3.1: The Process of Exploration
The process of exploration is part of the process where career coaches guide clients through the exploration of who they are and what career opportunities they might pursue. When a student says that they saw a career guidance professional or career development professional, one often wonders what kind of test did they make them do? Regardless of the approach, most theorists in the field of career development would agree that exploration is a core part of the overall career change process, which involves creating a transition and facilitating decision-making.
The history of career exploration stems from the work of Frank Parsons in 1909, who considered three aspects of the process of career decision-making:
- Know yourself
- Know the demands and opportunities of the workplace
- True reasoning
Knowing oneself and the demands and opportunities that exist in the workplace are central functions of the career exploration process.
In previous chapters, we looked at the process of initiation. This involved establishing a relationship with the client, identifying what the person is seeking to meet their needs, and agreeing on a plan to work together to resolve those needs.
Once those core issues were reviewed and the client and professional both agreed that there was a need to proceed, the counselling sessions would typically move to the next stage, i.e., the exploration process.
