Examining the Context of Adolescent Career Decision Making

Adolescents are involved in career decision making at various times during their secondary education. Career education programs provided to assist with this process tend to be school specific and vary in content and depth according to the time allocated and the expertise and training of school personnel. Insufficient time or insufficient training can cause career education to be oversimplified. However, to underestimate the complexity of career decision making and treat it simplistically using a reductionist approach is to disadvantage both adolescents and school personnel. It is essential to consider career decision making in context — not to disregard the reductionist approach but to place it in a contextual frame where the impact of contextual elements on career decision making can be examined. Thus career education and career counselling can be challenging and satisfying for both adolescents and school personnel as they explore the complex issues related to career decision making.