

 Born on November 14, 1854 in Mount

Holly, New Jersey.
 An American Professor, Social
Reformer and Public Intellectual.
 Studied a Bachelor’s Degree in
Engineering at Cornell University at
the age of 15
 An educated Engineer and Lawyer
 “Father of Vocational Guidance”
 Died at the age of 53 on September 26,
1908 in Boston, Massachusetts
 Legacy: Vocational Bureau of Boston,
“Choosing A Vocation”
 COMMON
CIVIL ENGINEER
LABORER


PUBLIC SCHOOL
STATE LAWYER TEACHER

LECTURER AT
LAW TEXTBOOKS THE SCHOOL OF
WRITER LAW

 ECONOMIST
 VOCATIONAL COUNSELOR
 SOCIAL REFORMER
 POLITICAL SCIENTIST
 
 Formed in 1908, the  Parsons founded the
Bureau was organized to Vocational Bureau of
deal with occupational Boston with the purpose
adjustment problem of of helping people with
the youth and adults their careers

 Parsons was the first to use the term “Vocational

Guidance”
 Frank Parsons’ book
was published in 1909,
a year after his death.
 Choosing A Vocation
provides the overview as
what Parsons referred to as
his “principles and methods”
and included a lists of basic
skills or abilities that he
believed were necessary for
success in different
occupations. In the last part,
a founding history of the
Vocational Bureau was
provided.
 
Understanding
Understanding the Specific
of relationship knowledge of
the self between the the world of
two work

BETTER SATISFACTION
AND SUCCESS
1. Understanding the self


- an accurate
understanding of
individual traits
such as:
• Aptitudes
• Abilities
• Interest
• Ambitions
• Limitations and
their causes
 2. Specific knowledge of the world of
work

- A knowledge of requirements and conditions of
success, advantages and disadvantages,
compensation, opportunities and prospects in
different lines of work.
 3. Understanding the relationship
between the two

 True reasoning on
the relationship of
these two group of
facts.

 1. Personal Data

 create a statement of key facts of
the person, remembering to
include every fact that has bearing
on the vocational problem.
 2. Self-analysis

 a self-examination is
done in private and
under the instruction of
the counselor. Every
tendency and interest
that might impact on
the choice of a life work
should be recorded.
3. The client’s own choice
and decision

 this may show
itself in the first
two stages. The
counselor must
bear in mind that
the choice of
vocation should
be made by the
client, with the
counselor acting
as a guide.
4. Counselor’s analysis

 the counselor tests the clients
decision to see if it is in line with
the “main quest”.
5. Outlook on the vocational
field

 the counselor
should be
familiar with the
industrial
knowledge such
as lists and
qualifications of
industries.
 6. Induction and advice

 a broad-minded attitude coupled
with logical and clear reasoning are
critical at this stage.
7. General Helpfulness

 the counselor helps the client to fit
into the chosen work and to reflect
on the decision.
 Criticism

 Critics point out that the theory does not
take into consideration changes in the
individual and the environment over the
individual's lifespan, gender differences,
a cohesive underlying theory that links
personality to vocation.
"An occupation out of
harmony with the worker's
aptitudes, abilities, ambitions,


resources, and limitations
means inefficiency,
unenthusiastic and perhaps
distasteful labor, and low pay
…
… while an occupation in
harmony with the nature of
the man means enthusiasm,
love of work, and high
economic values, superior
product, efficient service,
and good pay." (Choosing a
Vocation, pg. 3)
