Guiding Principles for Career Information Products

Definition and purpose
The Guiding Principles for Career Information Products are intended to be used as a
quality improvement mechanism by individuals and organisations that fund, manage
and / or provide career information products.
Career information comprises education and training information, labour market
information and occupational and industry information—as well as more general
exploratory material surrounding career as a developmental process. By bringing
these elements together in a rigorous and systematic way, this information may be
confidently used by individuals to assist in their career development process.
Principle 1: Career information products make their purpose explicit
Criteria for assessment
1.1 The intended purpose of the information as career information is clearly
stated in a location appropriate to form of media
Principle 2: Career information products are consistent with current
career development theory
Criteria for assessment
2.1 The publication contains appropriate introductory and/or explanatory
material, consistent with current career development theory, on: exploring
career options; assessing one!s skills and abilities; and making effective
career decisions
Principle 3: The relationships between key data streams are made clear
Criteria for assessment
3.1 The publication incorporates and clearly shows the relationship between
the three main data streams of career information:
! Education and training information
! Occupational and industry information
! Labour market information
Principle 4: Education and training information is verified by reliable
sources
Criteria for assessment
4.1 Specific education and training information (qualifications, courses, etc.) is
confirmed through direct contact with providers of education and training,
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checking, where appropriate:
! Currency of advertised courses
! Current employment opportunities related to qualifications
! Currency of education and training registration status
4.2 Records are kept of person contacted, position within organisation and
date contacted
Principle 5: Occupational and industry information is verified by reliable
sources
Criteria for assessment
5.1 Occupational and industry information is confirmed through direct contact
with:
! Relevant industry organisations
! Key employer groups, or
! Appropriately experienced persons currently working in the
occupational or industry field
5.2 Records are kept of person contacted, role/position within
field/organisation and date contacted
Principle 6: Occupational information is comprehensive
Criteria for assessment
6.1 Occupational information is cross-referenced to encompass related skillsbased
occupations and intra- and cross-sectoral opportunities for career
transition. It also indicates trends toward emergent industry and/or
occupational developments
Principle 7: Labour market information is derived from reliable data
Criteria for assessment
7.1 Labour market information is obtained from reliable sources of statistical
and quantitative data. It should be consistent with current Australian
Bureau of Statistics (ABS) labour market figures (or equivalent agency for
overseas and/or global data). The information should indicate current
and/or emergent trends in sector growth/decline and related skills
shortages
7.2 Records must be kept of sources used to obtain labour market
information, date accessed, and currency of information at time of
production
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Principle 8: Authors of information are identified
Criteria for assessment
8.1 Authors of information — including corporate or organisational authors—
are listed in a location appropriate to form of media. For example,
acknowledgements/title page in print texts, homepage [or preferably each
separate page] for web material
Principle 9: Limitations of the data are acknowledged
Criteria for assessment
9.1 In relation to all types of information (education and training, labour market
and occupational and industry) any limitations are indicated; and
anecdotal information is clearly differentiated from factual information
Principle 10: Currency of information is indicated
Criteria for assessment
10.1 The text clearly indicates currency of all empirical data, for example “data
current as of . . . ”, in a location appropriate to form of media. For
example, acknowledgements/title page in print texts, homepage [or
preferably each separate page] for web material
Principle 11: Information users are referred to multiple sources
Criteria for assessment
11.1 Text refers to other points of contact and appropriate sources for further
information if needed/desired
Principle 12: Terms are clearly defined
Criteria for assessment
12.1 Jargon or technical terms are adequately qualified/defined for a general
audience
Principle 13: All text and imagery assists understanding
Criteria for assessment
13.1 The use of graphics, illustrations, dramatic re-enactments or animated
sequences serves to assist and facilitate client understanding of the
information presented
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Principle 14: Products are free of extraneous material
Criteria for assessment
14.1 Advertising and promotional material incorporated into career information
products is free of extraneous non-career related material
Principle 15: Information is free of stereotyping
Criteria for assessment
15.1 Information presented is free of stereotyping on the basis of race, culture,
ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, nationality, religion and disability
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References
McMahon, Mary. (2004). “Scoping Paper – Shaping a Career Development Culture:
Quality Standards, Quality Practice, Quality Outcomes.” Prepared for CICA, the
National Standards and Accreditation of Career Practitioners Project and the
Department of Education, Science and Training.
National Career Development Association. (2006). “Guidelines for the Preparation
and Evaluation of Career and Occupational Information Literature”; “Guidelines for the
Preparation and Evaluation of Video Career Media”; “Career Software Review
Guidelines”; “Guidelines for the Use of the Internet for Delivery of Career Counseling
and Career Planning Services.” http://www.ncda.org.

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