Yes, I also spent 30 years as a careers adviser/psychologist, plus a licensed psychometric test user. For 15 years I was also the career advisor for the major English ballet companies, so I got to meet many of our top dancers in transition, which was very rewarding. A battery of tests and questionnaires will give a range of choices that are probably in the ballpark, and useful for "don't knows". Plus questionnaires are basically just a way of getting people to express themselves. Bottom line is that it's always the true inner motivation of the client that you want to bring out. The questionnaires are mostly for generating a deeper discussion, you don't ever use them in a prescriptive way, as you say.
Talking of "prescriptive", I'd say that the whole thread is full of prescriptive advice, starting from the title of the thread. The assumption is that "you study what gives you a well paid job". Fine for many, but for others not enough. I was a jazz musician for 15 years - never made much money but absolutely loved it, and I'd do it again.
Well yes.. I qualified via my degree, (which handily contained a fair mix of Psychology, Economics, Sociology etc.. though I picked as many Politics courses as I was allowed.), followed by the 1 year FT Diploma in Career Guidance Pt. 1, followed by a Probationary Year to acquire Dip CG Pt 2.
I also gained British Psychological Society qualifications in Psychometric Testing and assorted other stuff.
Psychometric Testing certainly has its uses as a tool for challenging perceptions, generating ideas etc.. although it was rather fading from view a bit towards the end of my tenure. I absolutely agree that the use of Psychometrics without proper explanation, preparation and follow up guidance can do much more harm than good.
As for degree league tables.. what gets the best paid employment..and morphing into talk of 'Mickey Mouse' degrees etc.. is almost always a front for a political agenda of some sort.. or just a lot of ill-concealed envy.
It was that odious little prick Gove, who famously 'dissed' Arts Degrees, in his ignorance of the huge value of the UK Fashion, Media etc..industry..and even if by 'Arts' he meant the broader definition, he rather overlooked the fact that half the bloody cabinet had degrees in PPE.
As it was when I was working.. All of the required information for Degree Course choice could be had from two books. 'Which Degree?' and 'Degree Course Offers', which detailed entry requirements, course content etc., even down to the male: female ratio of the student cohort, etc.
I haven't looked, but I'd rather hope that something similar is still available in print, online, or both.
In Merseyside, we also organised a 'H.E. Conference' annually. Students from all 6th Forms and other Level 3 Institutions were bussed in to explore a 'Marketplace' of HE Institutions with their recruitment stuff, plus literally hundreds info sessions of specific subjects in HE, delivered by course leaders/lecturers.
Of course all of that is now gone, and I fear for most kids in school as Career Guidance is extremely patchy.. again.. mostly thanks to Gove.
yes i agree - this is often the direction school teachers who possess limited knowledge send their students in when they see interest in computer games.
Which of course is why 'yer average' teacher should not be attempting to issue Career Guidance. There were very sound reasons for having an independent, properly qualified cohort of Career Advisers to ensure that every school student, school leaver, young employee and trainee, had access to impartial advice and guidance, based on actual knowledge and experience.
Just something else in the endless list of public services etc., either broken, flogged off, or just deleted by the sodding Tories.
but I hope it turns out well.
