Workplaces Archives

Skills-Based Hiring: A Game Changer for Job Seekers

By Telma Sullivan

Skills-based hiring, which focuses on a candidate’s abilities and competencies rather than educational background, removes barriers for many job seekers and helps employers find the best talent. Career practitioners can be invaluable partners in this evolving hiring landscape, guiding job seekers to communicate their transferable skills, identify their top talents and competencies, and increase their knowledge base.

Rethinking Work: Essays on Building a Better Workplace

Book Review by V. Casey Dozier and Sarah Pearson

This collection of essays imagines new workplace structures and policies that promote decent and fair work for all, especially the most vulnerable is society. This book offers thoughtful suggestions for innovative work arrangements, strategies for rethinking work life, and recommendations for institutional and systemic changes. Reflective analyses with unique solutions provide direction and context in a complex world of work.

Working with Neurodivergent Clients, Part 2: Navigating Conversations Around Disclosure and Accommodations

By Ashley Cross

Disclosing a neurodivergent (ND) condition and requesting accommodations can be intimidating and challenging for professionals and job seekers. This article prepares career practitioners to assist ND clients in advocating for themselves throughout their job search and careers, expanding upon the concepts and best practices covered in Working with Neurodivergent Clients Part 1: How Career Practitioners Can Support the Job Search (Cross, 2023).

Helping Clients Overcome Their Fear of Networking

By Kristen McLaughlin

Networking is an important piece of career development, yet an activity many clients may be reluctant to engage in practicing. Career practitioners can help clients overcome their fear of networking by creating a strategy that reflects their needs and interests so they can achieve success in their career goals.

Working with Neurodivergent Clients, Part 1: How Career Practitioners Can Support the Job Search

By Ashley Cross

Neurodivergent (ND) clients navigate and perceive the world differently than neurotypicals, especially regarding social nuance, communication, executive functioning, and sensory processing. This article explains how career practitioners can better utilize their knowledge of ND-specific traits to support clients throughout the job search and interview process.

Helping Highly Sensitive Persons Navigate the Work Environment and Thrive

By Tiffany Greene

This article examines the significance of understanding highly sensitive persons (HSPs) in career exploration and development to help them thrive in the workplace. It addresses the traits of HSPs and their impact on work, providing insights for practitioners to effectively support this unique population’s career success. Strategies for accommodating and maximizing their potential to thrive in the workplace are discussed.

Positioning Clients for Success in Their Encore Careers

By Norma Dávila

Clients considering encore careers – professional endeavors undertaken while phasing out of employment into retirement or returning to the workforce after retiring – can find it challenging to take action when they are focused on their concerns instead of their possibilities. This article discusses how career practitioners can address those trepidations through coaching questions and strategies for moving forward.

Strategies that Guide the Mentor Selection Process

By Debi Ayliffe

A mentoring relationship can play an important role in guiding and supporting a person’s career journey. Selecting a suitable mentor is critical to ensuring that the relationship is beneficial and enhances a client’s professional and personal goals. This article shows how career practitioners can support clients in this process.

Managing Up Includes Speaking Up

By Barb Girson

By speaking up in the workplace, clients can define their brand, refine their voice, and ward off “quiet firing” by employers. With preparation and practice, clients can feel more comfortable speaking up, whether it is to ask for a promotion, present a proposal, or express concerns during conflict with a team member.

Matching, Trust, and Symbiosis for High Quality Mentoring

By David Hosmer

Successful workplace mentoring comprises complex interacting factors beneath the surface. This article describes the impact that matching, trust, and symbiosis have on mentoring programs supported by an organization. Use the suggestions provided for creating and nurturing high-quality relationships.

Using Career Assessment to Help Bullied Clients

By Dean R. DeGroot and Liz Willis

Workplace bullying is a common practice that harms employees and organizations. By employing career assessment strategies, career practitioners can increase both their own and clients’ understanding of workplace bullying dynamics. This benefits clients by enhancing their self-awareness and hope for the future.

Understanding the Needs of First-Generation Professionals

By Amanda Carcione

First-Generation Professionals (FGPs), those who are first in their families to enter professional employment, face unique challenges throughout their careers which can result in feelings of exclusion and impede the navigation of career ladders. Career practitioners have an opportunity to provide support for FGPs by addressing the challenges of these diverse individuals.

Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for the Work that Makes You Come Alive

Book Review By Melanie V. Buford

Financial and social inequity, and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, have challenged modern workers’ relationships with work. Jonathan Fields tackles workers’ discontent in his new book, Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for the Work that Makes You Come Alive. This review explores Fields’ solution - the Sparketype assessment - and its strengths and limitations.

Embracing the Reality of Trauma and its Impact in Career Development

By Paola A. Barriga

Career practitioners need to be aware of how clients’ trauma related behaviors may impact their career development. In order to create awareness and change, career practitioners can advocate for more workplaces to develop trauma-informed plans as well as determine when to refer clients to a therapist.

Getting Back In: Helping Relaunchers Return to Work

By LaShawn Randolph

Finding the right job after an extended leave can be difficult, yet possible. Knowing how to market oneself and how to find and use resources are important factors in making a successful transition. Career professionals can help Relaunchers build strong resumes, share resources, and break the stigma around career breaks.

Post-Pandemic Job Search Documents: Can Format Change the Negative Opt Out Effects?

