This unit applies to leaders seeking to conduct career development sessions in accordance with professional standards.

Careers are unique to each person and will vary with specific target audiences. Career development sessions may be provided in a variety of ways given the different organisational contexts, individuals involved and delivery settings. The professional expertise of the provider and their use of effective interpersonal and communication skills are central to the success of a career development session.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Apply appropriate career development theory

1.1. Research the major career development theories and models

1.2. Analyse the differences between advice, information provision and professional standards in relation to career development

1.3. Apply theory in an appropriate manner, both to individuals involved and in relation to the context for a career development session

1.4. Evaluate models appropriate for individual and group career development sessions

1.5. Analyse diversity in relation to individuals and the target group, when planning a career development session

2. Conduct career development sessions

2.1. Conduct career development counselling in a clear and unambiguous manner

2.2. Complete problem and goal clarification to the satisfaction of all involved

2.3. Utilise key skills to successfully complete career development sessions

2.4. Identify common patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour that limit making or acting upon well considered choices, and devise counter strategies

2.5. Effectively apply rapport building and attending skills

2.6. Ensure participants set personal goals and make informed choices in the career development session

2.7. Consistently apply effective responding skills when giving feedback on progress during career counselling session

3. Assist individuals make informed career choices

3.1. Assist individuals to identify career development needs

3.2. Determine individual needs and aspirations holistically, in the context of individuals' lives

3.3. Identify individual career development needs that fall outside the scope of practice of the career development service provider

3.4. Refer individuals to or inform them about, appropriate sources of further information or career development support services where required

4. Communicate professionally to promote career development outcomes

4.1. Communicate an accurate assessment of individual needs

4.2. Create a cooperative and productive environment for the conduct of a career development session

4.3. Create a climate of trust, comfort and safety for the conduct of career development sessions

4.4. Complete career development work in an ethical, cooperative and respectful manner within the team and wider organisational context

5. Use resources and technology to support career development sessions

5.1. Acquire, record and prepare relevant information prior to a career development session

5.2. Prepare accurate records and reports in accordance with professional conduct and career development standards

5.3. Assist individuals to use relevant support resources and technology

5.4. Monitor support resources and technology to ensure they support quality outcomes for career development services

Required skills

analytical skills to interpret structurally intricate career development information and to develop reports which deal with complex ideas and concepts

communication and teamwork skills to:

provide advocacy and support for individual needs and career choices

use a wide range of effective communication techniques, and methods and tools such as conflict resolution, negotiation, responding, creative coaching and mentoring

planning and organising skills to:

research career development theories and models

plan, conduct and report on career development and counselling sessions

keep accurate records and reports

problem-solving, initiative and enterprise skills to:

apply appropriate career counselling techniques and career development models to meet client needs

establish a safe, comfortable, trusting relationship and environment within which to conduct career sessions

conduct career development related assessments using professional and robust tools and techniques

self-management and learning skills to:

conduct career development sessions ethically, cooperatively and respectfully

assist others to set personal and life goals

refer individuals to other experts in the field where required

technical skills to:

use, and assist others to use, resources and technology in providing career development sessions

monitor support resources and technology.

Required knowledge

common patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour and their impact on individual career choices

concepts and principles relating to service provision: lifelong learning, holistic career development, career counselling, career decision making, career coaching, career maintenance, work satisfaction, employability, enterprising, positive uncertainty and planned happenstance

human psychology and needs in relation to careers counselling

organisational policies and procedures on counselling.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

rigour in analysing, planning, implementing and evaluating individual and target group career development needs

effective communication during a career development session and when providing information services

using technology and other means to collect, assess and store information for use in a career development services setting

capacity to review each individual's needs, taking into consideration the diverse perspectives individuals might hold in relation to characteristics such as their nationality, gender, ethnicity, class, age, sexuality or disability

application of knowledge of a range of concepts and principles relating to service provision.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to an actual workplace or simulated environment

competence is consistently demonstrated over time, and over a range and variety of situations providing career development sessions to a professional standard.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

applied projects or activities such as collection of resources and information in relation to career development, conduct of career information sessions

direct observation of contextual application of skills in a number of career development sessions conducted for a range of individuals and groups

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of providing vocational career development counselling.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

BSBLED707A Establish career development services

BSBLED709A Identify and communicate trends in career development.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Career development may include:

services intended to assist individuals of any age, and at any point throughout their lives, to make vocational, educational, training and occupational choices and to manage their careers, life, learning and work

Career development sessions may be:

expanding and narrowing choice, or specific to a career choice

formal or informal

general in relation to a number of occupations or an industry

occupation or position specific

one-off or ongoing

Diversity includes variations in:

age

belief systems and values

culture

expertise, experience and working styles

gender

interpersonal style

interests

language, literacy and numeracy

physical differences

political viewpoints

race and ethnicity

religious beliefs

sexual orientation

thinking and learning styles

Career development counselling may include:

expanding and narrowing choice, or specific to a career choice

formal or informal

general in relation to a number of occupations or an industry

occupation or position specific

one-off or ongoing

Key skills to successfully complete career development sessions include:

advocacy

coaching and mentoring

conflict resolution

creativity

negotiation

Rapport building and attending skills may include:

establishing a conducive environment

using non-verbal and verbal encouragement

using timely and appropriate pauses, tone, intonation, gestures

Effective responding skills may include:

exploration of discrepancies and exceptions; positives and negatives; past, current and potential implications

exploration of general and specific examples

intensity hierarchies and reframing questions to assist individuals refine their choices

open and probing questioning to explore situations and contexts, time lines, behaviour, thinking and feelings, relationships

timely, appropriate paraphrasing and summaries

Professional conduct and career development standards may include:

those competencies or codes set, recognised and authorised by a national body, for instance the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA); this includes but is not be limited to the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners (2006)

Support resources and technology may include:

career information and support materials

communication technologies, such telephones, TTY and email

electronic and information technology

meeting rooms and facilities

physical support services

policies and rules for clients to complete follow-up with contact staff or service providers

Quality outcomes for career development services may include a mix of physical and electronic means to achieve:

adequate resource needs of the counselling service

capacity to offer a range of choices and advice

careers counselling

compliance with regulatory, professional and organisational standards

effective conflict resolution

identification and removal of any gaps in career counselling services

negotiation, advocacy, enterprising, coaching and mentoring skills

relevance, currency and appropriateness of services provided to individuals

satisfaction of needs associated with a specific context and target group

Unit sector

Workforce Development - Learning and Development

This unit contains employability skills.