Graduates, careers and career agency: What we know and what we need to know

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Research and Development in Higher Education Vol. 37: Higher Education in a Globalized World

July, 2014, 352 pages
Published by
A. Kwan, E. Wong, T. Kwong, P. Lau & A. Goody
ISBN
978-0-908557-96-7
Abstract 

Understanding the nature of careers is essential for those working in higher education, as many staff – not simply those in careers services – influence graduating students’ understanding of and attitudes towards their about-to-unfold careers. This paper integrates the careers literature with the literature on graduate transition to professional employment in order to raise debate about graduate career agency. A new perspective on careers, from graduates’ viewpoints, is essential. Current careers research focuses mostly on organisational perspectives, so we need to explore graduates’ perspectives to determine whether there is a connection between graduates’ career orientation and a successful transition. This paper, therefore, brings the ‘graduate perspective’ into the careers literature, arguing that greater understanding of graduates’ career transition will inform and benefit all involved in higher education – and ultimately graduates themselves.