By Gina Gridley

Many parents lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic often because of childcare and school closures. Research has shown gaps in employment to care for children have negative effects on parents trying to reenter the workforce. Common job search documents with traditional formats have been preferred by employers, however research has not explored those with employment gaps. Could changing formats on the job search documents change the negative effects for opt out parents?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Why We Should Care About It

By Ann Nakaska

The fourth industrial revolution is bringing great change to industries and the workplace. This article focuses on why the fourth industrial revolution deserves attention, what practitioners need to know about it, and how it will provide career opportunities.

What is Your Greatest Weakness? A TWIG May Help Clients SOAR into the Job!

By Sean Lybeck-Smoak

SOAR and STAR are effective interview techniques. The use of acronyms to explain the techniques contribute to their effectiveness because they remind clients exactly what they need to do in the interview while also describing how to create compelling stories. When answering the weakness interview question, the more effective acronym is TWIG.

Rethinking Performance Reviews: Implications from a Global Pandemic

By Sofia Kospanos

Work performance has been impacted by the circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Employers may need to consider adapting their performance reviews after this years' loss of “normal” work. As a result of the global pandemic, should performance reviews be different this year and how might employees be better helped to succeed?

Reflections on the Past: What We Learned from 9/11 and the 2008 Recession

By Mason Murphy and Melanie Reinersman

It is easy to forget how career services professionals created a sense of reassurance after other world crises due to being so caught up in the present pandemic. Reflecting on the lessons learned in 2001 and 2008 is critical to assisting workers everywhere now and more important, moving the field of career development forward.

Navigating the Transition Wilderness: a Model for Coaching Veterans and Other Humans

By Paulette M. Risher

Career development practitioners are often called upon to support those in the throes of major life transitions. The nonprofit, Still Serving Veterans (SSV) uses an adaptation of William Bridges three-phase transition model as a framework for sense-making, dialogue, and action for their Veteran clients.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future: A Book Review of A World Without Work: Technology, Automation, And How We Should Respond

By Charles J. Lehman

While the current health crisis is having a tremendous impact on jobs, there is a much larger, long-term threat that could, over time, result in a permanent loss of work. A new book foresees how this is likely to happen and how society should adapt.

Managing Through the Uncertainty of COVID

By Cathy Bamji and Donna Godfrey

COVID-19 has exacerbated and expanded issues already existing in the current age of remote working. Organizations with remote/tele-working employees from across industries have been dealing with fluctuating productivity, trust, communication, and resources. Pausing to look at the common issues and using some commonsense basics can put leaders and workers back on track.

Exploring and Addressing Generalized Anxiety Disorder in the Workplace

By Eda Talushllari

Most recently, the population has been dealing with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. Due to the uncertainty and fear in the world from the Coronavirus, it is natural for individuals to experience higher anxiety levels. It is important for career counselors to understand the impact that anxiety and anxiety disorders have on clients to best assist them during this stressful time in history.

Understanding Bias When Working with Multi-Cultural Populations

By Carlos Carter

One of the salient priorities of career services professionals is to understand the populations which they serve. This article briefly reviews implicit and explicit bias and how it impacts multi-cultural populations. Examining cultural identity helps career professionals develop an awareness of clients’ personal values, preferences, and characteristics, which is critical in serving diverse populations.

Opportunity Found: Chaos Theory for Military Spouse Employment

By Candina Janicki

With high unemployment rates for military spouses, creativity, open-mindedness, and adaptability are important skills. The Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) considers that career paths are not linear and by utilizing CTC, career consultants can aid military spouses to develop a growth mindset and holistic approach to their career.

The Role of Career Services Professionals in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

By Ovan Oakley

Given the trends and challenges derived from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, workers need to be adaptable, creative, and innovative to shift into the 21st century world of work. Career services professionals may want to apply the Protean and Boundaryless career models to help workers succeed in the uncertain job market of the future.

Women of Color Navigating the Career Environment: Using Male Dominated Strategies to "FuelForward"

By Vonya Hodrick and Vivian Blade

Overall, both men and women bring many skills, talents, and strengths to the workforce that are essential to progressing their career. However, studies on the progress of professional women show that women are often playing catch-up their entire careers. Women of color are even less likely to get access to the influencers and job opportunities that accelerate career advancement. This article illuminates the importance of strategic relationships in navigating the career environment, gender differences in relationship building, and strategies for practitioners to help women of color advance.

A Unique Approach to Career-Focused Prison Reentry Programming

By Victoria A. Shivy

The career development of people returning from prison to society (reentrants) continues to be a focused area of research and practice. Prison-based equine-facilitated animal programming (PEP) is offered in many jurisdictions and, although controversial, may have unique effects when combined with more traditional reentry modalities. Results of a mixed-methods investigation of an existing PEP are discussed in the context of career development.

How to Attract Millennials to Your Workplace

By Nidal Khaznadar

There are various critiques, myths, facts, and studies written about the millennial generation in the workplace and how they are reshaping the way we work, play, buy and even think. Yet very few leaders know how to approach this generation and attract them to work for and stay with their companies. Learning opportunities, social impact and feedback are the primary factors millennials consider when choosing a workplace.

Recruiting Gen Z Women into STEM Careers

By Leigha Compson

Careers in STEM fields offer competitive jobs yet women tend to be underrepresented. A review of the top career values of women and Generation Z reveals significant overlap, and many of the values align closely with opportunities in STEM fields. Strategies to recruit women into STEM are explored.

