روانشناسی حرفه ای : تجزیه و تحلیل و جهت دهی برای آینده

In the past decade, research and practice in the field of vocational psychology has substantially enhanced our understanding of individuals' career choices, decisions, adjustment, and work performance. With the changing definitions of careers in the workplace, the field faces some exciting challenges and opportunities. The purpose of the present article is to briefly review some of the key directions that the field of vocational psychology has taken and to articulate a vision for the future.

These are exciting times for the field of vocational psychology. With the existing new perspectives (e.g., “boundaryless career” and “protean career”), there are numerous challenges confronting career researchers and practitioners (Arthur & Rousseau, 1996, Hall, 1996). No longer is career planning and occupational choice a matter of choosing a field of work and one employer. Today’s rapid technological changes and evolving organizational structures have changed the nature of job contracts both from the perspective of the employer and the employee (Sullivan, Carden, & Martin, 1998). Employers have streamlined their firms through downsizing and more efficient work methods. Traditional career paths and career management by the firm are less likely to exist. Thus, employees now assume a greater responsibility for career self-management. To be successful, they manage their own careers by developing portable skills and knowledge, engaging in meaningful work and on-the-job learning opportunities, and establishing networks and mentoring relationships (Sullivan, 1999). As London (1998) notes, this requires that adults participate in continuous learning opportunities in order to develop and utilize their own talents to the fullest. With the newcareer definitions, the field of vocational psychology has undergone substantial changes, and the Journal of Vocational Behavior has been able to illuminate many of these issues to a large and diverse readership. The future awaits and offers new directions for inquiry in the field of vocational psychology as well as the continuation of many current research avenues. The purpose of this article isto briefly review some of the key directions that the field has taken and to articulatea vision for the future.

As careers collide with employees’ leisure time, it is expected that individuals will seek different types of career opportunities or other leisure pursuits. Research will be needed to explore the career choices that individuals make and their adjustment.An examination of generational differences in career–leisure conflict also might prove interesting and have implications for practice.The mission of the field of vocational psychology is to expand knowledge regarding individuals across the life span in terms of vocational choice, adjustment, and performance. This knowledge should be used to advance theories and to aid adults and employers. Thus, the field must focus on both theoretical development and practical recommendations. The customers to serve include adults across the life span (young adults in the early stages of career and occupational choices, early career employees, and middle and late career employees), employers, counselors, and psychologists, among others.For the field to continue to be successful in meeting its goals, an interdisciplinary approach in terms of research exploration and practice is vital. With the recent dramatic changes in organizations’ and employees’ interests, the field of vocational psychology has become one of the most critical disciplines to enhance an understanding of the future workplace. The challenges and opportunities facing career researchers and practitioners are great. Now is the time to shape the future of careers and to move the vocational psychology field to the next level.