Definition of career:
“The sequence of job-related experiences and attitudes an individual shares over the span of their work life.” (Hall & Mirvis, 1996; Menguc & Bhuian, 2004)
Donald Super’s 5 life and career development stages:
| STAGE |
AGE (Years) |
CHARACTERISTICS |
| Growth |
Birth - 14 |
Development of self-concept, attitudes, needs and general world of work |
| Exploration |
15 - 24 |
Trying out through classes, work, hobbies. Tentative choice and skill development |
| Establishment |
25 - 44 |
Entry-level skills building and stabilisation through work experience |
| Maintenance |
45 - 65 |
Continual adjustment process to improve position |
| Decline |
65+ |
Reduced output, prepare for retirement |
Five different career stages for an employee according to Shetty (n.d.):
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Exploration – choices an individual makes prior to entering the workforce; careers of parents, their aspirations for their children and financial resources are crucial factors.
-
Establishment – begins with the search for work and includes the first job, being accepted by peers, learning the job and gaining the first tangible evidence of success or failure in the real world.
-
Mid-career – individuals may continue their prior improvements in performance or begin to deteriorate; one is expected to have moved beyond apprenticeship to worker status. Those who make a successful transition assume greater responsibilities and get rewards; OR it may be a time for reassessment, job changes, adjustment of priorities or the pursuit of an alternative lifestyle.
-
Late-career – time when one can enjoy the respect given by younger employees; individuals teach others on the basis of the knowledge they have gained; decreased work mobility and possibility to be locked in current job; one starts looking forward to retirement and opportunities of doing something different.
- Decline – retirement.
Further reading