Vocational Psychology and Career Guidance in Panama
👉🏼 Choosing high school and university studies is not an easy task for young people and adults, which is why in this article I will share with you some considerations about vocational psychology, and how it can support families and patients to better prepare for this important decision.
What is vocational psychology?
✍️ First, vocational psychology is understood as the set of psychological processes that motivate a person towards the professional world. From this arises the vocational and professional counseling service from a psychological approach, counseling that consists of a set of techniques and tools implemented by a psychology specialist, so that clients can be supported in understanding in depth their own interests, skills, aptitudes, personality traits and personal characteristics, analyzing how this conglomeration of factors can be adapted to current job demands (Martínez-Vicente and Santamaría, 2019; Lobato, 2002).
Factors that influence vocational decision
🧠 From the perspective of vocational psychology, multiple psychological elements related to vocational decision-making are analyzed. On the one hand, we have psychogenic factors, factors related to one's own interests, motivations, attitudes, aptitudes, self-efficacy, self-concept, values, and personality; and on the other hand, there are sociogenic factors, related to family, social environment, production system, norms, and values (Martínez, 2013).
🤓 From a young age, one of the questions we naturally ask children is: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" This indicates that choosing a career is a pivotal decision that significantly shapes our lives. It's not a random choice, but rather one strongly influenced by factors related to identity, life goals, motivations, aptitudes, and skills.
Family and educational impact in Panama
📚 In the Panamanian education system, teenagers are beginning to be asked to make decisions that will shape their professional future for the rest of their lives. In my experience, this momentous event can generate conflict within families if the decision isn't fully defined, since it often involves more than just the type of high school diploma, university degree, or technical program to pursue. Choosing one option over another can entail relocation or moving to a different city, decisions that can significantly alter the family's dynamics and finances.
Benefits of psychological assessment for career choice
⚡️ We would like to inform you, dear reader, that vocational decisions should not be understood as a random event, that is, as an isolated decision made at a specific moment. Rather, it is influenced by the demands of the academic, family, and professional environments, as well as the psychological and social factors surrounding the individual. I would like to share some benefits that psychological evaluation can offer when providing support to adolescents and adults regarding vocational and professional decisions:
✅ It is essential that anyone making a career decision knows themselves. This involves a thorough understanding of their personality, interests, preferences, aptitudes, values, expectations, goals, and self-concept.
✅ Similarly, based on the above information, it is important that the individual has full knowledge about the academic world, their career paths, the labor market, the socio-economic reality of each profession, and plans the development of skills that are in sync with the needs of the current labor market.
✅ Psychological assessments focused on vocational and professional matters are useful for teenagers and adults who are unsure about what to study or what career to pursue. Similarly, they can be helpful for individuals already studying or working in a specific field who may need to reconsider and explore other options they haven't previously considered.
Tests used in Vocational Guidance
🤔 Now that this is clear, what tests might be useful when planning a vocational psychology service aimed at discovering interests, preferences, personality, and aptitudes? You'll find out more below.
☑️ Vocational and professional interests and university career choice (Explora): This test can help young people and adults identify the professional fields that best suit their interests, skills, and personal characteristics. It also provides guidance on the steps to take to achieve a specific occupation or profession. I recommend the Explora Test for those who are unsure about choosing an occupation or academic studies, or for those interested in rethinking their professional future—that is, those who, even if they have a job or a university degree, are looking for new options for the future.
☑️ Intelligence (WISC-V and TONI-IV): Vocational decisions are also relevant for individuals with diagnoses (intellectual disability, ADHD, autism, learning disorders, etc.). Therefore, measuring intelligence in specific areas can help us assess the prognosis and feasibility of pursuing certain careers. Similarly, for gifted individuals (IQ above 130), a vocational interest assessment can help families and the individual understand their learning expectations, improving their well-being and motivation within their educational context.
☑️ Personality (16PF-APQ): It cannot be denied that vocational behavior is influenced by personality factors. Furthermore, we must also consider that certain personality types are suited to specific occupations. For example, an extroverted person will have a greater aptitude for customer service roles compared to an introverted person.
Academic offerings in Panama: Technical and University Degrees
🇵🇦 In Panama, students have a variety of university and technical options available to them. In this article, I would like to highlight the most relevant ones:
Technical careers and institutes
These are short programs, generally one to two years, designed to quickly integrate students into the job market. I'd like to mention that these are options we shouldn't overlook, as they are viable options for many people seeking specialized training at a low cost and in a short amount of time.
✅ Specialized Higher Technical Institute (ITSE): This technical institute is located in the Panama East area. It recently added evening technical programs, allowing young people and adults who work during the day to continue their studies. They offer technical degrees in areas related to business, tourism, and industrial technology, including advanced technical degrees in culinary arts, automotive technology, and air conditioning repair.
✅ National Institute of Professional Training and Human Development (INADEH): offers courses and technical training in areas related to languages, business management, industrial safety, agriculture, the airport sector, water and sanitation, handicrafts, baking, carpentry, beauty and aesthetics, heavy equipment mechanics, among others.
Main Universities in Panama
University degrees: University degrees offer longer-term training and open doors to pursuing studies at the bachelor's, master's, or doctoral levels.
✅ Technological University of Panama (UTP): is the leading university in Panama for professional training in technology and engineering-related fields. At the time of writing, it offers programs in five faculties: Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and Faculty of Computer Systems.
✅ University of Panama (UP): the first state university in Panama. It currently has 19 faculties, which are: Faculty of Business Administration and Accounting, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Natural, Exact and Technological Sciences, Faculty of Informatics, Electronics and Communication, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Public Administration, Faculty of Fine Arts, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Social Communication, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Psychology.
✅ Specialized University of the Americas (UDELAS): a university specializing in special education and health sciences. It currently has four faculties: Faculty of Special Education and Pedagogy, Faculty of Social Education and Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Clinical Sciences, and Faculty of Biosciences and Public Health.
✅ International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP): A university specializing in maritime careers. It currently has four faculties: the Faculty of Nautical Sciences, the Faculty of Maritime Transport, the Faculty of Marine Sciences, and the Faculty of Maritime Engineering.
✅ Autonomous University of Chiriquí (UNACHI): autonomous university of the province of Chiriquí. It has 11 faculties: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences, Faculty of Business Administration and Accounting, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Public Administration, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Faculty of Social Communication, Faculty of Humanities, and Faculty of Architecture.
Vocational Counseling at Neuropsyedu
Hoping this article has been helpful to you, and remember that if you are interested in psychological evaluation services that can help you discover and facilitate your career choice process in Panama, you can count on the services of the Comprehensive Center for Educational Neuropsychology (Neuropsyedu).
Feel free to write to us at +507 6535 6362 and we will be happy to assist you.