Jim Bright

Professor Jim Bright

Professorial Fellow in Career Education and Development
Faculty of Education and Arts

Areas of expertise: Career Development; Chaos Theory of Careers; Organisational Psychology

Email: Jim.bright@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU North Sydney Campus

Jim Bright teaches and researches career development. He is the co-author of the Chaos Theory of Careers, which is the focus of his research work. He runs his own career development practice specialising in medico-legal assessment. He is also Director of Research and Impact for Become Education. He contributes a weekly column on career development to Nine Entertainment Newspapers.

Select publications

• Bright, JEH, Pryor, RGL & Pennie, O. (2022). The Chaos theory of Careers: standing out not fitting in. Asia Pacific Career Development Journal, 5(2), 2-14.
• Pryor, RGL & Bright, JEH. (in press due Sept 2022). Chaos, Complexity and COVID: The Chaos Theory of Careers in 2022 Australian Journal of Career Development.
• Bright, JEH & Pryor, RGL (2019). The Chaos Theory of Careers: Emerging from Simplification to Complexity, Certainty to Uncertainty, Asia Pacific Career Development Journal, (2)1, 1-15.
• Bright, J. (2015). If you go down to the woods today you are in for a big surprise: seeing the wood for the trees in online delivery of career guidance. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling. 43(1), 24-35.
• Borg, T., Bright, JEH & Pryor, RGL. (2014). High School Students - Complexity, Change and Chance: Do the key concepts of the Chaos Theory of Careers apply? Australian Journal of Career Development, 23(1), 22-28
• Pryor, R.G.L & Bright, J.E.H. (2014). The Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC): Ten years on and only just begun. Australian Journal of Career Development. 23(1), 4-12.
• Neault, R.A., Pickerell, D.A., Amundson, N.E., Arthur, N, Bright, J.E. Pryor, R.G. & Krumboltz, J.D. (2013). Thoughts on theories: Case conceptualization from five perspectives. VISTAS. Fall Issue (see http://counselingoutfitters.com/outfitters/VISTAS_Authors.htm)
• Bright, JEH. (2012). Lessons from the Elephant's child. Journal of Catholic School Studies, 84(2), 14-24.
• Bright, JEH & Pryor, RGL. (2012). The Chaos Theory of Careers in career education. The Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling, (28), 10-21.
• Minbashian, Amirali; Earl, Joanne; Bright, Jim (2013) Openness to Experience as a Predictor of Job Performance Trajectories. Applied Psychology: An international review. 62(1), 1-12.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Pryor, RGL (2011). The Chaos Theory of Careers. Journal of Employment Counseling. Special Issue. Thoughts on Theories. 46(4), 163-166.
• Pryor, R.G.L. & Bright, JEH. (2012). The value of failing in career development: a chaos theory perspective. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. 12(1), 67-79.
• Earl, J. Minbashian, A., Sukijakhamin, A. & Bright, JEH. (2011). Career Decision Status as a Predictor of Resignation Behavior: Five Years Later. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 78(2), 248-252.
• Pryor,R.G.L. & Bright. J.E.H. (2009). Good Hope. Chaos application. South African Journal of Higher Education
• Minbashian, A., Bright, J.E.H., & Bird, K. (2010). A Comparison of Artificial Neural Networks and Multiple Regression in the Context of Research on Personality and Work Performance. Organizational Research Methods, 13 (3), 540-(BARDsNET Ranking: Tier A. 2008 ISI Impact Factor = 3.02, 6th out of 89 journals in Management category; 4th out of 61 journals in Applied Psychology category).
• Minbashian, A., Bright, J. E. H., & Bird, K. D. (2009). Complexity in the relationship among the subdimensions of extraversion and job performance in managerial occupations. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, Volume 82, pages 537-(BARDsNET Ranking: Tier A. 2008 ISI Impact Factor = 1.36, 42nd out of 89 journals in Management category, 26th out of 61 journals in Applied Psychology category).
• Bright, J. E. H., Pryor, R. G. L., Chan, E. & Rijanto, J. (2009). The dimensions of chance career episodes. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75(1), 14-25.
