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- The guidance room
- The Guidance Room Trine
The Guidance Room Trine
Trine is in her final year of lower secondary school and is about to make an important educational choice. This case illustrates how career guidance can support young people in complex situations, balancing life circumstances, expectations and the need to make independent choices.
About the Case
Trine is in her final year of lower secondary school and is about to make an important educational choice. Her situation is influenced by both her personal circumstances and expectations from those around her.
This case illustrates how career guidance can support young people in complex situations, balancing life circumstances, expectations and the need to make independent choices.
Suggested approach
1. Start with Episode 1
Identify the main challenges and key aspects of the situation.
- What stands out?
- What seems most important at this stage?
- What would you focus on as a career counselor or career guidance practitioner?
2. Watch Episode 2
Observe how the practitioner approaches the situation.
- What methods are used?
- How is the conversation structured?
- How does the practitioner respond to the guidance seeker?
3. Work with the reflection questions
Use the questions to deepen your analysis.
- What works well?
- What would you have done differently?
- What dilemmas or considerations arise?
Background: Career Guidance in Lower Secondary Education in Norway
Lower secondary schools offer career guidance through structured career learning activities, class-based sessions, individual guidance and work-experience opportunities. Educational Choices comprises 113 hours over three years, supporting exploration of pathways and informed decision-making.
Municipalities must ensure that all students have access to career guidance, including individual guidance when needed.
The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) has a public website in Norwegian for information about education and work at Utdanning.no, and offers digital career guidance at Karriereveiledning.no, which is free and available to the entire population.
Episode 1: Meet Trine
Meet Trine
After Watching Episode 1, reflect together:
- What career-related challenges does Trine face?
- Is there anything in Trine’s situation that you recognise from your own guidance practic?
Episode 2: The guidance session with Trine
Join the guidance session with Trine
The two guidance moments focus on:
- External Influences
- Choosing an Unconventional Path
After watching the video, reflect together:
- How would you guide Trine?
- The session shows only two brief moments from a full guidance conversation. Is there anything else you think should have been said or done?
Reflection Questions
Use these questions to explore key aspects of the guidance process together:
- How does the career counselor explore external pressure in Trine’s situation?
- How are values, interests and expectations balanced?
- How can students be supported in making non-traditional choices?
- What alternative approaches could you consider?
Episode 3: Reflection
Thematic Reflection Questions
Use these questions to reflect on key themes in the guidance session with Tobias. You may also connect your reflections to the self-assessment tool My competence.
Theme 1: Guidance in a complex life situation
- How does the career counselor respond when personal circumstances strongly influence choices?
- How do you balance empathy with maintaining focus on future opportunities?
- When is it appropriate to involve other professionals?
- How can life situation be integrated into guidance without limiting possibilities?
Theme 2: Supporting reflection and maintaining autonomy
- How do you support reflection without directing the student’s choice?
- How can space be created for changing decisions?
- How do you handle hesitation or uncertainty?
- How do you balance support and autonomy?
Theme 3: Exploring options and addressing expectations
- How are both traditional and non-traditional options explored?
- How are expectations from others addressed?
- How can role models broaden perspectives?
- How do you support understanding of both chosen and unchosen options?