Relational-Cultural Theory: A Social Justice Perspective of Career Development in the Workplace

By Lawrence L. H. Richardson, Tonya R. Hammer, Christian D. Chan

Traditional career development theorists rarely acknowledge the importance of relationships and culture. Relational-cultural theory (RCT) is a new perspective from which career development practitioners can work with their clients. Career practitioners may use RCT to explore critical issues that affect people’s career development in the workplace because all individuals have complex identities.

Navigating Changes to the 180-Day Rule for Retiring Military

By Stacy Hojnowski

Retiring military service members should be aware of the 180 day rule if seeking civilian employment with the Department of Defense (DoD) immediately after retirement. This policy restriction presents a new landscape to navigate when helping our retiring military clients.

Maximizing the Use of a Free Career Development Resource

By Janet Wall

CareerOneStop, the free resource offered by the U.S. Department of Labor, includes a wide variety of tools and data for career planning, decision making and transition. Knowing what is available and how the information might help is easier through the sharing of these case examples.

Introverts in the Workplace

By Kim Finnestead

The purpose of this article is to explore how introverts thrive and react in the workplace. The traits and differences between introverts and extroverts will be explored, and the neuroscience behind each orientation will be outlined. The article provides insights about suitable careers for introverts as well as a discussion of the unique ways introverts contribute to the culture of the workplace, including leadership roles.

The Importance of Labor Market Information in Career Guidance

By Liana Jindaryan

When clients seek career assistance, they are looking for information about themselves and the world of work. Having quality information helps them make educated and effective career decisions. This article emphasizes the significance and timely availability of quality information in the delivery of career guidance and counseling services.

When Clients Seek Second Careers in Healthcare

By Allison Peterson

Healthcare careers are growing at a fast pace and are attracting many newcomers pursuing a second career. What career professionals and their clients may not realize is that several features of the healthcare workplace can present unique challenges to second career workers. This article addresses two such healthcare challenges, describes options and includes guidance for addressing these issues with your clients.

Preventing Job Seekers from Being Scammed

By Sandi Sibilio

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated at conning job seekers. Being scammed can have significant negative consequences. Career counselors can proactively help clients to identify the tell-tale signs of a scam before the job search begins.

Great Expectations: Providing Excellence in Reentry Programming

By Staci Parker

As professionals in the field of career development, how prepared are we to positively encourage high performance from a group that has historically not performed well? Compared to the standards to which we hold mainstream clients, what are our expectations for diverse groups?

Helping Employers Utilize Their Human Talent/Capital: A Case for Internal Labor Markets

By A. Nelse Grundvig

For businesses, the crux of solving a skill shortage is finding someone with the right mix of skills, abilities, and proven experience. This article identifies how employers can develop the talent they have by using internal labor markets and creating career paths.

It Takes a Village: South Dakota’s Collaborative Workforce Education Program

By Keley Smith-Keller

South Dakota has an innovative workforce education program which is a collaborative effort between private and public interests. This article describes the project and may offer ideas about how to do something similar in your state or region.

Understanding the Career Development Journey for Native American Clients

By Jenna Crabb and Lamarita Vicenti

Little research has been done on how to effectively assist Native American clients on their career development path. The following article will address the career needs and suggestions for career advising/counseling the Native American client.

Job Searching Considerations For Blind And Visually Impaired Individuals

By Mason Murphy

Clients who are blind or visually impaired encounter many unique challenges when conducting a job search. Those challenges can be hidden and external to the actual search process. This article is intended to bring awareness to factors that counselors may not have considered when working with this population.

Looking at Social Media From the Employer's Perspective

By Joe Bontke

Social media in the employment world is a relatively new form of risky communication. More employers are using the Internet to gather information about applicants. Using social networking websites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, employers can gain access to information that would be "off limits" during an interview.

Career Support for Former Foster Care Students in Higher Education

By Christine Norton, Dawn Flores, and Naomi Valdez

Foster care agencies know that retention efforts are critical to prevent negative outcomes for former foster care students. Career counseling is an important retention tool to help provide direction for these students. This article examines the importance of career support to promote retention, graduation and financial independence with this population.

Focusing on Career Development with Inmates

By Amy Thul-Sigler

Assisting inmates with career development proves challenging for even an experienced counselor. There are additional barriers inmates encounter that prevent career opportunities. This article focuses on practical tips and resources beneficial for working with all inmates to develop skills needed for workplace transition.

Internship Supervisor Training

By Cindy Lewis

Internship supervisor training is an understudied area. Many internship supervisors feel training is important and should be provided, but most supervisors fail to receive training except in the psychology field. This article discusses internship supervisor training in the workplace: the importance of training, who should provide it, and how it positively impacts the experience for all parties involved.

Supporting Transgender and Gender Non-binary Job Seekers

By Brandon L. Beck

Providing career counseling to transgender and gender non-binary clients provides unique opportunities. In this article, a few important questions to consider when working with this population along with some key tips and resources for career development are provided.

Corporate Careers: How Employees Get Stuck…and How to Help Them

By Mimi Brent

Why do employees in large organizations get stuck in their careers? Offering innovative career resources in the workplace encourages ongoing career exploration and increases employee engagement.