• Pryor, R.G.L. and Bright. J.E.H. (2009). Game as a career metaphor: A chaos theory career counselling application. British Journal of Counselling and Guidance. 37(1), 39-50.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Pryor, R.G.L.. (2008). Shiftwork: A Chaos Theory Of Careers Agenda For Change In Career Counselling. Australian Journal of Career Development. 17(3), 63-72.
• Pryor, R.G.L. & Bright, J.E.H. (2008). Archetypal narratives in career counselling. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. 8(2), 71-82.
• a. Also in translation in GIPO Giornale Italiano Di Psicologia Dell'Orientamento. Vol.10(3), Sep-Dec 2009, pp. 45-53.
• Pryor R.G.L., Amundson, N., & Bright, J. (2008). Possibilities and probabilities: the role of chaos theory. Career Development Quarterly 56 (4), 309-318.
• Pryor, R.G.L. & Bright J.E.H. (2007). Applying chaos theory to careers: Attraction and attractors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 71(3), 375-400.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Pryor, R.G.L.. (2007). Chaotic Careers Assessment: how constructivist and psychometric techniques can be integrated into work and life decision making. Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, 23 (2), 30-45.
• Pryor, R.G.L. & Bright J.E.H. (2007). The Chaos Theory of Careers: theory, practice and process. Career Planning and Adult Development Journal 23 (2), 46 - 56.
• Earl, J. & Bright, J.E.H. (2007). The Relationship Between Career Decision Status and Important Work Outcomes. Journal of Vocational Behavior 71(2), 233-246.
• Pryor, R.G.L. & Bright, J.E.H. (2006). Counselling the Australian Perspective. Applied Psychology an International Review.
• Borg, T., Bright, J. E. H. & Pryor, R. G. L. (2006). The Butterfly Model of careers: Illustrating how planning and chance can be integrated in the careers of high school students. Australian Journal of Career Development, 15(3), 53-58.
• Pryor, R.G.L. & Bright, J.E.H. (2006). Counseling Chaos: Techniques for Practitioners. Journal of Employment Counseling. Vol 43(1) Mar 2006, 2-17
• Bell, J., Smith, M. & Bright, J.E.H. (2005). Measuring student self-efficacy to enhance school to work processes: the development of a large-scale on-line survey instrument. Managing and Leading.
• McKay, H., Bright J.E.H. & Pryor R.G.L. (2005) Finding order and direction from Chaos: a comparison of complexity career counseling and trait matching counselling. Journal of Employment Counseling. 42, (3) Sep 2005, 98-112
• Davey, R., Bright, J.E.H., Pryor, R.G.L. & Levin, K. (2005). Of never quite knowing what I might be: chaotic counselling with university students. Australian Journal of Career Development, 14(2), 53-62.
• Pryor, R.G.L. and Bright J.E.H. (2005). Chaos In Practice: Techniques for Career Counsellors. Australian Journal of Career Development, 14(1), 18-28.
• Bright, J.E.H., Pryor, R.G.L., Wilkenfeld, S and Earl, J. (2005). Influence of social context on career decision-making. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance 5 (1),19 - 36
• Bright J.E.H. & Pryor R.G.L. (2005). The chaos theory of careers: a users guide. Career Development Quarterly. Vol 53(4) Jun 2005, 291-305
• Bright, J.E.H., Pryor, R.G.L. and Harpham, L. (2005). The role of chance events in career decision making. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 66 (3),561-576
• Pryor, R.G.L. & Bright J.E.H. (2004). "I had seen order and chaos, but had thought they were different."The challenges of the Chaos Theory for career development. Australian Journal of Career Developmentv.13 n.3 p.18-22;
• Earl JK and Bright J.E.H. (2004) The Impact of Work Quality and Quantity on the Development of Career Decision Status. Australian Journal of Career Development v.13 n.1 p.15-22;
• Pryor, R. G. L. & Bright, J. E. H. (2003). The chaos theory of careers. Australian Journal of Career Development, 12(2), 12-20.
• Pryor, R. G. L. & Bright, J. E. H. (2003b). Order and chaos: a twenty-first century formulation of careers. Australian Journal of Psychology, 55(2), 121-128.
• Earl J & Bright, J.E.H. (2003). Undergraduate level, age, volume and pattern of work as predictors of career maturity in University students. Australian Journal of Psychology. 55(2). 63-64
• Bright, J & Carless, S. (2003). Work and Careers. Australian Journal of Psychology. Vol 55(2) Aug 2003, 63-64.
