Those pursuing a career in fine arts do not make enough money is a traditional stereotype. As you must know, career choices of students are often influenced by traditional stereotypes about careers, personal biases, popularity biases, and career myths. One of the things that can help break these stereotypes and myths is career counselling.
Career stereotypes, biases and myths
What do you mean by stereotypes, biases and myths when it come to selecting your career? As we all know, over a period of this there are several career stereotypes, biases and myths that have developed among parents and student community. Take for example the notion that those who want to study humanities will end up in a teaching job. This may not be true for all who choose humanities to study.
Another example would be, ‘Women cannot work in construction projects’ or ‘women cannot work at a factory which involves operations of heavy machinery’ are all myths. Data indicates that in India, 12% of the construction sector jobs and 8% of the industrial manufacturing jobs are taken up by women.
Hence, without proper research many people can fall prey to so called “popular knowledge” available that’s not data backed. This popular knowledge is something we call career stereotypes, biases and myths.
Career selection based on popular choices
The current generation has a choice of many career options but also deals with much ambiguity. A broad range of data about career outlook and other aspects of most of the careers is available but such data is often inadequate, difficult to comprehend and biased. It is often difficult to understand which information is correct and what can be useful.
Such situations often lead to choice of career and academic options which are based on popular information, stereotypes or biases. For example, in the last two decades, there was a craze among graduates to opt for an MBA or equivalent degree or diploma. The popular myth was that an MBA / PGDM qualification would lead to a high paying job. But even today, the average MBA basic salaries are in the range of Rs. 23,000-25,000 a month in India as per available data.
How does career counseling help in breaking stereotypes, biases and myths?
Career counselling is based upon the key premise that every student is unique as far as their abilities, interests, personality, values and mindsets are concerned. Everyone has a different journey in academics and therefore everyone needs to draw up a unique career plan. Career counselling helps students in setting up individual career goals and make achievable career plans.
Empowerment through information
Informed career choices are crucial for success. By providing students with access to specially curated and structured information on diverse career options, career guidance helps to break away from traditional stereotypes. Career counselling and guidance empower students to explore new-age opportunities and pursue paths that align with their passions and skills.
Early intervention and engagement
Early intervention in the form of access to career information and career guidance helps adolescents in the age group of 12-14 years develop career thoughts and form career goals. Such early intervention helps to make the right academic choices, focus on academic performance and seek the right information for making a well-informed career decision later during the senior secondary classes.
Technology to enable career goal setting and career planning
Technology is the most essential tool in today's career counselling. School leaders and educators should use technology wisely to help students see brighter futures and increase their awareness of job options. Technology enables focused and directional access to career information. It enables adolescents and youth to set career goals and make appropriate career plans.
Technology helps career counselling organisations to develop assessment tools in new-age formats, such as gaming. Such interesting new-age formats help adolescents in the age-group of 12-14 and young adults in the age group of 15-19 engage with the assessment tools with more interest and sincerity. Better engagement results in better assessment.
Collaboration between educators and parents
Career counselling involves teamwork. Students receive comprehensive support when parents, teachers, career counsellors and industry experts are involved in the career exploration process. Such collaboration helps students use the right technology and tools to make well-informed career choices.
Overcoming obstacles with innovation
Challenges in implementing career counselling exist, but they can be overcome through innovation in curriculum planning and program implementation. By addressing the pressure on students and ensuring accessible, personalised career counselling, education leaders and educators can create a supportive environment that develop students’ career thoughts, which in turn help them to set the right goals and make the right career plan.
Access to the right career information and career counselling
Accessing the right career counselling and guidance is critically important for students to break the career stereotypes, biases, and myths. Education leaders and educators have a significant role to play to help students in this pursuit. They must help students to choose the right platform which provides access to reliable, validated, up-to-date, unbiased and adequate information as well as the right platform which uses new-age technologies for better career assessment.
TCS iON Career Insight is leading the way towards a more informed, inclusive, and fulfilling approach to career exploration, assessment, career guidance, and well-informed career decision making. For more information, visit our website
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