Understanding Students' Racialized Experiences with Career Services
National Association of Colleges and Employers Journal
2024
Amplified by renewed calls for racial and economic justice over the last few years, career development organizations around the world have undertaken conversations about the role of race and anti-racism in career counseling, education, research, and practice. CERIC, a career development association in Canada; the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling in the United Kingdom; and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, and the National Career Development Association in the United States have all issued statements about, published written pieces on, and established strategic priorities and standards for racial equity in career development...continue
"Playing Nicely in the Sandbox:" Demystifying Beliefs and Assumptions About Racial Equity in Career Services
Doctoral Dissertation
2024
This dissertation sought to explore and demystify beliefs and assumptions about racial equity held by career practitioners in higher education spaces. During the process of writing this dissertation, I was invited into the work of a well-respected career center, which had undertaken the process of shifting toward a focus on equity a few years before. Administrators, staff, and students shared their stories with me, expressing a shared commitment in advancing equity for the field in general, and adding to the sparse literature on the topic of racial equity in American career centers. I did not have to convince participants of the importance of the work, and each of them took a risk in sharing their thoughts on the racial climate at their university...continue
Generation Z in the Workplace: Embracing an Uncertain Future
CareerWise by CERIC
2022
When prompted in a written reflection, two Gen Z students in our undergraduate career class captured the zeitgeist of this generation’s approach to traditional careerism. The first student wrote: “Why would I give my entire life to work when most organizations give us little in return?” The second student wrote: “COVID has really changed my values about life and work. For me, I realized work is not everything and it is important to enjoy life and relax; work is something that should be flexible, not constricting.”
Both responses represent a change in how today’s students are viewing the future of work...continue
Both responses represent a change in how today’s students are viewing the future of work...continue
Book Review -
Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for the Work That Makes You Come Alive
Career Convergence - National Career Development Association (NCDA)
2022
The early 2020s will be remembered as a time of uncertainty, disillusionment, and instability. The Covid-19 pandemic and worldwide social, financial, and political inequity have changed nearly every aspect of our lives (Aarts et al., 2021; Brunetto et al., 2021; CCSA, 2020). The “Great Resignation” resulted in millions of workers leaving (or losing) their positions and invited conversations about every aspect of work, from concerns about compensation, safety, and equity, to explorations of meaning and purpose (Cech, 2021; Kelly, 2020; Tharoor, 2021).
This is the context into which Jonathan Fields' 2021 book Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive, was released. Fields is an entrepreneur, producer and author of several books and a popular podcast (Fields, 2022; Good Life Project, 2022). The explicit goal of the book is to help readers find meaning and joy by pursuing work that aligns with what Fields calls their “Sparketype” – a dimension of personality that captures the type of work an individual finds engaging...continue
This is the context into which Jonathan Fields' 2021 book Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive, was released. Fields is an entrepreneur, producer and author of several books and a popular podcast (Fields, 2022; Good Life Project, 2022). The explicit goal of the book is to help readers find meaning and joy by pursuing work that aligns with what Fields calls their “Sparketype” – a dimension of personality that captures the type of work an individual finds engaging...continue
Student Affairs in Flux: Negotiating Change, Values, and Ethics in the Great Resignation
JCC Connexions - National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
2022
As of this writing, the Great Resignation continues to rage. In November 2021, a record 4.5 million people quit their jobs according to the US Labor Department. Many of these jobs reside across industries in service, health care, retail, hospitality, arts, entertainment, and education. According to these statistics from the Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, over 34.4 million people have quit their jobs this year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). Certain myths exists among these demographic trends. Notably, many of these trends have not been universal across all industries and worker demographics. Many individuals who have quit jobs do not possess the privilege of working remotely. Moreover, evidence exists from Insider that the Great Resignation is not a reality for many workers of color (Aviles, 2021). Another myth of the Great Resignation states...continue
Are We Still Doing It for the "Work?" Student Affairs Educators and the Great Resignation
JCC Connexions - National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
2021
An August 2020 article titled, “The Great Disillusionment” immediately grabbed readers’ attention—especially those of us who work in student affairs. Written by Lindsay Ellis and published in The Chronicle of Higher Education, the feature included numerous examples of educators and administrators who were experiencing stress, burnout, and poor work-life balance in the last two years. Ellis noted that many educators are opting out of higher education to explore alternative career options. Winni Paul, a management consultant who was interviewed for the Chronicle feature stated, “The graciousness, the compassion, the ‘we do it for the students, we do it for the work’ –that’s gone.” How have the recent pandemics of 2020-2021 affected student affairs educators? What impact will the Great Resignation have on higher education? In this blog, I invite my colleague and PhD student Melanie Buford to discuss a range of factors related to the state of student affairs, the ethics of the new employee-employer contract, and how the Great Resignation may affect student affairs and higher education moving forward...continue
Undecided or Declared: Engaging Distinct Student Populations in Career Education
National Association of Colleges and Employers Journal
2020
As institutions are asked to do more with fewer resources, career educators may be tempted to use similar approaches with different student populations. Although simpler in the short run, this tactic often fails to adequately support student growth and professional development in the long run. Isabel Myers-Briggs, one of the co-creators of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), once explained, “we cannot safely assume that other people’s minds work on the same principles as our own. All too often, others with whom we come in contact do not reason as we reason, or do not value the things we value, or are not interested in what interests us.” To approach all students in one linear way is a disservice to them, their learning styles, and the questions they pose...continue
The Plight of the Undecided Student
National Association of Colleges and Employers Journal
2019
In his book, The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, Barry Schwartz describes the advantages and challenges of a world full of choices. A consumer economy brings with it the bounty of selection. We are bombarded with millions of choices in every sphere of life, from music playlists to career possibilities. And yet, more choice often brings more uncertainty.
