Table 1: Overview of Aims, Strategies, and Sample Tools for a Comprehensive Career Guidance and Counseling System
Sample Tools Devel-
opmental
Process
Behavior
to be
optimized
Counselor strategies
Early Elementary
School
Middle/Junior High School High School & Beyond
Cognitive
growth
Learning
A: Reduce task
complexity
B: Accommodate
cognitive diversity
1: Information and
tasks are discrete,
concrete, short, and
require only simple
inferences (NAEP
level: 150-225)
2: Information is lengthier; tasks
require relating ideas and making
generalizations (NAEP level:
200-275); low-ability students
require less complex material
(see Cell 1)
3: Information can be somewhat
complicated; tasks require some
analysis and integration of
information (NAEP level: 250-
325); low-ability students require
less complex material (see Cell 2)
Self-
creation
Experience
C: Provide broad
menus of experience
(intellectual, social, &
things-related)
D: Promote self-
agency in shaping
own experience
4: Field trips,
career days, contact
with diverse
workers, experience
kits, personal
portfolios
5: Also—exemplars in novels,
biographies, current affairs, &
daily life; simple jobs in home or
neighborhood, extracurricular
activities, hobbies, scouting,
school service projects;
community visits
6: Also—broad selection of
courses, community service, job
shadowing, co-op, extern- and
internships, tech-prep, clubs,
(J)ROTC, FFA, scouting, student
government, sports, construction-
repair projects; summer jobs
Circum-
scription
Self-Insight
E: Facilitate
inventory and
integration of
information about self
F: Promote sound
conception of fitting
and feasible career
life
7: List tentative life goals, major
strengths and weaknesses, family
expectations, potential barriers;
exercises in identifying role
conflicts, job requirements,
which occupations they reject
and why; simple exercises in
setting goals & making decisions
8: Formal assessments of interest,
ability, personality, values;
analysis of past activities,
support, barriers, effects on
others; computerized information
on person-job match; exercises in
setting and balancing career life
goals
Compro-
mise
Self-
Investment
G: Facilitate
assessment of
accessibility of
preferred career life
H: Promote self-
agency in enhancing
self, opportunity, and
support
9: Books and training in writing
resumes, interviewing for jobs,
skill building and anxiety
management; job banks,
placement services; aids for
identifying best bets and backups,
building support system, enlisting
mentors