Career practitioners’ conceptions of career management skills at Finnish universities of applied sciences

Abstract This article presents the findings of a phenomenographic study of career practitioners’ conceptions of career management skills (CMS) at Finnish universities of applied sciences (UAS). The results demonstrate that CMS were conceived as (1) irrelevant, (2) secondary, (3) noteworthy, (4) significant and (5) indispensable. This aligns with previous evidence that conceptions of CMS differ in multiple ways and vary in emphasis. By exploring the logical relationship between qualitatively different conceptions, the study provides a framework for understanding CMS acquisition at UAS, and clarifies the objectives and developmental needs of career guidance in higher education settings.