Karrierekompetanse

Karrierekompetanse refers to the set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable individuals to plan, navigate, and adapt to the changing labor market throughout their working life. It encompasses self-awareness, vocational orientation, decision-making, and the practical abilities needed to pursue and manage employment opportunities.

Core components include career planning and goal setting; labor market literacy; job-search skills such as crafting a CV and preparing for interviews; networking and professional visibility; digital literacy and the ability to evaluate information; adaptability, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning; and awareness of ethical and legal considerations in work. The concept also covers managing career transitions and, in some contexts, entrepreneurship.

Delivery and assessment: Karrierekompetanse is typically developed through school guidance services, university or college career centers, vocational training programs, and public employment services. It can be integrated into curricula via project-based learning, mentoring, simulations, and online modules. Assessments often use portfolios, reflective journals, skill inventories, and performance tasks.

Relevance and policy: The competence is seen as a cross-cutting driver of employability, social inclusion, and ongoing learning. It supports transitions from education to work, enables mid-career re-skilling, and helps workers adapt to automation and sectoral shifts. In Nordic and other European contexts, karrierekompetanse features in guidance policies and school curricula to improve youth outcomes and labour market integration.

See also: Career guidance; Employability; Lifelong learning; Career management skills; Labor market information.