Publication: Career Exploration by Adults

• Kerka, Sandra

In an era of rapid social and economic changes, the demand
for adult career exploration services is growing in
career-tech and one-stop centers and community college and
university reentry programs. Career exploration is a
process of acquiring self-knowledge and career knowledge
and using this knowledge to formulate plans and prepare for
a career. It is a learning process embedded in a larger
context of growth and development, often triggered by life
events such as divorce or job layoff. Career exploration is
different for adults than for children and adolescents,
since adults have a pool of life and work experiences to
bring to the process, and adults make more pragmatic
education and career decisions based on the circumstances
of their lives. Adults who engage in career exploration are
more driven by natural curiosity, initiative, adaptability,
and the ability to overcome uncertainty and fear, while
exploratory activity may be hindered by self-criticism,
insecurity, and guilt. These external resources also
influence career exploration: resistance or encouragement
from family, friends, and supervisors; financial resources;
and role models and mentors. Adult educators, human resource
development specialists, and career development
practitioners can help adults to develop new skills and
knowledge to make career transitions. They can provide
support for career transitions. Techniques that
professionals can use to help adults explore careers
include "possible selves"; the "Discovery Path" workshop
for women; experiential activities; and more traditional
career exploration activities, such as assessment tools and
researching. (Contains 21 references.) (KC)