The document summarizes the Happenstance Learning Theory (HLT), which proposes that both planned and unplanned life events influence career development. The theory identifies four main factors that shape career development: genetic influences, learning experiences, environmental conditions and events, and task approach skills. It describes how counselors can apply HLT to help clients recognize how unexpected situations have affected their lives and careers, reframing obstacles as opportunities. The goal is to facilitate lifelong learning and achievement through engagement with planned and unplanned events.

1. The Happenstance
Learning Theory(HLT)
Presenter: Muhammad Abrar Wahad

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John D. Krumboltz

3. Introduction
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 Planned or unplanned events over one’s lifespan
can have both positive and negative
consequences.
 Unpredictable social factors, environmental
conditions and planned or unplanned events over
the lifespan are to be recognized as important
influences in client’s lives.
 Behaviors and cognitions effect individual’s
career development

4. Factors Influencing Career Development
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 Genetic Influences
 Learning Experiences
 Environmental Conditions & Events
 Task Approach Skills

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 Inherited qualities or skills that may limit
individual’s occupation opportunities.
 This might include physical appearance, such as height,
hair color etc.
 Also some children are born with special abilities
in arts, music etc.
Genetic Influences

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 Instrumental learning experiences
 by observing consequences of own actions
 career aspirations can be influenced by the perceived
success or failure of various actions.
 Associative learning experiences
 by observing environment or the behaviors of others with its
consequences
 socioeconomic status
Learning Experiences

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Circumstances in which individuals find themselves
play a major role in what is learned.
 Parents and care takers
 ignoring infants learning ability
 parents/children interaction
 Peer groups
 Educational settings
 education has been made a competitive sport
 Social justice
 unequal distribution of justice
Environmental Conditions & Events

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 Set of skills developed in individuals such as
problem solving skills, emotional response or any
technical expertise etc.
Task Approach Skills

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Theory helps us in practically understanding
 How to deal unplanned situations.
 How planned and unplanned situations influence career and
whole life.
 How unplanned situations can be seen as opportunity.
 How to achieve career as well as personal life success.
 Encourages to explore new perspectives
 Human behavior by engaging client and exploring the events
that resulted in that behavior.
 Not just limits upto the session, instead focuses real world
success making it more productive.
Theory Application as Career Counsellor

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 Orienting client’s expectations
 Reflection on client’s concern
 Building past success
 Taking unplanned events as opportunities
 Overcoming blocks to action
Theory Application in Interview

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 Preparing client for a counseling process in which
unplanned events are a normal and necessary
component.
 Possible orientation statements could include the
following:
 Our task is to facilitate your learning to create and benefit from
future planned and unplanned events one step at a time.
 The career path is a lifelong learning process that requires
you to make innumerable decisions in response to
unexpected events.
Orienting Client’s Expectations

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 Helping client identify what would make his life
more satisfying. Counselor actions might include
examples such as the following:
 Saying “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
 Listening actively.
 Making sure the clients know that you understand their
situation and feelings.
 Asking “Can you describe activities in your life where you feel
energized?”
 Asking “How did you happen to discover these energizing
activities?”
Reflection on Client’s Concern

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 Empowering the client to see that his past
successes contain lessons for present actions.
 Client can be asked to tell a story about how some
unplanned event has influenced his life or career
and then elicit answers to questions like these:
 After the event, what did you do to capitalize on it?
 How did you recognize the opportunity?
 What had you done that put you in a position to be influenced
by that event?.
 So what similar types of actions could you take now?
Building Past Success

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 Helping client to learn to reframe unplanned event
into career opportunities.
 Possible counselor prompts might include the
following:
 Tell me a chance event you wish would happen to you.
 How can you act now to increase the likelihood of that
desirable event?
 How would your life change if you acted?
 How would your life change if you did nothing?
Taking Unplanned Events as Opportunities

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 Helping client to overcome dysfunctional beliefs
that are blocking constructive action.
 Counselor may ask questions similar to the
following:
 What do you believe is stopping you from doing what you
really want to do?
 What do you believe is stopping you from taking that first
step?
 How would your life become more satisfying if you were to
take appropriate action?
 What action will you take before we meet next?
 By what date and time will you e-mail me a report of your
action?
Overcoming Blocks to Action

16. HLT Counselling Session
16https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL2y6zOCGkE

17. References
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 John D. Krumboltz Journal of Career Assessment 2009; 17; 135
originally published online Dec 30, 2008; DOI:
10.1177/1069072708328861
 Applying the Happenstance Learning Theory to Involuntary
Career Transitions
John D. Krumboltz, Pamela F. Foley, and Elizabeth W. Cotter
DOI: 10.1002/J.2161 -0045.2013.00032.x
 The Ohio State University,Office Of student life
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL2y6zOCGkE
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0cLFmQYDV0
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3x9BN221FI
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7hRTEdn54E
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIXHiebaJh8

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19. 19https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1wVbQNc900