Choosing the right career: What approach? Implications for career counselling of secondary school students

Abstract

The presentation made here accepts the thesis that the choice of career is not a simple matter. In fact, it asserts that more than ever before, the choice of a career on a training programme now requires a lot of thinking as well as taking into consideration several factors before choosing, planning and entering into a particular career. Prominent among the factors to consider is that the chooser must understand himself/herself (i.e. know his/her own natural aptitudes, self abilities, interests, ambitions, resources, personalities and limitations) and secondly, he/she must know the requirements of the occupation in order to gain success in the vocation. Without knowledge of self and occupations, the chances of making an effective career choice are terribly reduced. Therefore, the choice of a right career is a major developmental task that must be accomplished by every secondary school student.

The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 8 (1) 2002: pp. 29-46