A career counseling program for unemployed clients referred by employment agencies includes a structured interview, personality type assessment, vocational assessment, and feedback to the agency. It is designed to generate insight into vocational aspirations and pathways and promote self-esteem with the goal of increasing employability. (SK)

Four theoretical streams--contexualism/ecology, systems theory, realism/constructivism, and chaos theory--contributed to a theory of individuals as complex, unique, nonlinear, adaptive chaotic and open systems. Individuals use purposive action to construct careers but can make maladaptive and inappropriate choices. (Contains 42 references.) (SK)

Vocational education and training (VET) teachers in Australian secondary schools (n=11) identified the following influences on adoption of National Training Packages: ways in which teachers construct meaning for innovations, organizational culture, infrastructure, leadership, and policy. More time, training, and a coordinator helped embed and…

Either semistructured interviews derived from systems theory framework (STF) or standard interviews were used with 18 counseling clients. Measures of self-exploration, environmental exploration, and attribution style supported the merit of STF interviews as an alternative career assessment method. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

Factors influencing career behavior of rural Australian secondary students from a regional center (n=218) and outer metropolitan school (n=89) were studied. College aspirations were similar. Parent encouragement, garde expectations, and relevance of college to employment were inhibitors or encouragers dependent on local culture. (Contains 47…

In study 1, 28 college career counselor competencies were identified using a nominal group panel of seven participants. In study 2, 20 counselors rated these competencies, overwhelmingly endorsing 20 of them as valuable. (Contains 21 references.) (SK)

Of 2,800 students, 506 responded to an initial survey and 100 to a follow-up; 52 attended information sessions; 12 received individual counseling. Most were satisfied with degree and career plans but felt they received inadequate help. Those who accessed career services tended to be dissatisfied. (Contains 13 references.) (SK)