A career choice is probably one of the most important choices in life, which determines the general wellbeing and success in the life of an individual. This choice has already started before formal schooling. In many instances an adolescent has to make a career choice without knowing himself/herself very well. Such choices sometimes are based on little information of the world of work and in the absence of searching appropriate advice. Prospective students enter into study fields and after completion and/or exposure to the chosen study field, change their field of study due to many reasons. Just to name a few possibilities: lack of self knowledge and careers or fields of study; choices related to the career of a parent; parental influence; motivation; immaturity to make informed choices; traumatic events; exposure to life circumstances and home circumstances; monetary implications; false perceptions and expectations of what a career or field of study entails; stereotypes, and the list is possibly endless. After years of study and even after entering the world of work young employees are disappointed and make career changes, which has its own implications.
A career choice will always be the responsibility of the individual and with the help of professionals an adolescent may gain insight into himself/herself to assist in a more appropriate career choice. Remember, by selecting a tertiary field of study the individual is actually making a career choice. It is also a well known fact that some individuals have qualifications for a specific career field, but due to working conditions and personal character traits are working in a total different career field. E.g. some qualified engineers are pursuing career as educators, or employed at financial institutions and possibly many other fields not related to engineering.
It is also a reality that our modern youth will change career more than once in their respective lifetime. The world of work requires multi-skilled people and therefore necessitates lifelong learning and continuous re-skilling.
Edupsych provides the opportunity for adolescents to gain more knowledge about themselves via formal psychometric assessments in the making of a career choice. Career guidance/counselling is regarded as a therapeutic process.