I am coming to a close on course reading for the first module on Career Development Theories, and will be starting my assignment shortly. Reaching this point has been a good chance to consider the learning and what I have enjoyed discovering so far.
Since October I have had access to an online module covering learning theories, person-environment fit psychology, life course development psychology, sociological perspectives, and psychoanalytic and literary perspectives, through presentations and reading materials.
Reflecting has been encouraged. In fact, the first activity of the module was to describe our own career and then to review what we had focused on in our description. Did the influence of others play a part in decisions we made? What values and beliefs, skills and interests were showing through? What change and development was showing over time?
Now reaching the end of the module, it has been interesting to return to my description in that first activity. The reading has helped me to slow down and look at my description through the perspective of some of these theories. Previously I had seen my employment history as jobs with varying degrees of overlap, be it due to the connection of tasks within roles I was carrying out, or sectors I was an employee with. With the theories in mind, from a list of employment to date, patterns have started to emerge. Themes and career anchors can be found, as I see how I have over time and experience developed to be more aware of my interests, appreciative of my strengths and acknowledging of weaknesses, and have built a better understanding of what I am drawn to by a workplace and role. Why some paths have been taken and others not is helpful to look at with the theories, as well as appreciating more the impact and influence of my community, and with that, the career choices and journeys those close to me have also taken.
We were advised this first module would provide an underpinning for subsequent modules, setting some of the groundwork for later learning on the course. I am really looking forward to seeing how this first set of reading will link into, and hopefully assist, other modules in the course, and how I might view some aspects of Careers work differently as a result. It has been quite eye opening to see the difference it has made in reflecting on my own journey and choices, so it will be interesting to see how it continues to assist with both this reflection and the wider CEIGHE studies.
About the author
Rose Leek is a paid blogger for CLL.
I relocated back near my hometown last year in Surrey, after a decade living near the sea in East Kent. I work in a University Employability & Careers Centre, assisting engineering and science students onto a placement year as part of their degree, and providing administrative support to their academic tutors.
I started the Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Education, Information and Guidance in Higher Education (CEIGHE) in October 2017 and am looking forward to developing a wider awareness of the service I work within, and increasing my confidence and understanding.
I have experienced a year with lots of change, and it is both exciting and daunting to be adding studying back into my life. I have never written a blog and my reasoning for doing so is the hope that it will help me to better reflect on, and share, my experience as a CEIGHE student. My course is mainly distance taught, with a few residential workshops per year. I wanted to also try to share the perspective of being a distance student, and how I will (hopefully!) learn to juggle the balance of study, work and home.
I look forward to the journey ahead!
And if all else fails, maybe the cat can do some of my studying for me?
Lifelong Learning at Warwick 