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The correct answer is C, "Networking with industry professionals," because Parsons' theory of career development focuses primarily on the individual’s internal processes related to self-understanding and the alignment of personal attributes with vocational requirements.

Parsons identified three main stages in his developmental model: self-understanding, awareness of work requirements and conditions, and the reasoning involved in integrating self-knowledge with information about various occupations. These stages highlight how individuals can assess their own capabilities, engage with the characteristics of the workplace, and make educated decisions about their career paths.

While networking can be a valuable tool for career development, it is not one of the foundational stages outlined by Parsons. The focus of Parsons’ model is more on the individual’s introspective journey and logical reasoning rather than on external interactions with industry professionals. This distinction is critical for understanding the framework of vocational counseling and the analytical processes that guide career decision-making.