The challenge of accompanying refugees in career development

This study investigates the limits of job accompaniment if focuses exclusively on placement in the labour market and not on building a career that generates satisfaction and facilitates inclusion. Experienced career counselling fosters the development of quality vocational interests, focusing on how refugees’ learning experiences shape their self-efficacy perceptions and outcome expectations within the host country. Despite refugees being exposed to numerous experiences, the analysis reveals a underutilization of these opportunities to develop congruent self-efficacy perceptions and realistic outcome expectations. It turns out that many refugees struggle recognizing their competencies and understanding the Italian labour market, leading to limited professional interests. Findings suggest a crucial need for targeted accompaniment to aid refugees in recognizing their skills, navigating the labour market, and aligning their career aspirations with realistic opportunities. Enhancing career guidance can bridge the gap between refugees’ skills and labour market demands, facilitating smoother integration and fulfilling their professional potential.