Strategies for Helping the Hard To Employ

By Larry Robbin

This article focuses on strategies to increase employment motivation among people that are resistant to going to work. These individuals are the hard-to-employ. The article includes practical ideas that will increase their employment motivation.

Time Management Tips For Career Counselors

By Robert White

Effective time management can be difficult for many career counselors who freely give of their time and resources in order to help others. If you fall into this category, this helpful article provides a variety of tips and strategies for improving time management skills and increasing productivity. [Ed. Note: This article was originally published in Career Convergence in 2010 and is being re-run due to its value today.]

Transition Classes for Veterans: Analyzing Outcome Data for Evidence-based Approaches

By Krysta Kurzynski and Seth Hayden

The NCDA Veterans Committee is actively addressing the needs of service members transitioning to civilian life. One suggested activity on college campuses is a veteran-specific transition course. Based upon emerging research, practitioners could contribute career development activities in these courses to develop engagement with this population.

Comparing Career Transitions of Midlife and College Student Veterans

By Heather Robertson

Military members were surveyed regarding their experience transitioning to civilian employment, life satisfaction and demographic features. Specifically midlife veterans and college student veterans were surveyed. Findings include a discussion of group differences and transition variables. Implications for career practitioners working with veterans are addressed.

Competency Assessments Provide as Many Gains for Individuals as Organizations

By Selena Rezvani

Competency assessment is a critically important, and yet often overlooked tool for career development practitioners who work with professionals employed inside organizations. This article examines the under-leveraged advantages of competency assessment for individuals and its use as an effective career management tool with benefits that can help individuals in their short- and long-term career development efforts. [Ed. Note: due to the importance of competencies, this 2009 article is being re-run now.]

Labor and Employment: 2015 Policy Agenda Summary

By Jessica Carter, Zach McGrain and Aaron Sturgill

The GOP will hold majorities in both the U.S Senate and U.S. House of Representatives as the 114th Congress convenes. This means a Republican controlled congress will most likely expend energy on executive branch employment issues. The purpose of this article is to inform and update the reader on several agenda items that may affect labor and employment in 2015.

Organizations 2014: Reflections and the Road Ahead

By Bryan Lubic

Throughout 2014, book reviews and articles connected career development practices, processes, and ideas to the organizational side of career development. Here’s a review of the critical themes from these important contributions and a look at the road ahead.

Encouraging Career Asset Building Among Low-Income Individuals

By Amy Johnson

Urging low-income adults to "get a job, any job" and creating programming based on this position is shortsighted and leads to poor job retention, welfare cycling, inadequate wages, and greater costs than investing in meaningful career exploration and choice. Service providers may be interested in an online comprehensive career development program for lower-income adults that focuses on career asset-building . [Eds. Note: This article originally appeared here in 2006. It is being repeated due to its high value.]

Faith and Career Development: Complementary Tools in Reaching Teens

By Roger Wilcoxen

Could a career counselor and youth religious program leader use the same tools to achieve a faith-based, purpose-driven life? Yes! And these tools successfully reach teens. [Eds. Note: This article originally appeared in Career Convergence in 2007. Because of the uniqueness of this article, it is being reprinted now.]

Advocating, Educating, Inspiring: The Expanding Role of Career Professionals

By Angela Londoño-McConnell

The role of social justice in career development is, once again, becoming a central focus (Borgen 2005; Arthur et al, 2009). Historically, career development, social justice, and advocacy have been intrinsically intertwined. The founder of vocational psychology, Frank Parsons, advocated for the poor and disadvantaged; worked against discrimination and oppression; and believed in justice and social change. But, does social justice matter? [Eds. Note: This article originally appeared here in Sept 2012. It is being repeated in celebration of Career Convergence's All Conference issue. See NCDA NEWS for more details.]

Military to Civilian: Assisting Transitioning Army Personnel in Navigating the Civilian Job Market

By Natesha Smith

The U.S. Army as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has an active role in providing transition assistance programs to discharged or retired soldiers. Due to the stressful life of transitioning personnel, unanswered questions and uncertainty may be brought to the attention of civilian career practitioners. This article addresses such topics as culture shock, transferable skills and tools for exploring the market for the post-military population. [Eds. Note: This article originally appeared here in August 2008. It is being repeated in celebration of Career Convergence's All Conference issue. See NCDA NEWS for more details.]

Helping the Homeless

by Chris Hogg

Quite often, being successful in helping homeless people find meaningful work and start (or re-start) careers is as much about the counselor as it is about the client. [Eds. Note: This article from March 2006, is being re-run, in light of the value and timelessness of the message.]

Future Jobs: Solving the Employment and Skills Crisis

Book Review by Pat Nellor Wickwire

Edward Gordon’s ultimate objective is to help everyone reconsider the choices we will need to make in order to successfully resolve the education-to-employment dilemma. As he writes in his book, “the time for action is today, before other skilled foreign competitors take away our future.” Career development specialists are well-positioned to understand, advocate for, and implement the changes Dr. Gordon describes to prepare and develop the workforce of the future.

Career Moves: Be Strategic About Your Future

Book Review By Bryan Lubic

This book effectively integrates sound career management principles and workplace trends with a professional competency model to provide an outstanding resource for training and development professionals to manage their careers.

Management Development Can Be a Captivating Experience for Non-Profits!

