How Career Decisions are made

Career decisions are no longer solely about the career itself. Personal issues both within and outside of the workplace are playing a larger role in the decision making process. There are three main influences over career decision making – relational life, personal meaning and economic realities.

For example within relational life this can include the need for camaraderie and a sense of belonging both within and outside of the work which for some can be more important than greater earnings or the stimulation of the work itself. Higher importance is placed on a harmonious work environment and the desire to avoid a toxic work environment. The other side to relational life is those who seek careers which allow them to support their families financially yet still providing the flexibility and freedom to spend significant time with their families.

Career decisions based on personal meaning are made to align a career with activities which the decision maker found purposeful, personally fulfilling, stimulating, challenging, or aligned with personal values. This can include meaningful engagement at work, or the choice of work which affords the flexibility for meaningful engagement outside of work.

The final decision making category is based on economic realities. However, there can be a continual tension between the desire for basic financial security and the desire to pursue a passion or wish for personal meaning or relational life. Career decisions which favour financial security over career passion can be experienced as difficult but a necessary sacrifice.

So how can a Career Counsellor help?
Career decision making has become more complex and Career Counsellors must recognise the interconnections between relational life and career decisions. Career counselling groups offer clients the opportunity to build community, to gain a sense of belonging, and to offer and receive support and validation. On a more emotional level, Career Counsellors can affirm the tension that many clients feel when financial needs constrain career decisions and limit opportunities for meaningful engagement and connectedness.

For a more indepth look into the research of “Career Decisions From the Decider's Perspective” by Norman E. Amundson, William A. Borgen, Maria Iaquinta, Lee D. Butterfield and Emily Koertwhich, this research paper can be found within The Career Development Quarterly, June 2010, Volume 58. Copies of the Quarterly Papers can be requested from www.ncda.org