Career services have had to evolve as technology and the job market have grown. They now offer more personalized assistance, such as counseling, to help people find jobs that fit their skills and interests. They also have more resources available to help people explore different career paths, understand the job market, and develop the skills they need to be successful.
FREMONT, CA: Digital technology, digital services, digital skills, digital platforms, digital communication—can career counseling/guidance in the current digital age remain immune to the digitalization of society?
Over time, career services have evolved to accommodate societal changes. When comparing the career counseling services of the past with those of the present, it is evident that they have undergone a process of adaptation to the demands of the labor market. They began as professional guidance in the early 1900s, a service that assisted emigrants in entering the American labor market. It evolved into a service prioritizing counseling, career planning, and job search preparation. A period of developing self-awareness and initiative to invest in one's own career development and soft skills to adapt to global changes follows.
Due to numerous factors, career counseling/guidance has undergone significant shifts in the 21st century—the continuous emergence of cutting-edge digital technologies, the emergence of new careers or jobs, changes in the labor market, globalization, increased mobility, the rise of lifelong learning, and the increase in the quantity of information, etc. The influence of digital technology on career development services has played a significant role in the process of evolution. Professional networking opportunities expanded horizons and accelerated the exchange of experiences. It has significantly improved access to information and created opportunities for experiential learning through internships, mobility, employment, and employer networking. And this is only a portion of the vast array of options technology makes accessible to customers. And it is evident that career counseling adapts to global changes and must accept and integrate social digitalization.
The implementation of digital career development services
Today, career counseling focuses on developing or altering a person's career path. The counseling process generally analyzes a person's characteristics, interests, skill sets, work values, and prior experience. Individuals can use tailored toolkits to learn more about themselves and their professional context before deciding on a course of study or professional path. The process will equip them with the knowledge and skills to make future career and life decisions more quickly. Regardless of age, career counseling may be appropriate for all individuals transitioning. Individual counseling is available, as well as group counseling.
This also applies to online career counseling/guidance, as it enables the delivery of all the services listed. Potential benefits and drawbacks are associated with using digital technology to provide career counseling.
