Career Decision Making in a Changing World: Reason and Wisdom

Career development is a dynamic and lifelong process, in which career decision-making plays a central role. Broadly speaking, career decision-making encompasses the initial establishment of a career field, preparation for entry, striving to advance, and ongoing adjustment to new demands and opportunities. At each stage, individuals must navigate choices that are often made under conditions of complexity, change, and unpredictability.

The dual-process theory of career decision-making and adaptation (DTC) is a recently developed framework that places uncertainty at the heart of career development. Rather than viewing uncertainty as simply a barrier, the theory examines how it shapes career trajectories and how individuals can respond adaptively. The DTC model highlights two complementary processes: a rational–proactive pathway that emphasizes deliberate planning, analysis, and control, and an intuitive–adaptive pathway that values openness, flexibility, and responsiveness to unexpected opportunities. Together, these processes allow individuals to balance structure with adaptability in the face of shifting personal, social, and economic circumstances.

DTC integrates insights from traditional person–environment fit theories, which emphasize aligning personal characteristics with occupational requirements, and career constructivist perspectives, which stress the active role of individuals in creating meaning and direction in their careers. By bridging these approaches, DTC provides a more holistic understanding of how careers unfold in an increasingly uncertain socioeconomic and cultural environment.

Recent research has extended DTC by introducing the concept of career wisdom—a set of attitudes and strategies that help individuals navigate ambiguity, use intuition, and embrace serendipity as part of their career journey. Career wisdom encourages individuals not only to seek certainty and fit but also to embrace and grow from uncertainty, seeing it as an opportunity for exploration and self-discovery.

This session will introduce the key principles of the dual-process theory, highlight emerging research on career wisdom, and consider practical implications for career counseling, higher education, and workforce development. Participants will be invited to reflect on how embracing both rational planning and adaptive openness can lead to more sustainable and meaningful career paths in a rapidly changing world.

Professional Standards Competency - Career development theory, Ethical practice, Professional practice application

Presenter - Dr. Hui Xu - Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Macau

Dr. Hui Xu is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Macau and a licensed clinical psychologist in the United States. His research focuses on career development (particularly career decision making), psychotherapy science, psychological assessment, and cross-cultural issues. He has published in leading journals such as the Journal of Counseling Psychology and the Journal of Vocational Behavior, advancing the dual-process theory of career decision-making (DTC), the concept of career wisdom, and the Interest Formation and Consequence (InFoCo) model. His work has been recognized with the Bruce and Jane Walsh Grant in Memory of John Holland, the Annual Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs, and the Early Career Award from the Society of Vocational Psychology. Dr. Xu has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Vocational Behavior and the Journal of Counseling Psychology and is a Fellow of APA Division 17.