Increasingly students begin their post-secondary experience with a career in mind, and two recent studies (Environics Research Group, 2011; Ho, 2017) suggest that those paths are largely influenced by educators (e.g. Faculty) before a student even considers visiting a career centre. Consequently, these professionals have the inherent capacity to extend their care for students beyond their teaching roles: as Career Influencers, defined by the EdD study as individuals working in a higher education institution who informally provide career-related advice, guidance, and/or counselling to prospective and current students and/or alumni.
This session has two goals. It aims to help attendees recognize their influence in student career development, and consider how they can incorporate career development components into their teaching practice. Findings and implications from Ho’s (2017) EdD study will serve as a backdrop of the session (research questions are included at the end*), while attendees are guided through reflective and discussion activities that enhance the awareness of their influence in student career development.
Current planned activities include having the attendees:
-Reflect on their “constellation of life roles” (Magnusson, 2014) and how roles, events, and experiences contribute to their approach as educators
-Consider how their current activities and interactions with students (e.g., curriculum, office hours conversations) help students develop employability skills
-Discuss their impressions on the notion of the ‘Everyday Career Influencer’, pondering on questions such as:
- How do they currently serve as Career Influencers and demonstrate a sense of care for student career development?
- How might they further their practice as Career Influencers?
- What opportunities and/or challenges do they face as Career Influencers within their institutions? What can they do to take advantage and/or overcome them?
-EdD study research questions and sub-questions:
How do post-secondary education professionals conceive their influence in student career development?
- How do they conceptualize the term “career”?
- How do they see their role as having an impact on student career development?
- How do they see themselves as individuals as having an impact on student career development?
- What resources and/or competencies do they believe are important in furthering their impact on student career development?
