Learning career management skills in Europe : a critical review

Abstract

Career management skills (CMS) are increasingly touted as necessary for

all citizens, young and adult, particularly given the realities of employment

and self-employment in a knowledge-based society, where ‘protean’,

‘portfolio’ careers are expected to increasingly become the norm, and

lifelong career guidance an entitlement of all citizens. This paper provides

an account of how CMS are featuring ever more prominently on the

agenda of many European countries, and explores how such skills are

being defined, how and where they are being taught and assessed, and the

various modalities by means of which they are integrated in education and

training programmes in both the education and labour market sectors.

Particular care is given to debates and tensions around the notion of CMS,

and to considering trends and initiatives not only from a country-specific

perspective, but also from a European one, given the interest of the

European Commission in supporting policy development in the area

through its Lifelong Learning Programme. The paper concludes by

highlighting some of the more pressing issues that need to be addressed.

Keywords: career management skills; career guidance; European Lifelong

Guidance Policy Network; lifelong career guidance