Self-Beliefs and Career Counseling

Abstract

Judy, a middle-aged housewife, had been eager to work with the DIS-COVER computer-assisted career guidance program. Now she focused intensely on the video screen. Using the first DISCOVER module, she identified her interests and was pleased when the assessment printout pointed to career regions including general health care, education, and social services. She evaluated her abilities on the next module and eagerly awaited the results. The second printout, however, related her selfassessed abilities to data-oriented careers, including management and finance.&dquo;I can't do those types of things,&dquo; Judy blurted out as she read the summary statement of her abilities assessment. The career counselor explained the computer's analysis was based on what she had said about herself, including her own evaluations of her abilities. Judy, however, insisted, &dquo;But I can't do those things. I just don't have the capability.&dquo; Most counselors have heard similar client statements and are aware that clients' beliefs about their abilities and personalities influence their career choices. Career theorizes emphasize that people seek to implement self-beliefs in their career choice (e.g., Gottfredson, 1981; Super, 1957), and both paper-and-pencil instruments (e.g., Self-Directed Search) and computer-based guidance systems (e.g., DISCOVER) include clients' self-estimates of abilities in determining possible career options.

Comparison of Two Group Counseling Approaches to Enhancing Confidence in Planning Careers by Undecided Taiwanese College Women

“…In addition, Taylor and Betz (1983) stated that students rated low on self-efficacy were more undecided about their career choices and less confident of their abhty to complete decision-makmg tasks. Empirical support for the influence of efficacy expectations on career-related behaviors has been reported, although sex differences have not always been found (Borders & Archadel, 1987). Hackett and Betz (1981) concluded that self-efficacy is an important variable in the career development of women.…”