Strategic Planning in Careers Practice

Abstract

The task-based nature of careers practice has often prevented careers practitioners from being directly and substantively involved in achieving organisational goals. As a result, careers work has become vulnerable to criticisms about its validity, and concern has been expressed about its general accountability. In the United States, careers guidance and counselling has moved towards the concept of careers programs as a way of addressing some of these issues. The United States' experience suggests that strategic program planning is an important skill for careers practitioners to acquire and use. This article describes strategic program planning, what it involves, and why careers practitioners should use it.