Task
Interview a recent graduateand an older person (more advanced in their career) to understand their experience of work. Your case study will compare and analyse the career influences, career decision making processes and career development in relation to career theories. You should also consider the different sociological and historical contexts of their careers." Example of some career theories that can be used are Holland's theory, Bandura's theory, Parson's theory, Krumboltz's theory, Super's theory.
Two basic structures for the case study are as follows (either can work both have challenges you will have to consider):
Avoid simply ‘repeating' everything your interviewees said, or writing an extended life story for each, then trying to analyse at the end. Also avoid analysing your interviewees as if they were candidates for a job - you are not evaluating their success, or lack of success!
4) Samples of the case study. introductory brief summaries
Sample a: Albert was born in Malaysia in 1926 to a poor family. From the age of five he was moved from one foster home to another. When Albert was fourteen he was forced to work on a rubber plantation. In his late teens Albert was located by his relatives and moved with themto Singapore where he completed his education. In 1948, Albert moved to Australia to finish his studies in veterinary science, becoming a very successful vet and working into his sixties. Although Albert was a competitive and successful sportsman and finished in the top students in his class, he struggled with many aspects of Australian life. He sees many turning points throughout his career, but none that he rates as highly as when he met and married his Australian wife, Sally. It was only then that Albert felt he was beginning to be accepted in Australia. His experiences and their impact connect well with developmental theories of career development. In his late forties Albert decided to return to Malaysia to meet his mother. He believes that this was just as important as graduating, getting married or the birth of his children and grandchildren. He was for the first time seeing where he had come from and was able to put to rest many questions he had carried throughout his life.
Sample b:
Jack Petersen, 23, is medical intern working at X. The first graduate in his family, Jack says of his parentswho work in retailing ‘there wasn't necessarily an expectation to go to university, but they were highly encouraging and very proud.' His interest in medicine stemmed from a family friend who ignited an interest in human biology by letting him assist in his dental practice during his summer holidays. He also excelled in science at school. Hiscareer started at age 15 as a cashier at a supermarket, which he found ‘unstimulating and too routine.'
Upon entry to the medical degree, he worked as a .........................................
2) Samples of detailed analysis
Sample c
Both Peter and John had differing personal values and characteristics, which helped facilitate their career development. Peter's interest in helping others, and working in teams led to his career choice in the field of civil engineering. He placed importance on being useful to society from his teenage years. He learnt that by assisting others he could better understand himself. John Krumboltzsocial learning theory of career decisionmaking, clearly resonates in his case. Krumboltztheory encompasses how individuals interact with their environment, and learn from such interactions (Swanson et al. 2009).
Sample D
There are many changes in the labour market, both globally and locally, which caused many Malaysian migrants like X and Y to work or study in Australia. Firstly, as Australia had a small workforce, and with the fear of the big tilt, they welcomed migrants like X and his wife who could contribute to the workforce and the Australian economy (Salt, year). Secondly, the statutory retirement age in Australia is 65, whereas it is 55 in Malaysia. This might be a contributing factor as to why the parents of both families chose to migrate to Australia, so that they still can contribute to family's overall finance in their older age. Thirdly, the global financial crisis that involved an increase in global unemployment rate might have contributed to the parents sending their children to study overseas. This is underscored by the fact that youth in the South East Asian region are 4.7 times more likely to be unemployed than adults (International Labour Office x). Although the parents of both families did not intend to seek better work prospects in Australia, they would have a higher chance of employment than their South East Asian counterparts. Because they are Malaysianborn Chinese, their multilingual abilities and their fair proficiency in English gives them a significant advantage. For instance, for the four quarters to February 2011, while Malaysia had a low unemployment rate of approximately 3.5%, Vietnam had an unemployment rate of approximately 6.7% (Australian Government 2). Both people developed strong personality traits from an early age, and these seem to have greatly influenced the choices they have made, consistent with the trait and factor approach(ref) Above all the case study should NOT be a transcript of your interviews - your analysis and reflection, and application of some of the theories to explain the impact of the influences on the individuals is the focus, not questions and answers from the interview.
5. Referencing and other writing issues:
Try to vary your analysis and writing. Don't always start analysis sections with the same interviewee. You can also vary the paragraph/section by starting with information from an interview, and then ‘referring' to the theory to analyse what they've said. Direct quotations from the interviews should be indicated with quotation marks at the beginning and end: Eg. As John said, ‘my career has been really interesting'. Try to avoid lengthy quotations - eg. more than two sentences and remember the quotations are there to illustrate or support a point you are making, not just to repeat what they said. You can also Paraphrase what he or she has said (see sample on previous page - he mentioned his uncertainty about.... -no quotation marks means this part is paraphrased.)
CAREER THEORY SOURCES - there are many summaries and basic information available online about career development theories online and you are welcome to reference these in your assignment. These are good sources to use to begin understanding career theory, but to develop a more critical and ‘in depth' approach to analysis you should consider using academic journal articles or chapters in academic texts with more detailed discussion of the value and limitations of various career theories.
OTHER SOURCES In the samples above references are made to workforce, employment environment and other factors, such as this. "Firstly, as Australia had a small workforce, and with the fear of the big tilt, they welcomed migrants like X and his wife who could contribute to the workforce and the Australian economy (Salt, year)" As indicated in this sample, references for this kind of information are a good idea. These may also be academic texts (history of workforces, changes in the workforce, employment and industry, ideas about work and employment in sociology and history and ‘economic history'.) but could also be newspaper or other media sources - documentaries, film, and so on. The key thing here is to make sure that the sources are reliable, and also to make sure you are able to identify what kind of source it is through the reference list.