Reflective Report: Applying Career Management Theories to Prospects

This report provides a reflective analysis of career management, emphasizing its importance for individuals pursuing professional growth and financial stability. It explores various career management theories, including trait-factor, developmental, and learning theories, and their practical implications. The report highlights the significance of self-awareness in career development and managerial roles, referencing the growing demand for graduates in the UK job market. It discusses how individuals can align their personality traits with suitable working environments and leverage unplanned opportunities. The report concludes by underscoring the benefits of career management for both individuals and organizations, advocating for continuous learning and skill development. Desklib provides students access to solved assignments and past papers to enhance their understanding of career management.

Career Management - Assessment
task 2 – Reflective report
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Career Management.........................................................................................................................4
Career Management theories...........................................................................................................4
Trait-factor theories......................................................................................................................5
Developmental theories................................................................................................................5
Learning theory............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
A career is a discipline where a person has a passion and devotes his professional life to become
an expert in the particular field. The career can demonstrate continuous development and
advancement in roles, responsibilities, and compensation. Career management is the ability of an
individual to decide what to do in the professional life. The aim of the present paper is to prepare
a report on career management on the basis of own career prospects and the consideration of the
career management theories. Career management theories are the models and framework that
lays emphasis on the development of the career opportunities and experiences and helps the
individuals in grooming and growing their career. The self-reflective report will throw light on
the different career management theories which can be used by the individuals as well as
organizations in getting and selecting the right individual as well as right occupation.
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Career Management
In the words of Bhattacharyya (2018), in recent years, it has become very important for the
individuals who have just completed their graduates or perusing it to give much attention to self-
awareness with an objective to get most of their career development efforts. Career management
is the systematic attempt of one’s activities and engagements in the jobs ones undertake in his
life in order ensure better growth and financial stability. It is a sequential process which starts
from an understanding of oneself and incorporates occupational knowledge and awareness.
According to my career prospects, the effectiveness of the management and career development
activities can be effectively maximized by paying critical attention to the managerial self-
awareness. There are a number of factors that states about the importance of self-awareness in
the management and development of career especially with the roles of the managers. Self-
awareness must not only be considered once his career is set but also when one is searching for
the right career for him. These attributes will help the individuals in choosing the right career and
implement appropriate decisions in the managerial development (Bhattacharyya, 2018).
The awareness about career management has been tremendously growing since the last years
which can be evidently said from the report presented by the Graduate Market in 2017. It is seen
that in the UK the number of graduates hired by the organizations is continuously is rising by
1.6% as compared with the recruitment done by the employers in the year 2015. More and more
employers these days in the UK are opting for the graduates for the continuous growth and
development of their organizations.
Career Management theories
As per the views of Buckland (2016), the process of career management starts from the process
of formulation of the goals and objectives which are short-term and meant to be achieved in the
short time. The final step is the evaluation of the career management plan in order to ensure that
whether there is progress or there is need of the introduction of some changes. In order to
critically analyse the management of career, career management theories are efficient and
appropriate that offers a better understanding of the ways and methods and help the individuals
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in working with others. The career management theories are different from individual to an
individual depends upon the nature and characteristics of the individuals (Buckland, 2016).
Trait-factor theories
In the words of Glatman (2014), as per the standards of the trait factor theory, the individuals
need to develop their personalities including interests, hobbies, values, and aptitudes. The theory
was developed in the early 1900s and the ideas and concepts of still widely used presently. The
one of the most popular trait theory developed by John Holland is career typology theory that has
laid emphasis on the personal characteristics and occupational tasks. On the basis of this theory,
the personality traits of an individual are categorized into six categories which are realistic,
investigate, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional. All these categories reflect different
types of the personalities which match to the six types of the working environment as stated by
the Holland in his theory. Hence the individuals while looking or searching for better and
efficient career options must match their personality types with the working environments.
There will be an effective relationship between the workers and the employers when the
characteristics of the workers and the occupation match with greater ease and flexibility
(Glatman, 2014).