• Newell, B.R. & Bright, J.E.H. (2003). The subliminal mere exposure effect: does not generalise to structurally related stimuli. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 2003, 57:1, 61-68
• Newell, B.R & Bright, J.E.H. (2002) Evidence against hyperspecificity in implicit invariant learning. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. Section A, 55, 1109 - 1126.
• Searle, B.J., Bright, J.E.H., & Bochner, S. (2002). Helping people sort it out: The role of social support in the job strain model of occupational stress. Work & Stress, Vol 15(4) Oct 2001, 328-346.
• Newell & Bright, J.E.H. (2002) Well past midnight: Calling time on implicit invariant learning? European Journal of Cognitive Psychology 14, 185-205.
• Newell, B.R. & Bright, J.E.H. (2001) The relationship between the structural mere exposure effect and the implicit learning process. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, Section A., 54, 1087 -1104
• Bright, J.E.H. & Hutton, S. (2000). The Impact of Competency Statements on Résumés for Shortlisting Decisions. International Journal of Selection and Assessment. Vol 8(2) Jun 2000, 41-53.
• Wood, R.E., Atkins, P.W.B., & Bright, J.E.H. (1999). Bonuses, Goals and Instrumentality Effects. Journal of Applied Psychology. 84(5). Selected by the APS as one of the ten most significant research papers of the previous 5 years.
• Searle, B., Bright, J.E.H. & Bochner, S. (1999). Testing the 3-factor model of occupational stress. Work and Stress. 13, 268-279
• Bright J.E.H. & Davies F. (1999). You did WHAT in 1983?!: The effects of explained and unexplained gaps in career history presented on résumés. Australian Journal of Career Development.8(1), 12-17.
• Jones, F., Bright, J.E.H., Searle, B and Cooper, L.(1998).Modelling occupational stress and health: the impact of the demand-control model on academic research and on workplace practice. Stress Medicine. 14, 231-236.
• Bright J.E.H. & Freedman O. (1998). Differences between implicit and explicit acquisition of a complex motor skill under pressure: An examination of some evidence. British Journal of Psychology, 89(2),177-190.
• Bright J.E.H. & Burton AM. (1998). Ringing the changes: where abstraction occurs in implicit learning. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 10(2), 113-130.
• Earl, J., Bright J.E.H., & Adams, A. (1998). 'In my opinion....': What gets graduate résumés shortlisted?' Australian Journal of Career Development, 7(1), 15-19.
• Bright, J.E.H., & Halse, R. (1998). An evaluation of an industry training programme. Training and Development in Australia. 25 No.2 Apr, 7-11
• Bright, J.E.H. & Burton, AM. (1994). Past midnight: semantic processing in an implicit learning task. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 47(1).71-89.
• Ayland, N. & Bright, J. (1991). Real-time responses to in-vehicle technologies - a European evaluation.Transportation Research Record, No. Washington D.C., U.S.A. , 111-117
• Bright, J. & Ayland, N. (1991). Evaluating real-time responses to in-vehicle driver information systems. Advanced Telematics in Road Transport: Proceedings of the DRIVE conference, Brussel Elsevier: Amsterdam: ISBN 0 444X9043, 77-88.
• Brennen, T., Baguley, T., Bright, J., & Bruce, V. (1990). Resolving semantically-induced tip-of-the-tongue states for common nouns. Memory and Cognition, 18, 339-347
• Published journal articles, book chapters (25)
• Pryor and Bright, J. (2019). The Chaos Theory of Careers. In Dr. Nancy Arthur, Dr. Roberta Neault, Dr. Mary McMahon (Eds). Career Theory and Models at Work: Ideas for Practice. Ottawa: CERIC
• Pryor, R & Bright, J. (in press). Careers as Fractal Patterns: The Chaos Theory of Careers Perspective. In Nancy Arthur and Mary McMahon (eds). Contemporary Theories of Career Development: International Perspectives. London: Routledge.
• Pryor, R & Bright, J. (2016). Chaos And Constructivism: Counselling For Career Development In A Complex And Changing World. In Mary McMahon (Ed). Career counselling: Constructivist Approaches. London: Routledge.
• Bright J and Pryor, R (2015). Limitations and Creativity: a chaos theory of careers perspective. In Kobus Maree and Anna Maria Di Fabio (Eds.). Exploring New Horizons in Career Counselling: Converting Challenges into Opportunities. Sense Publishing: Rotterdam. SBN Paperback: 9789463001526 ISBN Hardcover: 9789463001533 ($ 99.00) ISBN E-Book: 9789463001540
