Audrey Collin - Böcker

This work reports on a range of research studies in the career field that use biographical, narrative, and ecological approaches within an interpretive framework. It responds to the recognized dissonance between career theory and research, on the one part, and practice, on the other. It also responds to the view that in recent years practice has outstripped career theory and research. The qualitative approaches used in the research reported have gained popularity in the social sciences in recent years, but have been largely untried in the career field.This work offers specific interpretive studies that range over the life span and involve a number of perspectives including contexts such as parental influence, socio-political milieu, early career studies of apprentices, medical students, and nurses, studies of the established careers of secretaries, women entrepreneurs, teachers, and studies of the careers of older workers. In addition, the book contains interpretive studies pertaining to career theory, counseling and other interventions, and the research process. It also recognizes issues highlighted by a postmodernist perspective. A number of audiences will find this book useful: industrial/organizational psychologists, counseling psychologists, career counselors, counselor educators, and researchers in the career area from psychology and sociology.

The fragmented nature of modern working life is leading to fundamental changes in our understanding of the term 'career'. Few people now expect to have a lifetime of continuous employment, regardless of their qualifications or the sector they work in. This book presents a kaleidoscopic view of the concept of career, reviewing its past and considering its future. International specialists in psychology, sociology, counselling, education and human resource management offer a multi-layered examination of career theories and practice, identifying the major changes taking place in the world of work that are challenging and extending the meaning of the word career. The overall aim is to redefine it in ways that are relevant to the newly emerging network society of the 21st century. The chapters are wide-ranging, exploring topics such as the changing contexts of career, individual career experiences, women's careers, multicultural issues, and implications for practice and policy-making.