Understanding career development: A convergence of perspectives

Abstract

To conceptualise the nature of individuals’ life career development, this literature review focuses on identifying three broadly defined explanations: career as life process, career as individual agency and career as meaning making. By integrating both the established and emerging theories into the analysis, a convergence of perspectives are presented to reflect some of the essential psychosocial characteristics of people’s worklife and vocational enhancement. While objective career is recognised as a major component in people’s life career pathway, the significant function of subjective career in the process is revisited and highlighted. © 1998 Journal of Vocational Education and Training. All right reserved.