Influence Of Guidance And Counselling In Career Choice Of Secondary School Students
[EKITI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE]

Sociological factors that affect career development include peer groups, role models, mentors, social networks, socio-economic status of parents and family influences considering that sociology is the study of characteristics and behaviours of individuals in association or group. These groups affect career development to a great extent. For instance, a child could develop interest in a particular career because the parents have laid foundation for him, or rather because he has loved ones in that career and would not love to miss them or stay far from them.
    Okorodudu (2006) opined that family is the first contact of the child in this world, and that interaction of the child with members of the family which include father, mother, siblings and other relations, does internalize certain values ideas, norms and develop a sense of career in the child. Thus the first course of career development starts with the child at the family level, and it is always the primary duty of the family to develop the internalize a sense of career in the child. The National Career Development Association NCDA (2003) recognized this fact hence it advocates the home as where the positive societal contributions of all honest work can and should first be communicated to children. The National Career Development Association NCDA (2003) policy advocates the family as a work place and all members of the family as workers, and that within the home and family structure, pre-school age children can first be exposed to true work experiences as family members try to so something that will be helpful to other members of the family. A solid foundation of career development at the family level is a good start-off in career development at all levels.
    Economically, factors that affect career development include poverty, needs, wants, demands, and other factors that could be products of economic activities in the communities. The individual may choose a career because of the needs pf the society or his own personal needs. Here, his interest may not come into play, all he/she needs is to satisfy his needs and survive in the society. For instance, an individual that has suffered financial predicament may want to choose a career or job that pays financially at the expense of personal satisfaction which work provides.
Educationally, factors that affect career development include skills, experience, knowledge, information, and other factors that could be product of teaching and learning. This is because educational experiences that the individual has been exposed to could also act as an influential factor in career development. These educational experiences could be formal or informal. The formal education could be referred to educational experiences outside the four walls of school. Formally, at the nursery, primary and secondary school level, teachers and school staff do form partnership with parents to solidify the career development foundation that has already been inculcated in an individual at the family level (NCDA, 2003). It stated further that teachers and counselors to continue career development of the individual, some activities may be appropriate and vital, which include making the classroom a workplace; teaching reinforcing productive work habits; helping pupils understand career applications of subject matter; using community resource persons to emphasis both work and occupations; emphasizing career awareness but not specific occupational chouse, and reducing bias in career awareness.
    According to Ajaero (2010), many secondary schools now offer a career week to address personal career development issues which is a continuation of the career day. One or two days of the week are dedicated to introducing seniors to career options by career counselors. The rest of the career week is dedicated to assessments much like those offered by personal career development assessments allow secondary school students to explore their interests, values, strengths and weaknesses. Once the secondary school students have complete the personal career development assessments and explored career options, each secondary school students ought to engage in a personal career development interview with a secondary school counselor. According to NCDA (2003), this interview allows the students to fully explore and discuss career options, and make a decision about the path that he/she wants his/her career to take. The counselor or personal career development coach then provides the secondary school student with several resources to help them start on their path to personal career development. (Obiunu and Ebunu, 2010).