06/01/2013

The Impact of Career Interventions: Preparing our Citizens for 21st Century Jobs

By Susan C. Whiston and David L. Blustein, with the assistance of Scott Solberg and Julia Porter

Introduction to the Joint NCDA-SVP Paper

Collaboration is a wise tool to advance public understanding of the value of career interventions. As the National Career Development Association celebrates its 100th anniversary we are happy to share another centennial product to commemorate this significant milestone. As NCDA reviews its history, membership and beliefs, it finds many opportunities to collaborate with the rich tradition of excellence and outreach demonstrated by the Society of Vocational Psychology (SVP). As a result, the 2012-13 NCDA Board initiated a conversation with SVP’s Chair, Susan Whiston, to produce the attached joint paper “The Impact of Career Interventions Preparing Our Citizens for 21st Century Jobs”.

Once approved by the NCDA and SVP Boards, David Blustein (NCDA Trustee) was charged to bring his admired creative and writing skills, and input from the NCDA Research Committee, to work with SVP Chair, Susan Whiston. Susan, well acknowledged as a leading researcher and author in outcomes analysis, added a spirit of collaboration that marks the very best of professionalism. Such an effort helps two major professional organizations offer a strong statement about the value of career interventions during the historical time when so many seek support in search for “jobs”. As the roots of NCDA and strong research values of SVP merge, we are thrilled to offer this powerful, succinct yet comprehensive, paper which is intended for practical use by practitioners,  policy makers, faculty and students in their work to inform the public about the place and evidence-base of career interventions. All are encouraged to share it widely as we advocate for greater support and use of career interventions which have helped youth, adults, and retirees as they plan their transitions and decisions.

Rich Feller
NCDA President 2012-13

NCDA & SVP present:  The Impact of Career Interventions Preparing Our Citizens for 21st Century Jobs

Susan C. Whiston, Ph.D, is a professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Indiana University. Susan has published extensively in the area of career counseling and interventions with a focus on evaluating outcomes. She is currently the chair of the Society of Vocational Psychology, which is a section within the Society of Counseling Psychology. She is also a fellow of the Society of Counseling Psychology and received its John Holland award in 2005. In 2010, she received the Best Practices Award from the American Counseling Association. She has been on the editorial boards of Career Development Quarterly, Journal of Career Assessment, Journal of Counseling Psychology, and was associate editor for research for the Journal of Counseling and Development. She can be reached at swhiston@indiana.edu

David L. Blustein, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology at the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. David is a Fellow of the National Career Development Association, Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) of the American Psychological Association, and the American Educational Research Association.  In addition, he has received the Division 17 Early Career Scientist-Practitioner Award and the John Holland Award for Outstanding Achievement in Personality and Career Research. David has received the Presidential Recognition Award from the National Career Development Association in 2008 and the Extended Research Award from the American Counseling Association.  David has published extensively in career development, work-based transitions, the exploration process, the interface between work and interpersonal functioning, and the psychology of working. He also has published a book entitled “The Psychology of Working: A New Perspective for Career Development, Counseling, and Public Policy”, which is currently in its third printing. In addition, David has consulted with state and national government agencies on issues pertaining to career development education and the school-to-work transition process. He can be reached at david.blustein@bc.edu