Career Navigators in Adult Education

This brief defines the role of career navigators, often full- or part-time staff, who assist adult learners in their career and college planning. The navigators offer informational services to help learners explore different college options, identify necessary skills and education for those careers, and address challenges adult learners encounter during transitions to the workforce or further education. 

According to the authors, "Career navigation services are a component of some effective program strategies emerging from research in adult education," (p.1) which suggests that navigators could have a key role in helping learners make educational gains and improve their employment. The authors add, "So far, however, there has been little research on the responsibilities and function of navigators or on how to ensure they can be successful in helping learners realize their career goals" (p.2).

The brief explores five activities that career navigators are expected to carry out to support adult learners, which include (1) career planning and counseling, (2) educational planning, (3) learner support, (4) skill building, and (5) job readiness and placement. In addition, it discusses the key proficiencies that are essential for career navigators, according to the experts: possessing knowledge of the adult learner population, skills for working with adult learners, knowledge of career pathways, skills to create and maintain strong partnerships, knowledge of learner skills that can lead to success, and skills to help learners with their skill building. 

Adult education practitioners can use the information in this brief to define career navigator job responsibilities and design hiring criteria, make informed decisions about support for career navigators, identify navigator' development needs, plan further training, and identify appropriate training programs to enhance the career navigators' existing competencies.

Although many AE programs have or are employing career navigators, some evidence indicates that these individuals have varying backgrounds and experiences. Consequently, the authors suggest that "Practitioners may want to consider trainings and other professional development activities to build the knowledge and skills that navigators need to perform key activities and support adult learner success, though there is currently no evidence about the effectiveness of such trainings" (p.7).

AE programs may decide to train navigators in-house, purchase training, send their navigators to broader training, or hire previously trained navigators. For program staff who want to offer training for navigators, experts emphasize assessing navigators' professional development needs and providing content and activities that align with these needs.

Recommendations and considerations when assessing or developing career navigator training include:

1. Alignment with Navigators' Needs:

• Content Relevance: Assess whether training content addresses gaps in navigators' skills and knowledge, aligning with their roles.
• Key Competencies: Ensure training focuses on the competencies deemed crucial for effective navigation, adapting to specific organizational needs.
• Prioritization: Due to resource constraints, prioritize competency areas for development, optimizing the training's impact.

2. Tailoring Training to Navigators' Context:

• Background Experience: Account for diverse backgrounds navigators bring, tailoring training to bridge specific knowledge gaps.
• Organizational Context: Acknowledge that training requirements vary based on the program's nature and available resources.
• Learner Diversity: Address training needs stemming from diverse learner populations, including cultural considerations.

3. Practical and Interactive Training:

• Hands-On Activities: Evaluate training activities for their alignment with key competencies. Interactive exercises can reinforce skills.
• Professional Development Examples: Explore real-world instances of hands-on activities linked to specific competency areas.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2023
• Author(s): Bruch, J.; Borrandaile, K.; Rakotic, M; and Lucchesi,, G.
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Katie Mehle
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies