Guidance via the Private Sector: The Alarming Reality Behind the Scenes. Part 4
The numbers speak for themselves: 43% of young people choose a career path without a defined professional project. This concerning trend deserves our attention. As we’ve already discussed, choosing a path doesn’t mean choosing a profession.
Private companies and numerous so-called “experts” have taken over from school-based advisors, offering various academic and career guidance services often based solely on the “tests + assessment” model. It’s convenient for selecting service providers, as it can be implemented by practically anyone! Unfortunately for the students, things aren’t so rosy.
So, within the private guidance offering, and regardless of the names used, here’s what we have:
- Orientation tests,
- Orientation tests combined with assessments/counseling,
- Career coaching.
Assessments and orientation counseling are essentially the same thing. They rely on different tests, whose origins and validation are unknown. However, the basis is always the same: workplace personality tests like RIASEC or MBTI.
Alarming Statistics (Cnesco 2018)
Based on a representative sample of 1,158 young people (60% guided by parents and teachers): • 37% reported receiving NO guidance at all • 54% gave up their aspirations after facing discouragement • 37% changed fields before completing their undergraduate degree
The Hidden Cost of Poor Guidance
Beyond financial aspects (guidance services, extra years of study), let’s not forget the psychological impact: loss of confidence, demotivation, and vocational drift.
Why Such a High Failure Rate?
The current system is mainly based on personality tests (RIASEC, MBTI) repurposed beyond their original intent. While practical, these tools cannot replace an in-depth reflection on one’s professional future.
The Three Major Pitfalls:
- Personality tests that are unsuitable for career reflection
- Automated assessments, lacking real personalization
- Insufficiently qualified advisors
The story continues in Part 5. That’s where things start to get a bit fun!
