Due to the change in the workplace society has also seen a change in the approach used in career counseling. Although, the trait and factor approach to career counseling prevailed throughout the 20th century and ultimately required a change in the way assessments were used. Today career counseling considers not only the purpose and use of assessments but the career counselor realizes that client self-knowledge, education and vocation experiences, interest, and intervention of clients are equally important to the career counseling process. In fact, the clients are a much bigger part of the career development counseling process and to assessment, the decision to participate in an assessment and it is necessary that the client clearly understands the purpose of the assessment. Career counseling in the 21st century must continually change as society evolves requiring the career counselor to be in step with the change. Niles and Harris-Bowlsbey (2013) suggest the process of career development includes several steps:

1. Becoming aware of the need to make career decisions

2. Learning about and/or reevaluating vocational self-concept

3. Identifying occupational alternatives

4. Obtaining information about identified alternatives

5. Making tentative choices from among available occupations

6. Making educational choices

7. Implementing a vocational choice