Hermeneutic-Dialogical Approaches to Career Development: An Exploration

Career development research and practice in South Africa are largely informed by the ideology of self-contained individualism that ignores the social and cultural forces impinging on the process. We argue that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches, in emphasising that development results from exposure to various social and cultural perspectives or voices, provide a better theoretical framework for understanding career development. A narrative- based approach to career development is introduced, followed by examples. Finally, we argue that career development should be reconceptualised to take into account individuals' attempts to navigate their lives in a world that is increasingly characterised by unpredictable changes and uncertainties.