The Role of Anticipation Competencies in the Career Planning of Persons with Hearing Impairment in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Career development challenges for persons with hearing impairment worldwide and Cameroon in particular increases by day. The labor market has been subject to various changes in the last decade caused by strong competition in the market, poverty, insecurity, and advances in technology. In the face of all these, career planning is seen as a favorable tool to facilitate individual's work-related experiences, establishing career objectives and deciding on educational and developmental programs to improve the skills required to achieve career objectives and modifications. Due communication barriers, information deficit, and psychological dependency, many persons with hearing impairment do not follow the actual career planning process. The inability to secure career for themselves live this group of persons in a state of poverty, unable to care for their basic needs, stress and expose them to other mental health challenges. Through a proactive approach, which focuses on mind transformation, this study investigates ‘The Role of Anticipation Competencies in the Career Planning of persons with Hearing Impairment in Fako Division, Soth West Region of Cameroon’. A qualitative case study research design was used. A sample of 20 workers with hearing impairment were purposively selected. The finding revealed that, anticipatory competencies positively influences the career planning of workers with hearing impairment. In demonstrating anticipatory competencies, they express the following; aspiration to be a role model, need to further their education, self-awareness, improved communication strategies, intrinsic motivation, hard work, career exploration, future optimism, resilience, patience and the desire to improve on communication skills. All these positive qualities in turn influences their career planning process absolutely. Thus they established; self-improvement, perceived career development, high interest in learning, skills development, and collaborative relationship. Based on findings, the study recommends that, other stakeholders should work in collaboration with workers with hearing impairment to develop anticipatory competencies. For these competencies are not developed in isolation.