DESCRIPTIONS AND DEFINITIONS
Career and Livelihood Planning
Work has been our constant companion ever since the hands of our ancient forefathers curled around a piece of stone and converted it into a tool – an instrument of production. The tendency to work is a natural and inherent human characteristic. However as with other human activities, work occurs within a social context – a context characterised by patterns of beliefs and ways of thinking. It is within this environment that specific meanings and values are attached to work. Career as a form of work, finds its being within a certain way of thinking.
Definitions of career vary greatly and approaches to career guidance take multiple standpoints.
Given in the sections below are descriptions and definitions of career and livelihood.
Emergence of the Notion of Career and the Practice of Career Guidance
During earlier times when the allocation of work roles was led by social and cultural norms, perhaps “career” itself as it is described today, did not exist. And probably there was little or no need for career counseling and guidance. Two significant events in European history, the Industrial Revolution and the Protestant Reformation transformed the nature of work and gave it a new dimension.
The Emergence of Occupation
- Human work gradually transformed from being a primordial fight against the elements for survival, to an act of cognition, characterized by consideration, forethought and planning.
- This growing ability to influence and shape one’s surroundings gradually began to define the meaning we attribute to work.