THE USE OF CAREER COUNSELLING METHODS IN THE PROCESS OF CAREER EDUCATION IN GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS

The European strategy 2020 (2010) indicates creation of better conditions for youth entering the labour market as one of the initiatives. After the Lithuanian Parliament adopted a corresponding law in 2017, every school employed a career counsellor who would introduce the pupils to the constantly changing labour market and help them understand how to choose the most appropriate career path. The research aims at investigating the situation of career education in Lithuanian schools after a little more than a year since the introduction of the law on the position of career counsellors in general education schools. Perdrix, Stauffer, Masdonati, Massoudi, Rossier (2011) claim that there is little literature on the efficiency of help provided by career counsellors. The research on the process of career education focuses on factors influencing the pupils’ decision about the profession (Antanaitienė, Sajienė, (2012), Katkonienė, Ustinavičiūtė, Žemaitaitytė, (2011)). Žadeikaitė and Railienė (2009), as well as Aleliūnaitė and Lapinskas (2014) observe that quite often the position of a career counsellor is attributed to either a social pedagogue or a psychologist. Gudžinskienė and Railienė (2012) conclude that pupils find it difficult to make decisions related with the career because services for career education at schools have been provided on the basis of different project initiatives. Savickas, Nota, Rossier and others (2009) maintain that the methods employed in career counselling have to be changed so that they would correspond to the needs of modern society. Still, at present practical and active methods in the context of career counselling are rather rare.

Research aim :
To determine the career counselling methods employed by career counsellors in general education schools.

Research question:
What career counselling methods are distinguished by career counsellors as employed most often in the context of career counselling?

Methods:
The analysis of scientific literature; expert interview.