Este artículo está centrado en el objeto de estudio del campo de la psicología de desarrollo de carrera dentro del contexto de las organizaciones, y es analizado desde una perspectiva histórica. La segunda parte gira en torno a las herramientas científicas que buscan las coincidencias entre las necesidades de los individuos y las de las organizaciones. En una tercera parte, se abordan los principios del paradigma de la construcción de la vida

This article is focused on the study object of the developmental psychology and career management field, within the context of organizations, and it is analyzed on an historical perspective. The second part revolves around the scientific tools that seek to match the individuals' needs with the organizations'. In the third part, the principles of life construction paradigm are considered.

The most practical principle in contextualisation emanates from our understanding of the experience of everyday life. However, this principle is not confined to such understanding. The central question regarding contextualisation is embedded in the "cultural contours" of counselling. In addition to the centrality of the cultural component, the need for an increased focus on cultural factors and their implications for counseling reinforces the importance of having a sound understanding and evaluation of individual life themes and the contexts in which they manifest. This article is premised on the view that cultural or contextual issues are integral to the puzzle of career counseling and cannot be seen in isolation. A major challenge facing career counselors is recognising the plurality of knowledge-based cultures and contexts, and the demands this places on their competencies as counsellors.

Neste artigo, são analisadas algumas referências históricas que marcam o desenvolvimento da psicologia da orientação. São referidas algumas metodologias e suas diretas implicações no aconselhamento da carreira, na intervenção e na avaliação em contexto educativo, e são feitas breves alusões no contexto de emprego e empresa. Explicita-se também a importância que a orientação e desenvolvimento da carreira hoje assumem. Nas conclusões são abordados os novos desafios que se colocam ao especialista em psicologia da carreira.

This article analises the most important historical and conceptual evolutions of guidance. Some methodological issues and the direct implications in counseling, intervention and career assessment are discussed, both in educational and occupational settings. The importance, nowadays, of career guidance are also analyzed. The new challenges that the specialist in the field of career guidance have to face are discussed.

Neste artigo abordam-se alguns dos aspectos e conceitos mais importantes no estudo do desenvolvimento da carreira em mulheres, com especial incidência nas que trabalham. Os principais modelos teóricos que se têm debruçado sobre o tema são também analisados, e referidos os contributos mais relevantes para uma melhor compreensão dos problemas de carreira no actual quadro da investigação. Finalmente, tecem-se algumas considerações sobre as possibilidades de intervenção e sobre as implicações no aconselhamento da carreira.

In this paper some of the issues and some important concepts in the study of career development in women, specially working women, are analised. The principal theorethical models in this field and some references about contributions fbr a better comprehension of career problems, in the actual research framework, are also discussed. At last, some considerations about interventions possibilities and implications in career counsellng, are made.