As they strive to choose a major and career path, undecided college students come face to face with this dilemma. The variety of academic programs available to the modern prospective college student is substantial...continue
As they strive to choose a major and career path, undecided college students come face to face with this dilemma. The variety of academic programs available to the modern prospective college student is substantial...continue
What is Your Myers-Briggs Type? Is There a "Typical" Multipotentialite?
Puttylike
2019
As a professor of career education, I spend a lot of time working with students who haven’t decided on a major. I’m a big advocate of these students, especially since I was one. I agonized over choosing a major, trying to find a way to incorporate my love of psychology, sociology, english, technology, religion and classical mythology into one degree. In the end I chose psychology, because my parents thought it was the simplest to explain, and took classes in the rest.
Now I teach and counsel college students who are trying to choose a major and forge a meaningful career path out of their diverse interests. I get excited about any new ideas, books or videos that encourage students to think big about their careers and stay true to what inspires them... continue
Now I teach and counsel college students who are trying to choose a major and forge a meaningful career path out of their diverse interests. I get excited about any new ideas, books or videos that encourage students to think big about their careers and stay true to what inspires them... continue
On Being Lost
National Association of Colleges and Employers Blog
2016
A senior psychology major came into my office the other day. She dropped her bag, plopped down into a chair and said “I’m lost!”
With relatively little prompting, the story came out. She already knew her long term goal: to be a child and family therapist. A faculty mentor had recommended a graduate program for her, and, doing very little of her own research, she applied to the program and turned her attention back to school. She was accepted, fortunately, but upon learning more about it, she realized that it was a business focused program, not a therapeutic one.
“That’s disappointing,” I said, “But it sounds like ...continue
With relatively little prompting, the story came out. She already knew her long term goal: to be a child and family therapist. A faculty mentor had recommended a graduate program for her, and, doing very little of her own research, she applied to the program and turned her attention back to school. She was accepted, fortunately, but upon learning more about it, she realized that it was a business focused program, not a therapeutic one.
“That’s disappointing,” I said, “But it sounds like ...continue
Encourage Students to Tolerate Uncertainty and to Take Risks
National Association of Colleges and Employers Blog
2015
It’s amazing how the title of Jullien Gordon’s TED Talk, “How to graduate college with a job you love and less debt” resonates with students. Their enthusiasm is all the more remarkable in its rarity.
Most of my students are attending the University full-time, while simultaneously supporting themselves with at least one part-time job. They come to my class already exhausted, so when they ask me if they can stay late just to finish Gordon’s talk, I am always equal parts shocked and gratified. Clearly, this is a subject students are interested in...continue
Most of my students are attending the University full-time, while simultaneously supporting themselves with at least one part-time job. They come to my class already exhausted, so when they ask me if they can stay late just to finish Gordon’s talk, I am always equal parts shocked and gratified. Clearly, this is a subject students are interested in...continue
Developing Career Goals Holistically
National Association of Colleges and Employers Blog
2015
Dan Blank, a career coach who works primarily with creative professionals, offers the following advice in his webinar “Take Back Your Creative Life.”
“Career goals should not be formed in isolation. You must take into account all of your responsibilities (personal and professional), and be sure to account for your own well-being. This includes physical and mental health.” Blank encourages his clients...continue
“Career goals should not be formed in isolation. You must take into account all of your responsibilities (personal and professional), and be sure to account for your own well-being. This includes physical and mental health.” Blank encourages his clients...continue
Is Career Counseling for Everyone?
National Association of Colleges and Employers Blog
2015
I met with a colleague the other day who posed an intriguing question. I told her about my work in the Career Development Center at the University of Cincinnati, and after a contemplative pause, she offered the following:
“Do you think career counseling is for everyone? I felt lost after graduation, but my husband never used career services. He knew what he wanted to do and he’s doing well now.”
I’m sure that most of us don’t find this surprising....continue
“Do you think career counseling is for everyone? I felt lost after graduation, but my husband never used career services. He knew what he wanted to do and he’s doing well now.”
I’m sure that most of us don’t find this surprising....continue
A Career That Reflects All of Who We Are
LinkedIn Pulse
2014
Each semester I teach a course for undecided students to narrow their career interests in order to declare a major. Over and over, I see a recurring pattern. The pressure to find the “perfect” career has many students choosing one of two costly paths: they change majors multiple times, often adding time and expense to their undergraduate degree, or they avoid the matter entirely until they’re forced to engage with it post-graduation. The culprit, for many, is that their values, skills, interests and material needs can rarely all be neatly captured by a single occupation....continue
Image by Katie Feldman