Careers Services : Engaging disengaged young people in multicultural contexts

Abstract

Young people in multicultural contexts are often under the influence of multiple social and cultural factors when they begin to consider career development. What is often expressed as ‘boredom’ is in effect a reflection of their disengagement from ‘prescribed’ modes of career development. Further more, multicultural societies increase the likelihood of the counsellor and counselee coming from differing social-cognitive environments, each influenced and guided by their own career beliefs. It is essential in such situations that counsellors are particularly sensitive to deeper processes of social change and their own attitudes that could influence the career counselling process. The impact of career guidance may be maximised when techniques that address underlying cognitions about career development are incorporated into the counselling process. This symposium is presented in three parts. It begins with the notion of cultural preparedness as a theoretical framework within which the relevance of careers services could be examined. It goes on to considering the narrative approach as a method for culture-sensitive career counselling. The symposium concludes with case studies from India and the Maldives that illustrate the development and implementation of careers services in a culture-centred manner.