Use with Career Goals

Kelly’s personal construct theory has been used to explain, predict, and attempt
to modify behavior in a wide range of circumstances. One interesting
application involves the use of personal constructs in formulating career
goals. A high school student, for example, may establish a goal of becoming
a successful surgeon in the future. The nature of her constructs can then be
examined to determine whether her constructs (as they relate to her own
characteristics) are likely to lead to a medical career. She currently views
herself as unintelligent rather than intelligent, dedicated to immediate gratification
rather than delayed gratification, and lazy rather than hardworking.
If she is eventually to become a successful physician, she must reject
those constructs and develop a new construction system which is consistent
with her career goals. The application of Kelly’s theory to career choice is
important. While one does not expect first-grade children to examine their
own characteristics realistically in considering career options, much more is
required of high school and college students. It is not sufficient to state that
one wants to pursue a given career: The nature of one’s constructs must be
evaluated to determine if they are consistent with one’s career goals. In
those circumstances in which inconsistencies exist, either the constructs or
the career goals must change.