Part I: Activity (Client Perspective)
Make a list of all the factors outside of your direct and immediate control that have influenced your career development (for example, employment rates, cultural messages about career, your family’s socio-economic status).
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the top of the first column, write, “How this external factor has influenced my career development,” and on the top of the second column write, “How I have responded to this external factor.” e.g.:
How this external factor has influenced my career development:
How I have responded to this external factor:
Choose three of the factors that were out of your control that you identified as having influenced your career development. In the appropriate columns, explain how each factor has influenced your career development and how you have responded to that factor.
After reflecting on the influence of each factor and your response, look for themes in the way you have responded. In other words, what is your typical response to factors that are out of your control?
Answer these questions about your pattern of response:
In your responses, do you tend to show agency and initiative, or do you tend to feel that you have little control over your life and accept whatever comes your way?
How effective do you think your responses to these factors have been?
If you could go back in time and “do over” any of your responses, what would you change?
Will you continue to respond to factors that are outside of your immediate control in the same way, or will you change the way you respond to these factors in the future? Explain.
Part II: Critique/Reflection (Practitioner Perspective)
After finishing the activity, complete the assignment as follows. Cite relevant literature using APA style and provide a list of references.
Describe the benefits and insights gained from this activity from the perspective of a client, or provide a plausible explanation as to why this activity failed to generate insights or benefits.
Assume that you are a professional practitioner. Identify relevant advantages and disadvantages of the activity, and clearly explain how it might be applied to address the needs of particular clients and/or issues.
From a practitioner’s perspective, use the theoretical constructs discussed in Unit 6 to interpret the client’s (that is, your) circumstances or experiences. Demonstrate your understanding of socio-cultural theories by applying their constructs to explain your own experience.
If you have any questions about this assignment, don’t hesitate to talk with your tutor.