Developmental theories
The main focus of the developmental theories is on the biological, psychological, sociology and
cultural factors that play important role in influencing one's choice regarding career decisions.
This theory looks at the life stages of the development of the self-concept. As per the founder of
the theory, Donald E. Super, self-concept is an important factor which is becoming realistic and
stable as people are more interested in those occupations that allows them to express their self-
concept. For the developmental tasks, the stages consist of growth, exploration, establishment,
maintenance, and decline. In accordance with these lifecycle stages, every person set their goals
and objectives and master at each level. The career development theory of Donald focuses on
how the careers unfold over the lifespan. The nature of the pattern of the career is identified by
the individual mental ability, education level, personality traits, career maturity and the
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development opportunities to which a person is exposed. Every occupation needs a pattern of the
characteristics of the abilities and personality traits (Cascio, 2018).
As per the development theory, it is believed that the factors that contribute to the growth and
development of the individuals while planning and managing their career are complicated and
multifaceted.
Learning theory
In the words of Certo (2018), the basic beliefs of the learning theory for the management and
development of career are the influence of the heredity and environment on the people and
counsellor’s behaviour which helps in shaping the environment conducive to learning. The major
role of the counsellor is to help the individuals to create more satisfactory lives for themselves. It
is found that people found their present occupation is the outcome of the series of the unplanned
events and activities. It is the job of the counsellor to get the individuals engaged in their tasks
which will ultimately help them in learning about the generation of the unplanned career
opportunities (Certo, 2018).
It is found from the theory that there are a number of unpredictable social factors, chance events
and other factors that influence the behaviour of an individual in deciding where to go and what
to choose? Hence the role of the counsellor is to help the individuals stuck in these situations and
offers them assistance in dealing with the obstacles and induces to optimize to avail maximum
benefits from the number of unplanned and unpredictable events and activities (Ones, et. al.,
2016).
Now, it is important for the individuals to understand the significant importance of career
management as it offers advantages and opportunities to both individuals and organizations. The
modern organizations should invest more in the career management programs and opportunities
for the individuals and the individuals should identify their own perspectives and personality
traits about the particular job which they are looking for? Career management is the part of the
lifelong learning where the individuals should focus on the development of their career
management skills and capabilities. Career management helps the individuals in utilizing their
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skills and capabilities with greater ease and flexibility. In addition to it, it also improves the
morale and motivation of the employees more effectively and efficiently (Gordon, et. al., 2016).
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Conclusion
The above report on career management has clearly discussed the facts and concepts related to
the career management which will offer relevant and pertinent understanding in the minds of the
readers. I have analysed the different career management theories in the report in order to
disclose their significant importance in the life of an individual when he is planning or searching
for an efficient and effective career based on his skills and capabilities. With the application of
the discussed Trait factor theory, development theory, and learning theories the individuals can
effectively enhance their opportunities and choose the right occupation that satisfies them both
personally and professionally. The significant importance of career management has effectively
presented and analysed in the self-reflective report.
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References
 Bhattacharyya, D.K. (2018). Significance and Advantages Of Career Development.
Safari. Available at https://www.safaribooksonline.com/library/view/performance-
management-systems/9789332503335/xhtml/ch9-sub265.xhtml.
 Buckland, M. (2016). The Importance of Career Management. Elite Resumes.
Available at https://aneliteresume.com/career-management/the-importance-of-career-
management/.
 Cascio, W. (2018). Managing human resources. McGraw-Hill Education.
 Certo, S.C. (2018). Supervision: Concepts and skill-building. McGraw-Hill
Education.
 Glatman, M. (2014). HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 - The Importance of Career
Management. Linked In.
 Gordon, D., Meyer, A. and Rose, D.H. (2016). Universal design for learning: Theory
and practice. CAST Professional Publishing.
 Ones, D.S., Wiernik, B.M., Wilmot, M.P. and Kostal, J.W. (2016). The conceptual
and methodological complexity of narrow trait measures in personality-outcome
research: Better knowledge by partitioning variance from multiple latent traits and
measurement artifacts. European Journal of Personality, 30(4), pp.319-321.
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