By Ellen Manning

As reported in last month’s Career Convergence, Quest, Inc., helps people with developmental disabilities achieve their dreams of going to school, having a job, living on their own, and experiencing summer camp. Through more than 650 team members, Quest makes a difference in the lives of over 1,100 people each day. This month, we will review Quest’s internal management development program, called Captivate!

The Landscape of the 21st Century Workplace: Emerging Trends You Need To Know as a Career Development Professional

By Caitlin Williams

Based on research in workplace and workforce trends, this series presents the eight emerging trends that career development specialists working inside organizations need to know. This article presents trends 1 through 4, describes each trend and provides questions, insights and ideas to help you in your work.

Live Your Life Like a Lighthouse and be a Beacon of Hope to Others

By Pat Schwallie-Giddis

Think about who has mentored you and or who you are currently mentoring. Whether you are involved in association or foundation work, or in the non-profit world, you can and are reaching out to others.

The Patchwork Career of a Military Spouse

By Lori Cleymans

Military spouses are often told that they also serve alongside their active duty spouse, supporting their career throughout the years. This service often calls for sacrifice and for many military spouses their career is what suffers. Over the years the resume of a military spouse becomes a hodge-podge of jobs and skill sets. Focusing on transferrable skills and new opportunities can increase satisfaction.

South Carolina Legislation Calls for Enhanced K-12 Career Guidance, CDF Certification

by Ray Davis

Current legislation in the South Carolina State Legislature seeks to enhance the role of career development as being essential to economic development, school improvement, and the present and future prosperity of citizens. Included in this K-12 reform is revitalized career guidance and counseling and career development certification through Career Development Facilitator training. In honor of NCDA's 100th anniversary, Career Convergence is publishing articles of historical significance. This month, our web magazine is reprinting articles from our debut issue in 2003.

Learning Outcomes Assessment Step-By-Step: The Story Behind NCDA’s New Monograph

By Shawn P. Conlon

Throughout the long history of employee career development, one of the most difficult questions to answer has been, “How is my organization’s career development program impacting the lives of employees?” Through author interviews, this article explains how and why our professional association offers this resource to support the field of career development.

Career Development for Transitioning Veterans

Book Review by Tracy Capozzoli

The reasons why transitioning personnel seek out individualized career services are varied and unique. This new NCDA monograph brings to light numerous career concerns and is an excellent place to start learning how to work with veterans.

Learning Outcomes Assessment Step-by-Step: Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice in Career Services

Book Review By Joy Evans and Phyllis N. Weatherly

Learning outcomes assessment is a hot topic within career development, particularly in higher education. The following book review explores a recent NCDA monograph on this important topic, including a detailed description of its content and key takeaways for all readers across niche areas.

Today’s Veterans: Using Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) Approach to Build Upon Their Career Dreams

By Mary Buzzetta and Shirley Rowe

This article will provide an overview of the challenges veterans face in relation to their career development. Effective application of the Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) approach as a foundation for assisting veterans in building upon their career dreams will be discussed. Specific strategies will be provided to illustrate how the CIP approach can be applicable to supporting veterans in their career development process.

Working 50+ ---Getting Older Workers Back to Work through Community Partnerships

By Emily Allen

Right now, over 3 million older adults are searching for work, and many are dealing with the impact of long-term unemployment. AARP Foundation is working in concert with community partners to reverse the downward spiral that many older Americans and their families face.

How to Dead Reckon the Job Market: An Army Ranger’s Job Search Story

By Andreas Lucido

Career counselors working with transitioning military can use this Army Ranger's advice directly with clients.

The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to land a job that makes a difference

Book review by Jennifer Ealey & Samuel Plonk

Career counselors working with clients interested in the nonprofit sector will find Shelly Cryer’s new book useful as a resource tool. This article reviews the book and discusses the potential value for both career counselors and those looking for a career in the nonprofit world.

What Employers REALLY Want: Grasping the Unspoken Rules of the Workplace

By Steve Parese

Unconventional candidates often have difficulty finding and keeping good jobs, even when they have strong vocational skills. This article suggests one reason: individuals from challenging backgrounds often fail to meet employers’ unspoken expectations. It explains why this is so, and offers a number of straightforward strategies to address these issues.

The Reality of Re-entry for the Ex-offender in the United States

By Lyn Wazny

Ex-offenders face many career-related obstacles upon release from prison. This article presents brief national statistics and some information about federal programs that were created to help ex-offenders obtain gainful employment. Also included are resources specific to the metro Denver, Colorado area.

Management Strategies for a Virtual Career Services Program

By Barbara Reuper-Baum

What if you were asked to design a program that would provide a wide range of career services to over 60,000 people working in over 500 locations around the world—and told that you must do so without putting counselors in any of these locations?

Top Web Tools for America's Job Seekers

By Janet E. Wall

Given that our unemployment rate continues to flirt with double digits, we all try to find ways to help our clients and customers. Over the last few years several online tools have been developed. Here is a listing of what some consider the best tools.

Gardening as a Tool for Career Development

By Nancy Miller

Strategies for increasing economic empowerment and job search skills are shared via an interview with a "hands-on" practitioner.

The Personal Branding Process

By Susan Chritton

There is a lot of buzz in the market these days about Personal Branding. For many it feels gimmicky or like a slick marketing trick to once again make you feel like you are missing something if you don't have your own personal brand. The savvy career development professional knows that personal branding is neither a gimmick nor a trick, it is a concept that has taken hold and is being used extensively in the business world.

