical framework; (2) structure; (3) evaluation system; and (4) outcomes are reported. Fourteen keywords, five databases, and six eligibility criteria were defined. Among the 596 articles collected, 26 remained for…

Social identities impact the way individuals see themselves and their career options but career theories have been slow to the call in exploring how social identities interface with theoretical assumptions. The purpose of this study was to examine how social identities affect and inform specific dimensions identified by cognitive information…

Inspired by a Tolkien quote, "Not All Who Wander Are Lost," the authors introduce the concept of "career wandering" in the context of undergraduate student development. Proposing an alternative to traditional linear career trajectories, we conceptualize a dynamic approach that embraces nonlinear paths, indecision, and…

Young people's decision-making about postschool pathways are influenced and shaped by parents, teachers, and other familiars. Yet, these familiars are often uninformed about vocational education as it has not been part of their personal experience. Instead, they may reflect and further embed the relatively low standing of that option. The lack of…

The information presented in this brief comes from exploratory research activities designed to understand the role of career navigators; the competencies they need to be successful; and considerations for hiring, supporting, and training them. This brief can be used by adult education practitioners to: (1) Define job responsibilities and design…

This study investigates occupational changes in the German vocational education and training system among "stopouts," i.e., individuals who terminate their training prematurely and switch to another occupation. We examine whether occupational changes are related to the fulfillment of career aspirations and changes in key occupational…

Selecting the right academic major significantly shapes an individual's future career path, making it a longstanding focus of research. The shift to online platforms, accelerated by the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, has transformed counseling and guidance systems. Consequently, developing robust online support systems has become…

The purpose of this Handbook is to stimulate discussion among senior managers, managers, practitioners, administrative staff, collaborating partners, and stakeholders about how staff members can make the most effective use of their time in implementing changes in the design and delivery of career interventions for adolescents and adults who need…

It is widely known that women are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We have a lack of women who choose STEM careers and women leave these careers at a higher rate than men. Women of color are especially underrepresented and face additional hurtles in building their STEM career. While interventions often…

Three-quarters of students enter college without a clear major or career plan. In efforts to make academic and career decisions that will lead to their success, half of students seek out assistance from their career services office before graduating, most often completing a career assessment. Results from these often-imperfect assessments are a…

Cognitive information processing theory was born in response to a realisation the traditional method of individual, one hour counselling appointments prevented many college students from receiving needed support for their career decision making. Frustrated by this lack of access to career services, researchers, theorists and practitioners came…

This study used the Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI; Sampson et al., 1996b), Career Decision Making Readiness Scale, (Osborn et al., 2022), the Career Locus of Control Scale (CLCS) (Trice et al., 1989), and the Commitment to Career Choice scale (Blustein et al., 1989) to examine the relationships among dysfunctional career thoughts, career…