Career Information -Accessing Information

Introduction

CDPs act as a bridge between clients and the wide range of career information available to them. Career information includes anything that helps a person make informed decisions about education, training and work — occupational information, educational information, and labour market information all form part of this. A CDP needs to know where this kind of information comes from, and how to access it efficiently, in order to serve clients well.

Case study

Busi is a recently qualified career development officer working in Mpumalanga. She has been assigned a caseload of matric learners who all need guidance on their next steps, but she quickly realises that many of her usual go-to resources are outdated or difficult to access in her area. Busi decides to build her own resource list from scratch, drawing on a combination of personal contacts, libraries, the internet and local organisations, so that she always has a reliable starting point for her clients regardless of what they need.

Ways of sourcing career information

- Personal contacts. Friends, family and community members often have first-hand knowledge of specific jobs, industries or institutions that cannot easily be found elsewhere.

- Libraries and career centres. These remain a valuable, free source of career guides, prospectuses and reference material.

- Psychologists, counsellors and other CDPs. Colleagues in related fields can be a source of referrals, insight and specialist information.

- The internet. Websites, government portals and online databases provide fast access to a huge range of information, though it must be evaluated carefully for reliability.

- Organisations. Professional bodies, employer associations and non-profits often publish sector-specific career information.

- Education and training providers. Gaining information directly from institutions ensures that details on courses, requirements and costs are current.

- Classified adverts. These can offer insight into what employers are currently looking for and what qualifications are in demand.

- Public employment services. Government-run services can provide information on vacancies, training opportunities and support programmes.

- The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). DHET publishes information on the Post-School Education and Training landscape, including registered institutions and qualifications.

Employment agencies and tertiary institutions are also valuable sources of career information, as they interact directly with employers and prospective students respectively, and often have access to information that is not published elsewhere.

Strategies for disseminating career information

CDPs can also take an active role in sharing career information rather than simply pointing clients towards it. This can include:

- Hosting career talks for groups of learners or clients.

- Collecting information from displays and exhibitions at career expos.

- Organising film shows or presentations that introduce different careers and industries.

Practitioners' commitment

CDPs should commit to keeping their own knowledge and resource lists current, since career information becomes outdated quickly. Reviewing and updating personal resource lists regularly ensures that the guidance given to clients remains accurate and relevant.