Career Studies: Career Case Study: Peter Tkach

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Career Case Study:

Peter Tkach was enrolling for classes his last semester of his third year at Willamette University. He had done well throughout his educational career, matured through personal experiences, but he soon realized that his four years of college were coming to an end soon and that he needed to determine what he would be doing for the rest of his life, or at least post graduation. Peter decided to enroll in Dr. Houser’s Theories of Career Development in hope of discovering a career path that suited his formal education. Throughout the class he was exposed to Trait-Factor Theory, Personality Theory, Developmental Theory, and Social Learning Theory. He received great career lessons from The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, which he later applied into looking for an internship and career. Peter was able to use these theories and concepts to his own life through completing the assignments and by the end of the class, he was no longer lost in search of a career path, but had a career he wanted to pursue and got an internship for the following summer.

Theories of Career Development
Trait-Factor
The first theory that Peter learned about was Trait-Factor Theory, which “assumes a one-person-one job relationship” (pg. 4). Trait-Factor Theory, fitting to Parsons understanding, “is applied between knowledge and understanding of self and knowledge of occupations and external resources”. Once the individual understands himself or herself a career option usually will present itself (pg. 4). In Peter’s situation, he felt he had an ok self-understanding, but would need help in finding a job that fit his skills and interests, which he eventually did by the end of course along with a internship that applied to his major. One aspect of...

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...,” according to the book read in class The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, so he is going to set goals all while not letting his goals prevent other opportunities from happening. His summer plan is that he will work an internship to get a head start on his future career path. Peter has adjusted his resume and sent it to possible internship opportunities. This proved to be fruitful because he was able to obtain a position on Anna Peterson’s campaign staff. After he gets his undergrad completed he hopes to get a good enough LSAT score to attend Willamette’s Law School, Peter hopes to pursue grad school and obtain his doctorate in order to pursue a career in business law. Thanks to Dr. Houser’s Career Development course, Peter Tkach has found direction in his life, and no longer is going to be a lost senior next year wandering about the wilderness of career confusion.

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