Introduction
In Switzerland, as in most Western countries, career development has taken on a lifelong dimension, leading to the diversification of career guidance and counselling practices to meet people’s needs throughout their “active” life. Beyond the need for the practitioners to renew their paradigms and methods, such a shift also implies efforts and adjustment from both individuals – to manage multiple vocational tasks and transitions – and public institutions – to support people facing such challenges. In this webinar, we will introduce the specifics of lifelong career development in the Swiss context, outlining the challenges for the school system to help pupils prepare for the school-to-work transition and beyond, and for adult workers to manage involuntary and unexpected career change. These challenges will be illustrated through ongoing studies and their implications for career interventions.

Learning outcomes

Participants will gain an understanding of (1) how the principles of lifelong career development unfold in a specific national context, (2) how research can help capture the complexity of contemporary career challenges, and (3) how individual and institutional efforts and strategies may help tackle such challenges.