• Pryor, R & Bright, J. (2015). Chaotic Career Assessment. In Mary McMahon and Mark Watson (Eds). Career Assessment: Qualitative Approaches. Sense: Rotterdam. ISBN: 978-94-6300-032-1 (paperback) ISBN: 978-94-6300-033-8 (hardback) ISBN: 978-94-6300-034-5 (e-book)
• Bright, J & Pryor, R. (2013). Goal setting: A chaos theory of careers approach. In Susan David, David Clutterbuck and David Megginson (Eds). Beyond Goals. Farnham: Gower
• Pryor, R & Bright, J. (2012). Fostering Creative Transformations in Organizations with Chaos. In Bannerjee, S. (Ed). Chaos and Complexity Theory for Management: Nonlinear Dynamics. IGI Global. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-2509-9, ISBN13: 9781466625099, ISBN10: 1466625090, EISBN13: 9781466625105
• Bright, J. (2011). Applying chaos theory in Counseling. In the Career Counseling Casebook. Spencer Niles, Jane Goodman and Mark Pope (Eds.) National Career Development Association.
• Bright, J. (2008). Shift Happens. Keynote paper. Published in the Proceedings of the Australian Association Career Counsellors, Annual Conference, Hobart, March 25th - 28th.
• Jones, F. and Bright, Jim. Stress: Health and illness. Monat, Alan (Ed); Lazarus, Richard S (Ed); Reevy, Gretchen (Ed). (2007). The Praeger handbook on stress and coping (vol.1). (pp. 141-168). xxi, 279 pp. Westport, CT, US: Praeger Publishers/Greenwood Publishing Group.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Pryor. R.G.L.. (2005). Work. Encyclopedia of Human Development. Sage.
• Pryor. R.G.L.. & Bright, J.E.H. (2006). Occupational Choice. Encyclopedia of Career Development.
• Pryor, R.G.L. &. Bright, J.E.H. (2006). Occupational Stereotypes. Encyclopedia of Career Development.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Earl, J. (2004). Preparing your CV. In The Job Hunter's Handbook. Sandra Jones (Ed). W.H.Smith Ltd. Swindon, UK. Pp.97-132.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Earl, J. (2004). Constructing you CV. In The Job Hunter's Handbook. Sandra Jones (Ed). W.H.Smith Ltd. Swindon, UK. Pp133-168.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Earl, J. (2004). Some Tricky CV Issues. In The Job Hunter's Handbook. Sandra Jones (Ed). W.H.Smith Ltd. Swindon, UK. pp169-174.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Earl, J. (2004). Presenting your CV. In The Job Hunter's Handbook. Sandra Jones (Ed). W.H.Smith Ltd. Swindon, UK. Pp 175-182.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Earl, J. (2004). Covering letters. In The Job Hunter's Handbook. Sandra Jones (Ed). W.H.Smith Ltd. Swindon, UK. Pp183 - 188.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Earl, J. (2004). Delivering your CV. In The Job Hunter's Handbook. Sandra Jones (Ed). W.H.Smith Ltd. Swindon, UK. Pp 189 - 198.
• Wood R, Atkins P and Bright J (2003) 'Bonuses, goals and instrumentality effects' included in Australian research in psychology: A collection of papers 1999-Australian Psychological Society.
• Bright J.E.H. & Carless S. (2003). Work And Careers. Australian Journal of Psychology. 55(2). 83-88.
• Kehoe, J & Bright, J.E.H.. (2003). Training. Chapter in Organisational Psychology in Australia and New Zealand. Oxford University Press.
• Bright, J.E.H. & Pryor, R.G.L.. (2003). The exploring influences on Career Development Technique. In Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton (Eds). Ideas for Carer Practitioners: Celebrating Excellence in Australian Career Practice. Australian Academic Press. Brisbane.
• Bryant, R, Ivancic, K, Bright, J & McConkey, K. (1998). Supervision Training and Education Program (STEP). Manual and video.
• Underwood G., and Bright, J.E.H.. (1996). Cognition with and without awareness. Underwood G (ed). Implicit Cognition. Oxford University Press.
• Books (12 in total: 11 published by Routledge, Pearson, Allen and Unwin, John Wiley, Trotman and JIST, 1 self-published; in 13 translations and 10 editions).
• Jones, F & Bright J.E.H.. Stress: Myth, theory and research. Prentice Hall. London. UK. 2001.
• a) Jones, F & Bright J.E.H.. CTPECC: Teopии, Иccдobahя, MиФbl (Stress: Myth, theory and research). Russian Translation. Prentice Hall. Moscow. 2003.
• Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Résumés that get shortlisted. Business and Professional Publishing. Sydney. Australia. 2000
• a. Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Résumés that get shortlisted. 2nd Edn. Allen and Unwin. Sydney. Australia. 2004
• b. Bright, J.E.H. and Earl, J. Résumés that get shortlisted. Vietnamese Translation. 2006.
• c. Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Résumés that get shortlisted. 3rd Edn. Allen and Unwin. Sydney. Australia. 2008
• d. Bright, J.E.H. and Earl, J. Résumés that get shortlisted. Chinese Translation. 2009.
• Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Brilliant CV. Prentice Hall. London. UK. 2001
• a. Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Brilliant CV. Prentice Hall. London. UK. 2nd Edn. London. Pearson
• b. Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Brilliant CV. Prentice Hall. London. UK. 3rd Edn. London. Pearson
• c. Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Brilliant CV. Prentice Hall. London. UK. 4th Edn. London. Pearson
• d. Bright, J.E.H., Earl, J & Winter, D. How to write a Brilliant CV. 5th Edition. London. Pearson.
• Bright J.E.H.. Job Hunting for Dummies: Australia and New Zealand. John Wiley. Sydney. Australia. 2001
• Bright, J.E.H.. Stresssmart. Bright and Associates. 2003.
• a) Stresssmart. Bright and Associates. 2nd Edition. 2006
• Bright J.E.H.. Should I go or should I stay. Prentice Hall. 2003
• a. Bright J.E.H.. Should I go and should I stay. Prentice Hall: Financial Times.Chinese Translation.
• b. Bright J.E.H.. Skal Jag Blive Eller Skifte Job?. Prentice Hall: Financial Times.Danish Translation.
• c. Bright J.E.H.. Should I go or should I stay. Prentice Hall: Financial Times.Norwegian Translation.
• d. Bright J.E.H.. Should I go or should I stay. Prentice Hall: Financial Times.Russian translation.
• e. Bright J.E.H.. Should I go or should I stay. Prentice Hall: Financial Times.Korean translation.
• f. Bright J.E.H.. Should I go or should I stay. Prentice Hall: Financial Times.Italian translation.
• g. Bright J.E.H.. Should I go or should I stay. Prentice Hall: Financial Times.Romanian translation.
• Bright, K. & Bright, J.E.H.. Getting a brilliant job: the students guide to job hunting. Allen and Unwin. Sydney. Australia. 2005.
• a. Bright, K. & Bright, J.E.H.. Getting a brilliant job: the students guide to job hunting. Viva Books. India. Indian Edition
• Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Amazing resumes. JIST Publishing. Indianapolis. US. 2005.
• a. Bright J.E.H. & Earl, J. Amazing resumes. JIST Publishing. Indianapolis. US. 2nd edition. 2009.
• Bright, J.E.H., & Bright, K,. (2005). Land that job in Australia. Tribus Lingua. Melbourne.
• Pryor, RGL & Bright, JEH. (2011). Chaos theory of Careers. Routledge. New York.
• Bright, J, Earl J & Winter, D. (2013). Brilliant Graduate CV. Pearson.
• Hooley, T, Bright, J & Winter D. (2016). You're Hired! Job Hunting Online: The Complete Guide. London. Trotman.
• Published Tests (6 - 3 online tests and 1 card sort)
• Pryor, RGL & Bright, JEH. (2006). Luck Readiness Index. Sydney
• Bright, JEH. & Pryor, RGL. (2006). Complexity Perception Index. Sydney
• Bright, J & Pryor, R. (2007). Creative Thinking Strategies. Card Sort.
• Bright, JEH. (2011). Luck Readiness Index Online. (adaptation of Pryor & Bright, 2006)
• Bright, JEH (2011). Change Perception Index Online (adaptation of Bright & Pryor, 2006)
• Bright, JEH (2011). Exploring Chaos Reality Checklist. Online. (adaptation of Pryor & Bright, 2006).

Appointments

• Visiting Professor, University of Derby current
• Director Research and Impact, Become Education current
• Owner Bright and Associates, current
• Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales 2000-2006
• Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales 1995-2000
• 1993 - 1995 Research Fellow, Division of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire
• 1990 - 1993 Tutor, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham
• 1989 - 1990 Consultant, Castle Rock Consultants, Nottingham, UK

International journal review panels

• Journal of Vocational Behavior
• Journal of Employment Counseling
• Asia Pacific Career Development Journal