Resume therapy and vocational test feedback: Tailoring interventions to self-efficacy outcomes

Self-efficacy is a useful construct in vocational psychology because it hel ps us conceptualize client issues, interventions to address those issues, a nd instrumentation to assess vocational status and improvement. This articl e details two separate studies with veterans seeking vocational assistance within a Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. In both studies, the interventio ns themselves were designed around the strengthening of specific self-effic acy expectations. In the first study, patients' efficacy regarding general job search and decision-making behaviors was targeted using little more tha n traditional resume preparation. In the second study, personality and cogn itive functioning test feedback provided a platform to discuss difficult pe rsonality issues, their usual manifestation in the patient's work life, and the patient's efficacy about integrating this information in future career decision-making, job seeking, and work. In both studies, moderate to large effect sizes supported the effectiveness of our interventions.