The Association of Counselors and Educators in Government (ACEG)

By Don Hill

Learn more about the Association of Counselors and Educators in Government (ACEG)! The ACEG is a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and is comprised of counselors and educators who work with members of the Armed Services and their families (active duty or retired) and civilian employees of the Department of Defense and other government agencies.

The Importance of Coaching New Leaders

By Lewis Lubin

One of the hallmarks of career success inside organizations is the ability of a new or recently promoted employee to successfully transition into a new or expanded leadership role. This article highlights findings and practices from Right Management, Inc. that help new leaders succeed through the support of "on-boarding" coaching.

Civilian to Military: Assisting Clients Seeking a Military Option

By Ted Hagert

In today's economy, many individuals are looking at the military as a viable option for employment. Here is a plan of action to assist counselors who are unfamiliar with the military and its vast career options.

Perceptions Keep Businesses From Reaping Benefits Local Workforce Centers Can Provide

By Kristine Kinzli

Getting businesses past the negative perceptions of their workforce center and engaging them in the value saving programs are today's assignments for the workforce center professional.

Capitol Briefing: Mobilizing For Change

By Thomas R. Stowell

As Congress considers reauthorization of career and workforce legislation and the impact of newly proposed initiatives, we look to our members to advocate for issues important to our organization and profession. The Government Relations Committee provides support and information to aid your efforts. Members can dramatically impact policy decisions related to NCDA's legislative agenda through advocacy, education, and collaboration.

Recruiter to Counselor: What's Different on the Flip Side?

By Stacy Smyk

My experience working with college students stems from two different perspectives. Initially as a college recruiter, I conducted events and used resources to hire graduating seniors. Now on the "flip side" as a career counselor, I focus on helping students in a way that integrates my knowledge of both employment and career development.

Uncle Sam Wants You!

By Karol Taylor

Civil service is again coming into vogue. Career counselors and coaches are being approached by clients seeking direction toward federal government careers. More and more students are requesting instruction on completing and posting their federal resume. Are you prepared to assist them?

Working with Foster Youth: An Interview with Alfred Arroyos

By Maureen Nelson

Every year, 25,000 teens leave the foster youth system. Agencies like the Independent Living Skills Program help them make the leap to adulthood, college and jobs. Employment Specialist must reach out to this often-forgotten population.

The Career Development Plan - A Quick Guide for Managers and Supervisors

By Jose Adolfo Trueba

Career development practitioners who work in organizations are often asked to help managers and supervisors find ways to encourage the ongoing professional development of employees they supervise. Here are some suggestions from a career professional, charged with helping supervisors and their workers to develop ongoing career development strategies. His idea of using a Career Development Plan may offer you a strategy for coaching the managers and supervisors you serve within your organization.

The Value of Servant Leadership Skills in Government Employees

By Darrell Norman Burrell and Brian C. Grizzell

In order to meet changing leadership challenges, government employees with managerial authority must seek skill development and executive training in Servant Leadership, which encompasses empowering, motivating, and nurturing employees towards collaboration, knowledge sharing, and team building cultures.

A Look at Restorative Justice: What Are We Going To Do With All These Ex-Offenders?

By Stephen Sisco

Unquestionably unemployment contributes to an increased rate of parole revocation, which is a major risk factor for recidivism. Professionals who assist ex-offenders in the search for employment must possess a comprehensive set of workforce development skills.

Welcome New Organizations Associate Editor

Dr. Caitlin Williams is now the Associate Editor of the Organizations Department of Career Convergence. She invites new submissions in the areas of business/industry, outplacement, career management, recruiting/staffing, and human resources.

Relationships: The Critical Enhancement to Systems Thinking in Organizations

By Maureen Nelson

In June, Part I looked at the consequences of not taking a systems approach to corporate career development programs. Now we'll see the advantages of the systems view and also a few ways to mix in the social structures that are the untapped power of organizations.

Globalization and International Work and Study: A Threat or an Opportunity?

By Dale Furbish, Nancy Arthur, Suzie Bisson

Appreciating international transition from a holistic perspective enables individuals to prepare more appropriately for the numerous challenges and opportunities of such journeys. Career counseling that integrates a wide range of considerations is very helpful throughout the transitioning process.

Growing Our Own

By Denise E. Jenkins

A creative in-house career development program at a major midwestern metropolitan hospital develops and motivates current employees and reaches out to a challenging and diverse urban community. Denise Jenkins tells the story of how her hospital uses training and development initiatives to communicate to the whole health-care team that the hospital values them.

Getting Back on Track: How to Stop Sabotaging Yourself

By Pamela Thorne

Career Convergence has a gift for career counselors working in organizations: a free article for you to use in your corporate employee bulletin or newsletter. Help your employees who might be stuck in a career rut by sharing this sound advice. (Please include the citation found at the end when reprinting this article).

4-Hour Workweek

Book Review by Markell R. Steele

The quest for work/life balance is of great concern to most career development professionals, not only as a means of self-care, but also to serve as a positive role-model for our clients. This review showcases the main ideas presented in Ferriss' book, and Steele offers insight as to how these suggestions improved her own career efficiency and satisfaction.

