Blog #12: Chapters 11 and 16

Chapter 11 of Brown’s (2012) book is about employability skills and placement services.  I felt this topic was important and useful to both people who are searching for new employment and those who have been displaced.  Brown states that, “gaining employment not only ensures economic stability but also validates the worth of an individual to some degree” (Brown, 2012, pg. 234).  However, gaining employment can sometimes be a difficult task for people; and it may cause anxiety as well.  That’s where career counselors come into play.  They can help those who are struggling to find employment by building employability skills and teaching more effective job searching skills.  I really liked the idea of job clubs which were created through the Job Training Partnership Act.  The groups provide encouragement and support for people who are facing similar issues; “also helps members improve their interview skills through role playing; and clarifies and sharpens their goals through group efforts” (Brown, 2012, pg. 236).  This idea got me thinking about career development programs in schools.  What would it be like if secondary schools had job clubs?  A place for students’ to come together and learn techniques that would help them make career decisions after they graduate and later in life.  Students’ could have mock interviews with each other, practice resume writing, and learn effective job searching techniques.  I feel that if I would have had an opportunity like this earlier in school; I would have more skills and feel more confident when it comes to making important career decisions. 

Chapter 16 of Brown’s (2012) book discusses accountability and evaluation of evidenced-based practices and programs.  These are two important topics that will become reality someday for future school and career counselors.  If a counselor has a program but has no data or other information to back that program up; stakeholders will most likely discard the program altogether.  I felt that chapter 11 and 16 tied together.  If future school and career counselors want to implement programs about job searching and employability skills; they could use some of the tips that Brown stated about executing a job search.  At the same time; those counselors would need to show some form of assessment and evaluation to show that certain programs were effective.

According to Brown, “well-written program objectives indicate who will be affected, when the intervention will be completed, and what the outcome will be” (Brown, 2012, pg. 350).  Each program also needs some form of evaluation design.  I felt that the chapter did a nice job of explaining the different evaluation design techniques.  I also found it helpful that the most effective forms of evaluation; qualitative designs were explained in more detail.  Overall, I found both chapters to be informative; and as a future school counselor will be useful someday.  

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development. (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.