In Chapter 13, Brown notes many career development activities that post-secondary educational institutions are implementing. Reading over these activities, it seems apparent that more institutions are trying to aide students in many different ways. These services may include information regarding self-awareness, interests, job market, careers, and workshops (Brown 2012, page 294).
I found the information in this chapter noteworthy but useless if not promoted. Now, considering that I would be using my own experience in post-secondary education, I have a biased perspective. How can students take advantage of these activities if they do not know about them?
The availability of career planning classes is widespread (Brown 2012, page 303). Although these courses are available, how many students actually use them? To be honest, I did not even know my college had career services until I graduated!
Prior to college, most high school students are usually told to take certain courses. Depending on their academic capabilities and interest, others have some say in what they would like to do. For the most part though, these courses are laid out for them. As high school students venture into college, they are typically able to choose what they would like to take. Considering that students have a choice when entering post-secondary institutions, why aren’t career development courses and activities advertised to these oncoming students.
Choosing a career is a big decision, a decision that I really never thought about until I graduated college. I could have greatly benefited from at least one course/activity that emphasized career early in my college education. Most colleges have “core” courses that need to be met and must be taken in order to continue taking classes at a post-secondary institution. Why can’t a course in career be one of these core classes?
Many institutions do offer career courses or workshops, but let’s be serious; most students who partake in these activities are students who have some idea of what career is all about. Making career activities more of a must as opposed to a choice could benefit those students who truly need it.
I can remember taking the core classes in basic math and writing during my freshman year, and that is all I remember. If a career course would have been a must, I definitely would have used the information to help plan out my future prior to graduating. After I graduated I knew that I could teach, but I did not have a plan of action of where I was going to teach. I simply assumed that I would get a job right away. Instead of asking myself after graduating, “What am I going to do now?” I could have had some response to this question if career courses or activities were either forced upon me or promoted.
Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). New York , NY
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