Page 8 - Phsychologyst-and-Guidance

Promoting Career Adaptability in an
Educational Context

Adaptability is a useful construct as it favours personal career
management and lifelong employability17. The dimensions of curiosity,
autonomy, cooperation, planning and trust designate attitudes associated
with basic career skills integrated into the notion of adaptability.

Career adaptability has been defined as an important metacompetency
because it results in the ability to either maintain a sense of identity and
self-direction in situations of change or to solve complex issues and
problems (e.g. new problems, building solutions, unforeseen events)
inherent in career development.

Adaptability requires openness to change, envisaging the possibility of
thinking differently about oneself and about the situations, and being able
to act on circumstances that require decisions on career 18,19,20. It involves
having the readiness and personal and context resources to handle
development tasks, transitions, and career experiences throughout the life
cycle21.

Career theorists suggest that the more specific dimensions of adaptability -
the attitudes of curiosity, autonomy, cooperation, concern, and trust - can
be important in all phases of career development, i.e. in periods of growth,
exploration, stabilisation, management and disinvestment of professional
or working life 13,22,23.

Curiosity is related to the behaviours or competence of self-exploration in
relation to possible activities, occupations and lifestyles.

Autonomy is related to responsibility and decision-making competencies
and to the perception of personal control over the future and one’s career.