Knowledge + Engagement = Great Public Policy

by Bridget Brown and Romella Lee

In this third in a series of advocacy-related articles, Bridget Brown and Romella Lee from NCDA’s Government Relations Committee, address the important role that state-level association leaders play in educating members and facilitating a clear vision for the association. They discuss how career professionals operating in the public sector can use public policy as a tool to enhance engagement at the state level.

Trends in HR: A Career Counselor's Perspective

By Maureen Nelson

How do you see HR? Gatekeepers or important network contacts? When career counselors and HR professionals develop mutual respect, a cross-pollination can occur that benefits both groups. Maureen Nelson discusses two trends in the HR world that career counselors should be aware of.

Career Development for People with Psychiatric Disabilities

By Janice D. Rubin

This article outlines the career development strategies and approaches that have been successful in identifying career areas and employment opportunities for people with psychiatric disabilities. Strategies offered are especially helpful to practitioners who work with state vocational rehabilitation offices.

Teach Job Search Skills with Improv

By Andy Wainer

The use of Improv techniques in career counseling can add some fun to learning job search skills. Relevant Improv techniques are suggested for many of the skills clients need to engage in career exploration and conduct a successful job search. Best of all, it benefits clients in a variety of settings - from One-Stops to students to private practice.

The Horse Whisperer Goes to Washington

By Bridget Brown & Ellen Weaver Paquette

The "Horse-Whisperer" image provides an excellent visualization of how advocacy works. In this second in a series, Bridget Brown and Ellen Weaver
Paquette continue discussing the importance of advocacy at the state and national level for programs that enhance career development opportunities for all citizens.

An Organization That Keeps 'Em Comin' Back

by Piper C. Reason and Barbara L. Warren

Career coaches are subject to the same job-retention factors as everyone else. In this article, two professional career coaches explore the reason that employees within their small, nonprofit program not only stick around longer than the average employee, but return after leaving.

The Presidential Management Fellowship Internship Program

by Darrell Norman Burrell

In the aftermath of 9/11 and the events of Hurricane Katrina, the need for people with advanced degrees and fresh ideas has never been more important in the management ranks of government. The article discusses the Presidential Management Fellowship Internship Program which is a little known option for getting into government on a fast-track to senior management jobs.

Career Development Services Within Maryland Correctional Educational Facilities

by Diana M. Bailey

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) manages and delivers correctional education services "behind the fence". The article provides statistics on the need for services and the outcome of services offered for Maryland's incarcerated population.

Forming A Career Center-Community Bond

by Ursula B. Carmena

What goes together like toast and jam or sea and sand? How about careers and community? At the 2006 NCDA Global Conference, Ursula B. Carmena will be presenting the unique pilot project she directs, a new public library service that enlarges and supplements the field of career development in Louisiana.

Bullying in the Workplace

by Sherry Rossiter

A recent study suggests that 20% of all employees, at all levels, become targets for bullying behavior in the workplace each year. Dr. Sherry Rossiter reviews the types of workplace bullying that occur and suggests strategies for coaching our career clients who are, or who have been, its victims.

Making the Leap from Counselor to Selection Specialist

by Kent Noel

Making the transition from counselor to evaluator is not always an easy one. However, a career in selection can be quite rewarding if a counselor can get past initial reservations and misconceptions. The following may help demystify the process and shed selection in a more positive light.

Human Resources From the Inside Out

Book review by Sally Gelardin

No other profession is so closely related to career advising as Human Resources: Figuratively speaking, we "mirror image" one another. Dr. Sally Gelardin reviews a new book that can be a field guide to the mysteries of the HR profession for the beginning career counselor, and even for the veteran.

Using Motivational Interviewing in Career Counseling

by Geri Miller

Motivational Interviewing (MI), a strategy developed in a very different context, also has a place within the framework of career counseling. Specific, practical suggestions on how to apply Motivational Interviewing approaches are provided.

Turning Clients' Bad Luck Into Good

Book review by Barry Davis

Career development professionals frequently find themselves sitting across the desk from "unlucky" people who have just lost their jobs, or are facing career crisis. Barry Davis reviews a book that provides insight and interventions that can be helpful in coaching and motivating client turn-arounds, from bad luck to career success.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Management

Reviewed by Kathy Kaysen Murzyn

In this book the reviewer found a pleasant, refreshing look at the intersection between guiding a family, being a leader, and managing people in the workplace. Her experience, both as a manager and as a parent, made her curious about the relationship between parenting children and coaching in organizations.

A Look at Career Development for Persons with Mental Retardation

by John Wadsworth PhD and Karen Cocco PhD

Despite the popular view that career development is lifelong, vocational development theories have seldom been applied to persons with mental retardation. A proposed ecological model of career development for persons with developmental disabilities is discussed here. [Eds. Note: this article originally appeared here in Jan. 2003].

Competitive Sourcing: Crisis and Opportunity

by Janet M. Ruck

Competitive sourcing (also known as public-private competition for work currently preformed by federal employees) is intended to spur the government to work more efficiently and ensure that taxpayers are receiving the best service at the most reasonable cost. For the federal employees whose functions have been identified as those that could be performed by the private sector it means turmoil, anxiety and often, loss of federal status.

The Career Readiness Certificate: New Resource for Job Seekers and Employers

by Barbara Bolin

Since it's inception in 2003, the Career Readiness Certificate Consortium has grown to include 37 states. The Certificate is fast becoming a national credential because of its benefits to employers and employees.

