Equipping Clients to
Self-Manage Their Careers
Cannexus, 2014
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Self-Directing - a critical skill
Why?
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Old Workstyle Paradigm
External locus of
control
(responsibility/control
sits “out there”)
 Expectation: Wait until
someone in authority tells
you what to do. Do what
you are told.
Equipping people to make the right moves™
New Workstyle Paradigm
Internal locus of control
(a share of responsibility/control sits “in here”)
 Expectation: work
collaboratively with those
in authority, then be
self-motivated and
take self-directed
action.
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Self-Directed/Self-Managed
What Does the Evidence Tell Us?
Employers?
Education
System?
Individuals?
Government?
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Delivery Mode
Requires
Achievable Outcomes
1. Intuitive career
counselling
• Trained + intrinsically
intuitive counsellor
• One-on-one situation
• Next career decision
made
2. Exposure to
information
• Facilitator
• Information generating
activities
• Group OR one-on-one
situations
• Has lots of information
about:
a. self
b. work options
3. Equip them to
decide
• Teachable career
decision-making
framework
• Trained facilitator
• One-on-one AND/OR
group situations
• Can find own relevant
information
• Next career decision
made
• Has tools and skills to
apply whenever needed
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Assessing Your Services
Activities You Provide
Purpose
Delivery Mode
Option
1, 2 OR 3?
The Activity
1. Interest Inventory
Identify work options
2. Personality Dimensions
Get to know and accept self better
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Delivery Mode 3
1. Use an explainable career decisionmaking process (clear, quick, adaptable)
2. Put the steering wheel in clients’ hands
3. Leave client with tools they know how to
use – now and for life
4. Evaluate the results (short and long term)
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Delivery Mode 3 – One Example
Evidenced-Based Decision-Making
Career Focusing™…
…because there is evidence that it works
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Career Decision-Making in a Nutshell
Grades
7
8
9
10
11
12
Learning That Fits
• College
• On-The-Job
Training
• University
• Apprenticeship
• Private Career
College
Work
That Fits
Work
That Fits
Work
That Fits
Repeat as Needed
Equipping people to make the right moves™
The BIG 3 Steps in Defining Work that Fits
Work is a good fit when you are…
Step 1. Doing
what you love
Step 2. Doing
it in a way
that suits you
Step 3. Doing it in
a way that reflects
your realities
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Work That Lets You Do What You Love
Jordan
Large
Equipment
Operator
Fund Raiser
Transportation
Coordinator
Para Medic/
Doctor/Nurse
Millwright
Lawyer
Blaster/Driller
Figuring out how
to get good things
to happen
Travel Agent
Electrician
Urban & Regional
Planner
Fitness Instructor
Elem. Teacher/Early
Childhood Educator
Tour Guide
(adventure)
Film/Artistic/
Program Director
Public Relations
Specialist
Equipping people to make the right moves™
The
BIG 3 steps in defining Work that Fits
Work is a good fit when you are…
1. Doing what you love
Using your Focus
2. Doing it in a way that
suits you
Using your Innate/Natural Preferences (Personality)
Preference Identification Tools
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Work Remains that Fits
Jordan
P/D/T
DC CC
“Keep/Discard”
Transportation
Coordinator
Para Medic/
Doctor/Nurse
Fund Raiser
DC Travel Agent
Millwright
Lawyer
Real Estate Agent
Figuring out how to
get good things to
happen
Tour Guide
(adventure)
Electrician
Urban & Regional
Planner
Fitness Instructor
Elem. Teacher/Early
Childhood Educator
In 2 Ways
Film/Artistic/
Program Director
Marketing /
Sales Rep
Equipping people to make the right moves™
The BIG 3 steps to define work that fits
Work is a good fit when you are…
Step 1. Doing what you love
Step 2. Doing it in a way
that suits you
Step 3. Doing it in
a way that reflects
your realities
•
•
•
•
Academic
Financial
Personal
Skills/Experience
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Triple Good Fits
Jordan
Electrician/Millwright
– Apprenticeship
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Nurse -
– College, On-the-Job
or Armed Forces
College, University
Early Childhood Educator –
College, University, Apprenticeship
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Realities to Consider
Internal
–
–
–
–
Academic
Financial
Personal
Skills/Experience
External
– Current Labour Market Requirements
– Financial
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Self-Directing / Self-Managing
Setting his/her plan =
Combine/Sequence/Blend
Plan A, B or C?
BUT if external labour market requirements
change, THEN…
…move to next best option
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Evidence
• What? Did this example of Delivery Mode 3 (e.g.,
Career Focusing™) work?
• How? Used Employment Readiness Scale (ERS)
• Where? Northern Canadian high school students
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Method
• 2 Northern Canadian schools
• 2 teachers trained in Career Focusing™
methods & administering the ERS
• Total number of students:
• 67 (90-95%):
» 30% were Aboriginal
» 51% were female
» 81% were in Grade 10
Equipping people to make the right moves™
#1: Career Focusing™ significantly strengthened career decisionmaking skills for all students, especially female students
Percent Strong on Career Decision-Making
70
60
50
40
Before
After
30
20
10
0
All Students
Aboriginal Students
Female Students
Equipping people to make the right moves™
#2: Career Focusing™ significantly strengthened belief in
ability to perform well for all students, esp. Aboriginals
Percent with Strong Belief in Ability to Perform
70
60
50
40
Before
After
30
20
10
0
All Students
Aboriginal Students
Female Students
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Career Focusing™ significantly strengthened job
search skills for all students, esp. Aboriginals
Percent Self-Sufficient in Job Search
60
50
40
Before
After
30
20
10
0
All Students
Aboriginal Students
Female Students
Equipping people to make the right moves™
The Evidence is In…
…More research needed
• More data
• Various contexts
• Long term
• ???
Equipping people to make the right moves™
The Point
• When you equip clients to make personally satisfying career
decisions – now and in the future – by using a ‘how to’ career
decision-making process
• Then you equip them with the ability to recognize work
and learning that fits – every time they have to make
another career decision
• Including the work needed in the current labour
market
• And you teach them – for life - how to self-manage
the information and work/learning option overload
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Outcomes
• They pick, they stick with their choices
• They become highly engaged, fully contributing
members of workplaces and communities
• AND they are equipped to close the Skills Gap and
meet employer needs
• PLUS they are equipped to self-direct and selfmanage their career journey with confidence
Single Strategy – Multiple Outcomes
Equipping people to make the right moves™
Conclusions
• Delivery Mode 3 delivers powerful and compelling outcomes
• Work that fits’ and ‘going where the work is’ are not
• mutually exclusive.
• You start with ‘work that fits’
• At the right spot, factor in ‘going where the work is’
• Everyone’s needs are met:
• Employers meet their skills needs, get higher engagement
and retention
• Individuals lower their levels of anxiety and frustration
• The education system increases graduation and successful
transition rates
• Government expands it ability to meet its economic needs
Equipping people to make the right moves™