Career intervention for self-management and entrepreneurship

Abstract

Career self-management can be an important contribution for entrepreneurship as an attitude and for the consequent adjustment and professional satisfaction (Loureiro, 2012). For this reason, we carried out a career intervention, in the form of a seminar, with the main goal of promoting career self-management competences. That is, career adaptability in its dimensions of concern, control, curiosity and confidence (Savickas, 2005). This intervention was specifically designed to college students, because there is a strong social concern related to unemployment in this population. Our investigation problem is to determining whether these competences can be developed in specific population and therefore determines this particular career intervention’s efficacy. To assess the impact and effectiveness of the seminar on different dimensions, we used a quasi-experimental design, with two assess moments in time, with non-equivalent groups. Overall, the results seem to be relevant, since the career intervention had a positive and significant impact on exploration behaviors, beliefs, confidence and vocational identity. Further investigation should consider a more longitudinal design and carry out similar interventions with other population.