08/01/2024

The World of Work Around the Globe

By GCC’s Shared Insights Group

International members of NCDA’s Global Connections Committee (GCC), representing multiple continents, were randomly selected for in-depth interviews about their priorities, challenges, and personal stories as career development professionals. The interviews, conducted by a GCC subcommittee called the Shared Insights group, took place in 2023 over email, phone or zoom. The first set of questions were related to the work setting, the type of clients being served, and the employer's primary goals and values. Respondents were also asked about the obstacles faced by their clients and how they helped overcome them.

Introducing the Professionals

The five professionals (and their geographic home) interviewed for this first article included:

Randa Helmi from Egypt (North Africa) has journeyed through many industries, including hospitality, manufacturing and banking, and has been in the field of career development for over 10 years as a Global Career Services Practitioner.

Candy Ho from British Columbia, Canada (North America) currently serves as the Chancellor's Research Chair at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and teaches in Douglas College's Career Development Practitioner Program.

Jaana Kettunen, from Finland (Europe) is Professor of Guidance and Vice-director of the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER). She is also the president of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG).

Marcela Mesa Guerrero from Columbia (South America) is the Founder of Orientarte, the first career services enterprise in Colombia. She is also a psychologist and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF).

Samantha Ng (黄子绮) from Singapore, Asia is a Career Futurist. She empowers professionals to take charge of their careers, find career wellness, and plan their futures. She provides these services: Career Development Coaching, Corporate Training, Executive Coaching, Interview Preparation, Public Speaking, Negotiation, Resume Review, Resume Writing, Educational Consulting, and Business Consulting.

	Randa Helmi from Egypt (North Africa) has journeyed through many industries, including hospitality, manufacturing and banking, and has been in the field of career development for over 10 years as a Global Career Services Practitioner.
	Candy Ho from British Columbia, Canada (North America) currently serves as the Chancellor's Research Chair at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and teaches in Douglas College's Career Development Practitioner Program.
	Jaana Kettunen, from Finland (Europe) is Professor of Guidance and Vice-director of the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER). She is also the president of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG).
	Marcela Mesa Guerrero from Columbia (South America) is the Founder of Orientarte, the first career services enterprise in Colombia. She is also a psychologist and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF).
	Samantha Ng (黄子绮) from Singapore, Asia is a Career Futurist. She empowers professionals to take charge of their careers, find career wellness, and plan their futures. She provides these services: Career Development Coaching, Corporate Training, Executive Coaching, Interview Preparation, Public Speaking, Negotiation, Resume Review, Resume Writing, Educational Consulting, and Business Consulting.

The similarities in clientele, focus, and challenges across five continents were strikingly evident. Randa Helmi of  Egypt describes her clientele as people from ages 18 to 40+ (and occasionally 50+) from diverse backgrounds, including refugees. Her focus is on helping clients manage challenges in finding employment and navigating transitions and desired advancement. Candy Ho, from British Columbia, Canada, explained that career development is focused on persons of all ages, emphasizing the connection to mental health, well-being, and social justice. Her work focuses on students at all levels. Jaana Kettunen from Finland described strategic objectives for developing lifelong and life-wide guidance. Finland has developed strategies for multi-professional guidance services, the development of digital services and the education and recruitment of guidance professionals. Marcela Mesa, from Columbia, South America, specializes in helping those transitioning from high school to higher education, but she also works with college students, adults, and employers. She focuses on her clients' empowerment and personal growth, as well as contributing to social welfare. Finally, Samantha Ng of Singapore, Asia, describes herself as a career futurist. She says the biggest challenge in fast-paced Singapore is helping people find a balance between work and personal life.

Highlight of Commonalities More than Differences

In the balance of this article, the names of the individual making the point will not be identified. This will help the reader see the commonalities among the respondents. When appropriate, the differences will be highlighted, noting these did not seem to stem from geographical differences but more from differences in work settings.

Common objectives were rooted in NCDA’s vision, policies, and standards. As posted on its website, "NCDA's vision is for all people to attain fulfilling career and life goals" (NCDA, n.d., para. 2). The NCDA Board of Directors also approved a non-discrimination statement: "NCDA opposes discrimination against any individual based on age, culture, disability, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, creed, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital/partnership status, language preference, socioeconomic status, or any other personal characteristic not specifically relevant to job performance" (NCDA, 2016, para. 3). These statements agree with the stated objectives of all five of our respondents.

Further, each respondent stated in one way or another that they agreed with NCDA's ethical standards. These international responses are a testament to NCDA's influence in this critical arena. For example, one respondent stated, "It is important that career counseling practices act with the ethical standards and guidelines set forth by professional associations such as the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG), the National Career Development Association (NCDA) in the United States, and other relevant bodies of their field."

At national levels, all training programs should ensure that professionals gain ethical competency, which includes knowledge and understanding of up-to-date legislation and administrative regulations concerning their field, the boundaries of their profession, professionalism and competency, and possible situations and factors in which the boundaries might be reached. 

Another area addressed by each of our respondents related to the challenges they face as career practitioners. Common challenges described by several respondents included:

• Financial and structural obstacles
• Lack of governmental support
• The difficulties in managing a healthy balance between work and personal lives
• The need for practical solutions. 

For example, one respondent mentioned that clients face financial constraints, varying academic preparation, and disparities in resource access, particularly among underserved populations. Another respondent stated, "Common obstacles faced by both me and my clients include cultural barriers, which can hinder effective communication and understanding, as well as a lack of psychological support, which may impact confidence and decision-making abilities.” Financial challenges often arise, posing constraints on accessing necessary resources or services to support career development goals. These obstacles can significantly impede progress and require tailored strategies and support mechanisms.

Shared Insights

These interviews from the Shared Insights Group from the Global Career Connections (GCC) committee increase the understanding of the world of work in a literal sense. The stories summarized best practices by NCDA members from different continents. Future articles in this series will address more of the questions posed to our five worldwide respondents. GCC looks forward to sharing more insights with Career Convergence readers.

References

National Career Development Association. (n.d.). Mission and vision. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/about

National Career Development Association. (2016). Non-discrimination statement. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/about

Shared Insights Group Members:

Dr. Jane Goodman is a retired counselor educator. She writes and speaks about transitions, particularly adult career transitions. She can be reached at goodman@oakland.edu

Marilyn Maze, PhD, is the executive director of the Asia Pacific Career Development Association and facilitates communication among member countries on career development training and practices.

Alex Moderes, CDP, is a work-integrated learning coordinator at a Canadian university and a director of a nonprofit organization that helps newcomers.

Amy Zdanowski is a college career advisor, college access community ambassador, author, and previous school counselor.

Dr. Rebecca Dedmond is a retired counselor educator and has transitioned her skills as a volunteer to the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (ARC/SAF).