Career Construction Theory: A Case Study Interview Analysis

Introduction to Career Counseling and Career Construction Theory

Career counseling is considered a discipline in its own right. It consists of counseling conducted independently of psychometric assessments — though this is not to say that assessment does not take place during the interview. Assessment typically occurs through a calm, warm, and pleasant counseling process in which the client creates a picture of who they are. By asking questions about topics such as role models, favorite magazines, hobbies, and early recollections, counselors can build a clear and detailed picture of their clients' personalities, values, and interests without relying on formal psychometric instruments. During this process, the client holds the power as the teller of their own stories and the expert on their own life. The process also gives the client an opportunity to strengthen their self-narrative, because as they tell their stories, themes and patterns are repeated and reinforced as essential ingredients for their future direction (McMahon, 2007).

Savickas's clear elaboration of the theory underpinning his practice is a reminder that career counseling is much more than a collection of techniques and strategies. It highlights the need to firmly ground practice in theory and to provide a rationale for the work to both clients and colleagues. Savickas describes his approach as a narrative method that draws on the earlier work of Super as a theoretical rationale and on the counseling methods of Adler. This allows the counselor to articulate theoretical ideas in language appropriate to both the interviewer and the client (McMahon, 2007).

A career style interview — consisting of stimulus questions that feel relevant to career counseling clients and elicit opinions and experiences related to their career choices — is often used to help individuals understand their career goals and decisions (Sweeny and Sweeny, 2009).

In order to begin counseling for career construction, it is necessary to interview a client using a standardized set of questions. The Career Style Interview is an instrument designed to elicit self-defining stories that allow counselors to help identify the style that people impose on their own life narratives. This instrument also helps counselors understand the resulting thematic harmony that emerges from those stories (Savickas, 2005).

Overview of the Career Style Interview

The client is a 20-year-old female pre-law college student who believes she wants to become an attorney, with the possibility of pursuing a political career later in life. She is uncertain about what jobs are available to her now while she is still in school, or what opportunities will be open to her after graduation. She sought counseling to explore whether becoming an attorney is the right career path for her.

In response to the first question concerning how counseling could be useful to her, the client responded that she wanted to make sure she was on the right track toward becoming an attorney. When asked to name someone she admires and would most like to pattern her life after, she stated that she admires her mother because she is a go-getter and a very determined person who can overcome anything. She also admires her father because he is funny, can tell jokes, and knows how to entertain people — he is always the life of the party.

Meeting the Client

When asked how she resembles her mother, the client said she is like her mother in many ways but does not have her mother's ability to stay calm and clear-headed when finding solutions in critical situations. When asked how she differs from her mother, she noted that she is funnier, likes to have many friends, and considers herself more self-righteous. She added that while she is funny, she is not quite as funny as her father.

Conclusion and Career Fit Assessment

In the client's case, it appears that her choice of becoming an attorney and possibly entering the political arena at some point would be a good fit for her. She possesses the characteristics necessary to be an effective attorney: she is outgoing, enjoys being in the spotlight, is comfortable in social situations, and sees herself as a strong person. These are all qualities essential to the practice of law, and the analysis of her Career Style Interview supports the direction she has already chosen for herself.