Self-Assessment of Career Counsellor Competencies in the Field of Career Guidance Depending on the Place of Residence

The importance of career guidance and the competences of a career counsellor is described and highlighted in this article. The counsellors are seen as key professionals assisting individuals in their educational and job transitions during their career, addressing both individual and labour market requirements. The aim of the study is to analyse the self-assessment of career counsellor competencies in the field of career guidance depending on the place of residence in Latvia. The self-evaluation of career counsellors regarding their competence was used. In the study 340 respondents took part from all Latvia regions, they were graduates of the last eleven years of the Career Counsellors Master's Program and other in-service career counsellors and school career counsellors working in schools, employment agencies and private consulting companies. The data were analysed statistically by using SPSS computer program: 1) crosstab method, 2) chi-squared test. The significance of the results and the most important conclusion: analysing the frequency of respondents’ responses of excellent and good career counsellor competence depending on the place of residence, it can be concluded that excellent (Pearson Chi-Square p-value = 0.867) and good (Pearson Chi-Square p-value = 0.892) career counsellor competence not depending on the place of residence of the respondents, the excellent and good career counsellor competence is equally good everywhere in Latvia.

Interview with Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca

Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca was born in Bombay to Prof. Nissim Ezekiel and Daisy Ezekiel. She was raised in a Bene-Israel Jewish family in Bombay, India.* She attended Queen Mary’s School, St. Xavier’s College, Bombay University and Oxford Brookes University, U.K. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English, American Literature and Education. Her career spanned over four decades in Indian colleges, American International Schools and Canada, teaching English, French and Spanish. She also held the position of Career Counsellor at the International School in India, where she taught Advanced Placement and other courses in English for sixteen years.She is a published poet. Her first book, Family Sunday and other Poems, was published in 1989, with a second edition in 1990. She has read her poems over All India Radio Bombay, and her poems have also appeared in Poetry India, SETU Magazine, Muse India and Destiny Poets, UK, to name a few. She has her poetry page at https://www.facebook.com/kemendoncapoetry.Kavita also writes short fiction. Her work is strongly influenced by her father’s work. (The late Nissim Ezekiel was an eminent poet, well-known in India and overseas). She lives in Calgary, Canada, with her family.This interview was conducted via emails in the rainy days of June 2020.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT MODEL FOR WOMEN AFTER CHILDBIRTH

The article addresses the problem of obstacles to use the labour potential of women after childbirth. The aim of the study is to develop a post-natal career development support model for modern women, based on research on barriers to women's career advancement and promoting the balance of life between women's integration into the labour market and child upbringing. The study was developed in the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, the Institute of Education and Home Economics within the Master study programme Career Counsellor. A study on barriers to women's career development after childbirth were involved 647 respondents. An expert evaluation of the career development model for women was carried out with the participation of 4 experts in the field of career counselling. As a result of the study, the main obstacles for working age women / mothers were: lack of childcare services (245 respondents' answers); number of vacancies in the place of residence (151 respondents); insufficient partner support (110 respondents' answers). Experts' assessment allowed to conclude that the Career Development Support Model developed by the authors promotes a work-life balance between family life and work for women after childbirth. Results of the research could be used in the work of adult career counsellors.

OUTPLACEMENT MODEL FOR EMPLOYEES CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROMOTION

This article addresses the problem of providing career guidance to professionals who are expected to be made redundant. The aim of this thesis is to develop and to do expert-evaluation of the Outplacement Model for Employees Career Promotion (hereinafter referred to as “Model”). The study was developed in the Latvia University of Agriculture, the Institute of Education and Home Economics within the Master study programme Career Counsellor. An expert evaluation of the Model was carried out with the participation of 5 experts in the field of career counselling and personnel management. In general, expert assessments of the overall Model rating (7-9 points) are close to the maximum possible rating (10 points). The provision of Outplacement services in Latvia has a wide range of benefits to the employee, employer and society as a whole. The developed Model will help employees to become more aware of their abilities and return to the labour market soon, after leaving their previous job. The Model can be used by career guidance providers for organizations and employers, career counsellors, and companies providing outplacement services.

ETHICAL DIMENSION IN THE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL CAREER COUNSELLORS

Career counselling at school is a new field of professional performance in Latvia. The aim of article is to analyze the relationship of ethical aspects with the professional activity of school career counsellor. The research methods are following: study and analysis of theoretical literature, compilation of statistical data. Statistics show that more and more school career counsellors acquire additional education to provide individual advice and support to pupils. A school career counsellor cares about a safe environment where a pupil can explore his or her needs and abilities, analyze life events that affect career-path choices. A pupil can expand his or her notions, make important career decisions. It is therefore important to update the ethical principles of school career counseller’s professional performance. Solving of ethical problems is one of the components of the school career counseller professional performance. Mutual trust, fairness, tolerance, good communication is important for the success of cooperation with the students.

AKITA: A CAREER COUNSELING CASE FOR PRACTICE AND THEORETICAL REFLECTION

A case in the Hong Kong Chinese context is presented in this paper to illustrate the use of both quantitative (Holland's SDS) and qualitative career assessment (Card Sorts) to help a 16-year-old girl overcome career indecision. Guided by both Holland's Hexagonal Career Types Theory and Socio-Cognitive Career Theory, a career counsellor can promote a client's positive changes after two counseling sessions. This case supports Tracey's (2002) and Nauta et al.'s (2002) postulated bidirectional causal path between self-efficacy and interests. In addition, it highlights that partial match instead of perfect match between Self-directed search (SDS) scores and choice of academic major is more pragmatic or effective while performing quantitative assessment. Finally, it points to the need for establishing local SDS norms, examining the Holland codes for occupations in Hong Kong, and researching the link between congruence and maximal career outcomes in future research.