People with Disabilities: Exploring Self-Employment as a Career Option

by Greg Wimer

Entrepreneurship is an exciting way for people with disabilities to realize their full potential while becoming financially self-supporting.

The One-Stop Career Center: A Resource For Job Seekers

by Marjorie Hendrickson

The Workforce Investment Act delineates basic principles to guide service delivery to employers, their employees and job seekers through local One-Stop Career Centers. This article includes a brief background of the Workforce Investment Act and how the One-Stop system delivers career services to communities.

Tips on Understanding Federal Vacancy Announcements and Applying for Federal Jobs

by Elda Schwartz

The tips provided in this article are intended to simplify the federal application process by helping applicants understand how to decipher a vacancy announcement and prepare a well-written application package that will lead to a job interview.

Career Development Strategies for Promoting Employee Development and Retention in Social Service Org

by Debbie Walker

Social service organizations represent an opportunity for career counselors who are interested in consulting. Career counselors can help agencies implement career development programs as an employee retention and development strategy. In this article, the author presents a three-step model for initiating such a system.

A Day in the Life of a Delegate

by Amy Benedict-Augustine

Eleven days in the life of this counselor were spent in China as a delegate with the People to People Ambassador program. All counselors should accept invitations to participate in unique professional development activities.

CACTI:
The Pre-Counseling Assessment

by Martin Elliot Jaffe

InfoPLACE is a public library based career planning program where adults can get help deciding if they are leaning toward a radical career transition or an immediate job search. The career counselors at InfoPLACE developed the Core Adult Career Transition Inventory, CACTI, to indicate the appropriate depth and direction of counseling before sessions begin.

A Day in the Life of a Career Materials Developer

by Marilyn Maze

A Career Materials Developer describes how she develops computerized career planning materials utilizing knowledge of career counseling with skills in data analysis, labor market analysis, and computer program design. The tasks involve identifying the most relevant career information, arranging that information to be useful to clients, and determining how a computer can make life easier for clients who need that information.

Identifying Entrepreneurs Through Assessment

by Kent Noel

For any individual hoping to determine if he or she is cut out to be an entrepreneur, formalized upfront assessment can be extremely useful. Career consultant Kent Noel notes that multiple data point assessment can shed considerable light on characteristics common among entrepreneurs: Personality fit, drive, problem solving, and motivation.

"A Day in the Life" of a Career Counselor at a US-accredited University Abroad

by Danielle Savage

This first person account of the work of a Career Counselor at The American University of Paris gives insight into the similarities and differences of the profession worldwide. A description of her career path also reveals future options for current students.

Mastering the Employer's One-Minute Screen Test

by Steve Stromp

Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto first suggested the well-known 80/20 rule in 1906: That 80% of an organization's productive output is generated with just 20% of its time, talent, and resources. Career coach Steve Stromp observes that in business settings the rule is equally valid during job interviews.

Career Counseling is a Valuable Benefit for Employees

by Linda Ginac

Preserving employee commitment to company goals despite organizational instability is paramount. Organizational changes may cause your employees to experience career challenges that could affect their success at the company. Career counseling is a resource that employers can rely on when work performance, career transition or cultural fit becomes an issue.

Sales Selection, Assessment, and the Career Counselor

By Kent Noel

This article discusses the advantages of using formalized assessment in the selection of qualified salespeople. Because it touches on cost and quality issues, career counselors could present this sound rationale to their corporate clientele.

The Internal Revenue Service is Reaching Beyond the "Horizons" with Mentoring Opportunities

by Judith L. Button

Are you looking for a chance to introduce adult learning principles that excite, educate and motivate employees in your organization? The underpinnings of a structured mentoring program, sponsored at the Internal Revenue Service, can show you how. Mentoring has long since been applauded for its vital cornerstone approaches that deliver extraordinary synergies and strategies that assist employees in becoming the ultimate drivers of their career. See how the IRS is "Reaching beyond the HORIZONS with mentoring opportunities."

360° Feedback: A Powerful Resource for Professional and Career Development

by Claudette Nowell-Philipp

Organizational 360° Feedback initiatives help employees understand the impact of their workplace behaviors. They also serve as powerful resources for career planning and for creating a strategy to maximize career opportunity.

Resources to Help Military Service Members Make Successful Transitions to the Civilian Workforce

by Larry Woods

Career development facilitators and career counselors can help military service members make a smooth transition from the military to the civilian workforce by becoming familiar with the wide variety of resources that are designed for this purpose.

Facilitating a Strategic Career Learning Community through a Corporate University at a Water Company

by Diane D. Rentfrow

Today, corporate leaders look to career practitioners as strategic learning partners in their organizations. Employers want employees to learn and develop because the bank of knowledge is precision to their organizations. Constant change in the workplace makes career planning more difficult; well-defined competencies can provide guidance in career planning. Career practitioners can have an active voice in the business environment by creating and facilitating learning communities to address current issues relating to family, education and work.

Using DiSC for Career Development in Organizations

by LouElla Jackson

Many people derail or almost derail their careers based on what others may perceive as behaviors inappropriate for the role. This article describes how some organizations use assessments based on William Moulton Marston's DISC theory to help employees, managers and executives better understand themselves and others with whom each may work.