The moments that define an individual’s future adherence to one of the career paths do not always happen as a part of a plan. John Krumboltz developed the Planned Happenstance theory at the beginning of the 2000s based on the same principle of taking an unexpected chance and new opportunities as an alternative source for career decisions (Truyens, 2019). The theory suggests that career planning during the teenage years implies facing obstacles and potentially failing to surpass those obstacles. The Planned Happenstance perceives possible obstacles as an external influence to an individual’s further decisions, making the process more adaptable to external events and conditions.
Applying the theory to my arrival in a master’s Counseling program, I could say that the Counseling program initially was not a part of my teenage plans for a future career. However, I assume that environmental theory’s understanding of career plans developed in teenage years generally applies to the choice of industry for the future profession rather than choosing a specific specialty. Through the complex process of defining professional areas that interest me and fit my professional development criteria, I was able to determine that counseling work suits me the most.
In conclusion, the Planned Happenstance theory’s strength is that it implies a natural response from the individual to the ongoing changes in the labor market. Therefore, a significant part of career decisions fits the theory, as applicants seek positions with a higher salary, promotional opportunities, and convenient locations. My only concern about this theory is that individuals should not treat every unexpected opportunity as fitting to the planned happenstance theory. An applicant should be able to thoroughly assess the opportunity and determine whether it is fitting to his criteria of the desired job.
Reference
Truyens, M. (2019). Planned Happenstance learning theory. MARCR. Web.