Developmental tasks, vocational development and career adaptability INAP Assuring the Acquisition of Expertise: Apprenticeship in the Modern Economy Beijing, China, 26 – 27 May 2011 Alan Brown and Jenny Bimrose
Developmental Life Stages Early adulthood: ‘getting started in an occupation’ tentative in relation to vocational development Much VET assumes: commitment to a sector appropriate work will follow
Global context Fluidity & change: labour markets; organisation of work; occupational knowledge base; organisational work process knowledge
Making their way: Successful life-course transitions Career identity: Less stable than previously Occupational choice: more tentative Developmental task: becoming career adaptable
Career Adaptability ‘The capability of an individual to a series of successful transitions where the labour market, organisation of work and underlying occupational and organisational knowledge bases may all be subject to considerable change’. Reference: Bimrose et al., 2011
Career Adaptability: 5 ‘C’s Psycho-social competency approach: Control:exert influence Curiosity:broaden horizons Confidence:belief in oneself Concern:positive attitudes Commitment:broad focus Reference: Savickas et al., 2009
Research data: patterns of career development c2000 adults since 2001 50 young people (up to age 30) making successful transitions aerospace; banking; chemicals; ICT; media; sports marketing; health England, Germany, Norway
Career Decision-making Ability to review and reflect v. opportunistic approaches Engagement with learning and development pathways Upskilling, reskilling or transformational shifts in perspective Key issues: individual proactivity; relational issues; support
Results: successful transitions 1 Importance of challenging work for all Varying patterns of engagement with learning activities Personal autonomy and meaning of career Discussions with others about possible lines of career development Formal learning often valued Identification with occupation and / or organisation or skill set recontextualisation
Results: successful transitions 2 Proactive in shaping career and learning pathways but often need support to become more reflective Anxieties common Help individuals develop their own career stories: sense of direction Career options and choices limited by context: easier message learning for personal development: personal networks and meeting new challenges
Results: successful transitions 3 Opportunity structures key, so adaptability more powerful message than employability ICT: learning and career patterns often individualised Engineering: strong linkages between learning and careers Health: complex linkages: vertical and horizontal progression; qualifications important
Conclusions: successful transitions Career adaptive: (proactive) personality; interactions with others; engagement with challenging opportunities
Conclusions: successful transitions Two groups: happy / unhappy with current experienced skilled worker status (initial occupational choice) Focus on career adaptability would be useful