MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTSCareer Day

Issues Facing Middle School Students

• Physical, psychological, and social changes• Bullying, social status, and academics• Low levels of self-efficacy (Legum & Hoare,

2004)• Pressure to make preliminary decisions about

future career opportunities (Akos, Konold, & Niles, 2004)

• School dropout • At least 25% of students entering high school will

leave before they graduate (Brown, 1998)

Needs of Middle School Students

Development of interpersonal skills and an increase in occupational knowledge (Osborn & Reardon, 2006)

Increase in self-efficacy Interventions specific to career readiness (Akos et

al., 2004) Support from parents, peers, teachers, and

counselors Finding the connection between school and work

80% of middle school students do not understand how their favorite school subjects can be applied to future careers (Schaefer, Rivera, & Ophals, 2010)

Theorists and Terms Related to Middle School Career Counseling

Super, 1984: Crystallization Understanding identity

Marcia, 1980: Engagement in the exploration process (Akos et al., 2004)

Gottfredson: Circumscription Process of eliminating unacceptable

occupational alternatives

Interventions

Determine Values Set Goals Complete Assessments (interest

inventories) Develop a “plan of study” Career Genograms Career Portfolios Mentoring Job Shadowing

References

Akos, P., Konold, T., & Niles, S. G. (2004). A career readiness typology and typal membership in middle school. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 53-66.

Brown, D. (2007). Career Information, Career Counseling, and Career Development. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Legum, H. L,. & Hoare, C. H. (2004). Impact of a career intervention on at-risk middle school students' career maturity levels, academic achievement, and self-esteem. Professional School Counseling, 8 (2), 148-155.

Osborn, D. S., & Reardon, R. C. (2006). Using the self-directed search: Career explorer with high-risk middle school students. The Career Development Quarterly, 54, 269-273.

Schaefer, M. B., Rivera, L. M., & Ophals, E. (2010). Creating a collaborative career development program for middle grades students. Middle School Journal, 42(2), 30-38.

Turner, S., & Lapan, T.R. (2002). Career self-efficacy and perceptions of parent support in adolescent career development. The Career Development Quarterly, 15, 44-55.