Developing Employability Capital in University Students offers readers invaluable advice for navigating the unpredictability of the modern job market. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Having previously worked as a graduate recruiter in industry and spent the last decade in academia researching graduate employability and sustainable careers, it was clear to me that traditional skills and attributes models are no longer fit for purpose. Career development professionals and academics need an innovative tool to prepare university students for a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous labour market.

The Employability Capital Growth Model (ECGM) addresses this need by offering a versatile tool designed to help support university students across all disciplines and years of study. It considers how the interplay of nine forms of employability capital and contextual factors play out over time, leading to various personal outcomes.

This book makes the ECGM accessible to career professionals, educators, and students alike. Whether used in one-to-one coaching, group workshops, or embedded into university curricula, it equips readers with practical strategies to navigate career uncertainty and build fulfilling, sustainable careers in an increasingly complex world.

Can you share with us a little about the research required to put your book together?

Bringing this book to life required deep research and real-world application. It started with a systematic literature review which I conducted alongside Professor Yehuda Baruch and Associate Professor Melanie J. Ashleigh at the University of Southampton, UK. We identified nearly 100 academic studies published between 2016 and 2022, which informed the development of the ECGM. This foundational research is detailed in Chapter 3, while Chapters 4 to 6 introduce and explain the ECGM itself.

But theory alone isn’t enough. I wanted to see how the model worked in practice. So, I collaborated with career professionals and academics across 16 countries, gathering 19 mini case studies of how they used the ECGM with their students. Their insights, shared in Chapters 7 and 8, played a crucial role in refining the model and led to the development of a 10-step guide (Chapter 9) to help others implement it effectively.

Finally, I wanted to place the ECGM within a bigger picture. It is underpinned by Sustainable Career Ecosystem Theory (SCET), which I developed by combining Sustainable Career Theory (co-developed by Professor Beatrice I. J. M. Van der Heijden & Professor Ans De Vos in 2015) and Career Ecosystem Theory (developed by Professor Yehuda Baruch, also in 2015). Drawing on collaborative insights from the founders of the two foundational theories, SCET is introduced in Chapter 2 and revisited in Chapter 10 to show how the ECGM can contribute to a sustainable career ecosystem.

What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s easy to think that successful people figured everything out on their own, but in reality, everyone started somewhere. Most people are happy to share their experiences, offer guidance, and answer questions. You just have to reach out!

Beyond networking, asking for help gives you access to the kind of knowledge that isn’t written in textbooks or job descriptions. It’s those unwritten, unspoken insights that can make all the difference. Whether it’s choosing the right educational path, navigating career transitions, or even making big life decisions, learning from others’ experiences can help you avoid pitfalls, seize opportunities, and build a career that aligns with your goals.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?

We are all part of a larger career ecosystem. Your career is shaped by the people, organizations, and industries around you. It does not develop in isolation. At the same time, your choices and actions also influence the opportunities available to others.

Whether you are a student, educator, or career professional, I hope this book inspires you to take an active role in shaping a future where career success is not just about individual achievement. By recognizing this interconnectedness, we can shift our focus beyond simply chasing job titles and instead work toward building sustainable and fulfilling careers.

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