Origin

Founded on the Career Development Facilitator (CDF) project, a collaborative effort initiated in 1997 by the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE), an affiliate of the NBCC, the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (NOICC), the GCDF program has grown to offer customization for country-specific needs, worldwide. In 2001, the CDF was renamed the GCDF to illustrate its global expansion with its first international partner in Japan.

Since its inception, the GCDF has had a significant impact on the field of career development. More than 30,000 people have been credentialed as a GCDF, globally, in 23 different countries.

Who are the GCDFs?

GCDFs are professionals trained to help people, both individually and in a group setting, make informed decisions when considering their own career development. Through the use of best practices, various assessment tools and career development models, GCDFs facilitate their clients’ personal and professional development by equipping each individual with the necessary knowledge and skills.

All GCDFs are required to complete at least 120 hours of training, based on a curriculum infused with general and country-specific activities, adhere to a code of ethics, undergo a period of supervised practice, and engage in continuous education activities.

GCDFs are experts in:

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  Exploring career paths through consultancy
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  Assessing career and vocational strengths
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  Assisting clients in the process of decision making
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  Helping set realistic and attainable goals
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  Developing effective job search strategies
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  Perfecting interviewing skills
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  Refining public speaking and presentation abilities
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  Improving time-management skills