The Self in Career Learning: An Evolving Dialogue

Abstract

It is broadly accepted that modern society poses a significant challenge to an individual's career development and that there are as yet few theoretical frameworks that provide a holistic perspective on how to understand and meet this challenge successfully. The outmoded idea that careers can be chosen by matching an individual’s skills and aptitudes to particular work must be replaced by an acknowledgment of both the complexities of the modern labour market and the requirement of individuals to consciously and creatively navigate it. We propose that the Dialogical Self Theory offers a helpful view as it accepts the multi-dimensionality and multi-voiced nature of individuals, who, in order to succeed career wise must be able to construct a flexible and workable narrative and do so as a result of an engaged dialogue where “I”, “meta” and “promoter” positions feature prominently.