Career Flow: A Hope-Centered Approach to Career Development

Career Flow presents creative, innovative, and useful strategies for addressing career challenges in the 21st century. Learning these competencies will serve students throughout their lifetime.

 

The metaphor of "career flow" is used to teach students about the career development experience. Providing a framework of essential career flow competencies helps students learn the key skills for taking control of their current and future career development. Each chapter offers objectives, a case example, tips, activities, questions for reflection, and additional resources so that students can master the various aspects of their career flow. Essential competencies of: hope, self-reflection, self-clarity, visioning, goal setting, planning, implementing, and adapting are described in detail. Activities are provided to help students develop these competencies for successful career self-management. The career flow metaphor lends itself to a comprehensive and realistic assessment of the career experience. Experiences can be rated whitewater (high demand times), stillwater (low demand times), or optimal (an engaging and stimulating challenge level) career flow moments. Each type of career flow requires specific skills to manage challenges effectively

 

Spencer G. Niles is Professor/Department Head, Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology, and Rehabilitation Services at Pennsylvania State University. Honors include: National Career Development Association’s Eminent Career Award, NCDA Fellow, American Counseling Association Fellow, ACA’s Distinguished Mentor Award, ACA’s Extended Research Award, University of British Columbia Noted Scholar Award, NCDA Past-President, Editor of The Career Development Quarterly and Journal of Counseling & Development.

 

Norman E. Amundson is a Full Professor in Counselling Psychology / Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada.  He has given numerous workshops and seminars and also has been a keynote speaker at many national and international conferences. In his writings, Dr. Amundson emphasizes the importance of creativity, imagination, cultural awareness, and action as career development strategies. His publications include over 70 journal articles; training DVDs (Active Engagement in Action); books such as Active Engagement (2009, 3^rd edition), The Essential Elements of Career Counseling (2009, 2^nd edition), Metaphor Making (just released) and  The Physics of Living; and several career workbooks - Career Pathways, Guiding Circles; and CareerScope. Dr. Amundson has won many awards from professional associations for his work, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Umea, in Sweden.

 

Roberta A. Neault is author of Career Strategies for a Lifetime of Success, published in 2006 by Life Strategies Ltd. Recipient of the Stu Conger Award for Leadership in Career Counselling and Career Development in Canada, Dr. Neault is a sought after consultant, instructor, keynote speaker, and author on career-related topics.