Sweeping changes in the nature of work, shifts in the meaning of career success, the rise of global business and international careers, heightened concerns over social influences on careers, and emerging labor laws and regulations influence the ways in which individu- als, organizations, and the broader society view career development. It is therefore an opportune time to pre- sent the Encyclopedia of Career Development, which provides a thorough treatment of these recent and emerging trends.
Our goal was to make the Encyclopedia of Career Development the premier reference tool for students, scholars, practitioners, and others interested in gain- ing knowledge or conducting research on career development-related topics. We have kept the entries concise, easy to read, and jargon free, while ensuring that the content reflects the most current thinking and research on the particular topic. We have provided entries that are directly related to the field of career development and have expressly avoided tangential topics or biographical profiles that add pages but do not improve the content. Most important, we sought authors who are recognized experts on their topics and who have demonstrated a history of contributing high- quality writing to the field of career development.
It is our firm belief that the Encyclopedia of Career Development represents an indispensable reference resource for college and university libraries and public libraries located throughout the United States and around the world. In addition, the encyclopedia can be an invaluable reference tool for corporations and con- sultants for use in their libraries and career centers.
In collaboration with our expert and prestigious Editorial Board, we identified the significant terms, concepts, and practices that represent the field of
career development. This intensive process resulted in an encyclopedia that spans two volumes; contains over 400 entries, arranged in A-to-Z format; and totals over 600,000 words. The entries were written by renowned researchers, scholars, and practitioners, who provided the most current definitions, informa- tion, theories, and applications relevant to their topics. The provision of relevant, up-to-date material on each entry is especially important from a reference stand- point because career development is a dynamic field of study.
